Butler Little Theatre begins its 76th season with a suspenseful “Vintage Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play” by Joe Landry opening Sept. 30.

The drama is an adaptation of three of Hitchcock's earlier films, “The Lodger,” “Sabotage” and “The 39 Steps.”

The cast will bring these stories to life in the form of a 1940s radio broadcast where a handful of actors play dozens of characters.

Filled with spies, murder, love and some other Hitchcock trademarks, the suspenseful evening of theater includes some vintage commercials as well.

Sarah Altomari of Summit Township will portray Daisy, Renee, Stevie and Pamela in the production.

The 23-year-old is cast as a flirt, a hard worker, a young boy, and a spoiled debutante. In real life, she works as the Clinton Township secretary.

“I bring to the roles my passion for theater, my ability to act like a little kid in the case of Stevie, and my penchant for eye-rolling in the case of Pamela,” Altomari said.

Altomari is new to the Butler area but previously portrayed Linus in “You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown” years ago in high school, she said.

“A radio theater play is different because it requires some work from the audience as well as the actors,” Altomari said. “The audience gets the chance to participate in the show, not physically but mentally. The actors perform the play, but the audience must work out where the radio station ends and 20th century London begins,” she said.

Lorraine Martin of Butler Township, who has done much acting, will play a bunch of characters, the three main ones being Ellen in “The Lodger,” Winnie in “Sabotage” and Annabella in “The 39 Steps.”

“I feel that with each character, I get a little more mysterious and edgy,” Martin said.

She said she likes trying new things and this is a play that will do just that.

“I like being pulled out of my comfort zone a bit and figuring out ways to make each of my characters unique,” she said.

Also playing multiple roles will be Greg Crawford of Chicora.

“I play Robert, the husband and father, a detective, and a bunch of small roles in the third act,” he said.

This type of show is right up Crawford's alley and plays into his strengths.

“I've always liked to do accents and bolder, character work,” he said. “Fans of drama and suspense, and Hitchcock in particular, will enjoy this show,” Crawford said.

Producer of the show, Connie Donovan of Penn Township, is not new to the role of producer but is working with a new director this show.

“My biggest challenge is to do what I can to assist our new creative director in bringing his vision to life,” Donovan said, noting that it's an enjoyable challenge.

The show is under the direction of Cole Egbert.

Also featured in the play are Dennis Whalen, Dan McCarty and Shaun Donovan.

The production will run through Oct. 8.

WHO: Butler Little TheatreWHAT: “Vintage Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play”WHEN: Sept. 30 to Oct. 8, at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through ThursdayWHERE: One Howard St.TICKETS: $12, available 10 days prior to opening night by calling 724-287-6781 from 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays through Fridays or visiting www.bltgroup.org.