“The 39 Steps" Unveils Stellar Cast

The Arts Center Theatre in Marco Island, Florida, proudly presents "The 39 Steps," a thrilling production that promises to be an unforgettable theatrical experience. The show boasts a stellar local cast featuring the dynamic duo of Matt Flynn and Sharon Isern, with remarkable support from Melissa Hennig and Olivia Rodriguez.

Matt Flynn, a seasoned local theater veteran, assumes the role of "Hanney." He has graced the stage in various productions, with The Studio Players and Theatre Conspiracy at the Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers. What makes this production of "The 39 Steps" even more special is that it marks Matt's sixth onstage pairing with his beautiful fiancée, Sharon Isern. As Matt humorously puts it, "You gotta love show business!"

Sharon Isern, a versatile and talented actress, takes on the roles of

"Anabella/Schmidt/Margaret/Pamela." Her impressive portfolio includes standout performances in productions at the Laboratory Theater of Florida and Theatre Conspiracy. She has consistently wowed audiences with her versatility in productions like "America’s Sexiest Couple," "On the Farce Day of Christmas," "The Bare Truth" at The Marco Players, and "Church & State," "Saved by the Bell," and "One Slight Hitch" at The Studio Players.

The demanding and highly creative roles of the "Clowns" in "The 39 Steps" will be expertly handled by Melissa Hennig and Olivia Rodriguez, Hennig a dedicated community theater performer with approximately seven years of experience. Olivia Rodriguez, a 14-year-old Marco Island resident will also shine as one of the "Clowns."  Olivia's youthful energy and enthusiasm, coupled with her undeniable talent, promise to make her portrayal of various characters in "The 39 Steps" a highlight of the production. 

Chris Dayett, the performing arts instructor at Marco Island Academy, is directing the production.

He has used the opportunity to involve his students at Marco Island Academy from his Production Design and Marketing classes. According to Dayett, “Students read the script to The 39 Steps in class and did a complete script analysis on the play. They brought a lot of design ideas to the table, a few of which actually appear in the production. Most notably, is the unique “black and white movie” design concept. Almost everything you see in the play is grayscale, making this an homage to the 1935 Hitchcock film of the same name. Students built the set, researched and executed painting techniques to give all of the featured scenic pieces a distinct gray pattern. Combine that with a little Jim Swanker pixie dust for those “how can make this happen in our space” moments, and you have a very creative and innovative set that serves the story well and offers a few surprises. Additionally it has been fantastic to have three Marco Island Academy students working on the show as stage managers, Isabella Diaz, Canon Miller, and Kai Samuel. 

"The 39 Steps" will run from October 25- November 12, 2023 at the Arts Center Theatre in Marco Island, Florida. Tickets are now available for this production at https://www.marcoislandart.org/the-39-steps/ or by calling 239-394-4221.