Chicago is a great theater town – and that applies to the suburbs as well.

I have only recently discovered one of the Chicago area’s best kept little secrets in terms of intimate, affordable professional theater in the suburbs – Steel Beam Theatre in St. Charles – under an hour from Chicago.

St. Charles in general is a great place for entertainment. And Steel Beam fits right in.

I’ve had the chance to see a few shows at Steel Beam, and have really been blown away by their commitment to running a professional, award-winning theater, as well as a really strong youth training program. You’ll notice that I will be more involved with Steel Beam and will be sharing those adventures and opportunities.

Steel Beam Theatre, the home of professional theater in St. Charles, is thrilled to announce this week’s opening of The 39 Steps, the Tony-winning, laugh-out-loud comedy that lovingly and hysterically parodies the legendary Alfred Hitchcock film of the same name the same way Spamalot parodies the legendary tales of King Arthur

Steel Beam Theatre’s highly anticipated production of the Patrick Barlow script is faithful to the award-winning Broadway production in which four actors play over 150 characters in a quick-change laugh riot. Alfred Hitchcock fans will love the parody’s many references to other iconic films by the famous director including Rear Window, Psycho, Vertigo, and North by Northwest.

On Broadway, The 39 Steps had audiences in stitches for years. It opened in 2008 and became the longest running Broadway play in seven years. It was equally as successful in London before that.

“The 39 Steps signifies Steel Beam’s commitment to bringing top quality entertainment to this neck of the woods. This is the level of funny that you can’t miss the opportunity to see,” says the company’s artistic director Marge Uhlarik-Boller.

“We’re only 45 minutes from Chicago, and the St. Charles entertainment community is just blossoming,” adds managing director Catie Early. “Steel Beam is so proud to be a standard bearer in bringing premier theater to the suburbs.”

Steel Beam Theatre has emerged as the destination of choice for theater goers in St. Charles, surrounding cities, and the Fox Valley region. Theater fans from nearby South Elgin, Batavia, Geneva, and West Chicago delight in enjoying Steel Beam’s proximity to fine dining and free parking options as an excuse for romantic dates.

And when it comes to romantic dates, what could be better than a scrumptious meal and a night of brilliant comedy? They say laughter is an aphrodisiac.

Bringing The 39 Steps to life at Steel Beam is a cast that includes Benedict Slabik (Bartlett), Karen Neidlinger (St. Charles), Julie Bayer (Batavia), and Andrew Buel (Montgomery) under the direction of Annie Slivinski (Forest Park). They inspire the level of laughter you can’t experience anywhere but at the theater.

“Sure, it’s easy to just sit home and watch TV and cook frozen pizza, but there’s something special about going to Steel Beam Theatre in St. Charles for a night of creativity and theatrical magic,” says Uhlarik-Boller. “Have dinner at one of our neighboring fine dining options and then come join us for a parody that will make you laugh so hard you’ll cry.”

“We know you have a choice where you go to spend your entertainment dollars,” says Early. “We appreciate that you choose to support Steel Beam Theatre. We will keep you entertained. That’s our promise and we always keep our word.”

The 39 Steps will be delighting audiences on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from March 10 through April 2, 2023. Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30 PM; Sunday matinees are at 2 PM.

Understudies for The 39 Steps include Stephanie Turner O’Kelley (Glendale Heights), Beth Kahan (Lombard), and Sam Welch (Lombard).

Steel Beam Theatre is located on the second floor at 111 W. Main Street in St. Charles, and features some of the most comfortable seats in the Chicagoland area theater community. Regular ticket prices start at $28, with student and senior discounts online and in person. Industry discounts are available at the box office. There is ample free area parking.

For tickets contact the box office at (630) 587-8521 or visit www.SteelBeamTheatre.com.