“Vintage Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play,” September 29 through October 9

Thursday, September 29, through Sunday, October 9

Richmond Hill Barn Theatre, 600 Robinson Drive, Geneseo IL

One of the most recognizable and adored filmmakers of all time will have three of his classics reinterpreted in a brand-new yet old-time way from September 29 through October 9, with the Richmond Hill Barn Theatre serving up chills, laughs, and even some catchy jingles in the Geneseo run of Vintage Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play.

In Vintage Hitchcock, spies, murder, love, and other Alfred Hitchcock trademarks all come to life as a 1940s-era radio broadcast of the Master of Suspense's early films, showcasing The Lodger, Sabotage, and The 39 Steps. This is the Hitchcock of the 1920s and ‘30s, before he came to America – a familiar figure in many respects, but also one to surprise those who aren’t yet acquainted with Hitch’s work while he was still honing his craft. Richmond Hill's presentation is a triple feature complete with vintage commercials, one that recreates, among numerous other thrilling events, a serial killer’s ominous presence, a daring train chase, and a devastating explosion utilizing the magic of live sound effects and musical underscoring. It’s a spooky, exciting piece performed in a singular format, and one that the Atlanta-Journal Constitution called a "well-crafted" work that celebrates "the aural magic of this tingly film auteur."

Directing Vintage Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play is longtime Richmond Hill favorite Jonathan Grafft, a frequent on-stage talent familiar from such shows as The 39 Steps, The Boys Next Door, and Escanaba in da Moonlight. Grafft's eight-person cast boasts an octet of fellow Richmond Hill veterans: Mike Kelly (Every Christmas Story Ever Told & Then Some), Larry Lord (Dearly Beloved), Lorrie Lord (Christmas Belles), Greg O'Neill (I Take This Man), Elizabeth Shaffer (Drinking Habits), Jim Skiles (Clue: On Stage), Mike Skiles (Doublewide, Texas), Leigh VanWinkle (The 39 Steps). And with Ann Keeney-Grafft serving as stage manager and costumer, additional members of the Vintage Hitchcock creative team include lighting designer Jennifer Kingry; sound designer Larry Lord; sound and light operator Dana Skiles; set builder Mike Skiles; jingle composer Bob Manasco; and set builder Jim Skiles.

Vintage Hitchcock runs at the Richmond Hill Barn Theatre September 29 through October 9, with performances Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Admission is $12, and more information and tickets are available by calling (309)944-2244 and visiting RHPlayers.com.