Fox Valley Rep Begins Summer Fest With Around the World in 80 Days

Fox Valley Repertory is ready for a summer of stampeding elephants, raging typhoons and bandits, as they continue their inaugural season with the classic adventure novel and famous 1950s blockbuster film Around the World in 80 Days. Directed by Fox Valley Rep Artistic Director and Wheaton native John Gawlik, performances will take place at the Pheasant Run Resort Mainstage and is in collaboration with the inaugural St. Charles Summer Theater Fest in July (4051 E. Main St., St. Charles, IL; box office 630-584-6342).

Around the World in 80 Days will preview Thursday, June 9 through Friday, June 17, 2011. The show will open Saturday evening, June 18, 2011 and continue through Sunday, July 31, 2011.

Tickets are priced at $29 on Fridays (and limited Thursday performances), and at $39 on Saturdays and Sundays. Dinner show packages are available from $49. Group rates and overnight packages are also available.

Join fearless adventurer Phileas Fogg and his faithful manservant as they race to beat the clock! Fogg has agreed to an outrageous wager that puts his fortune and his life at risk. With his resourceful servant Passepartout, Fogg sets out to circle the globe in an unheard-of 80 days. But his every step is dogged by a detective who thinks he's a robber on the run. Danger, romance, and comic surprises abound in this whirlwind of a show.

In 2001, Jules Verne's novel was adapted for the stage by American playwright Mark Brown. In what has been described as "a wildly wacky, unbelievably creative, 90-miles-an-hour, hilarious journey," this award-winning stage adaptation is written for a small ensemble of actors who portray 39 characters.

"We're excited to stage Jules Verne's adventure comedy. His books inspired generations of both children and adults to see the potential all around them. We will be taking a different direction for this show, by adding a role of a young boy," says Director John Gawlik. "The story itself is a dream, which will all take place in the boy's bedroom - a place where stampeding elephants, raging typhoons, and bandits will come alive!"

Brian Hamman of Wheaton

The cast of Around the World in 80 Days features (in alphabetical order): Peter DeFaria (previously in FVR's Red Herring), Sean Patrick Fawcett (previously in Leaving Iowa), Brian Hamman of Wheaton, Lauren Pizzi and Matthew Sherbach. Alternating the role of The Boy will be Batavia residents and FVR Academy students Caden Bohmer and Colin Steele.

John Gawlik, Wheaton native, directs the show after recently directing the remount of The Gift Theatre Company's The Ruby Sunrise at Theater on the Lake, named one of the Top Ten shows of 2009 by TimeOut Chicago Magazine. Other recent directing credits include Fox Valley Rep's Always Patsy Cline, Red Herring, Over the Tavern, smash hit Altar Boyz and the holiday classic A Christmas Story, as well as the Jeff Nominated productions of W;t for The Gift Theatre and Dated: A Cautionary Tale for Facebook Users for Collaboraction's Sketchbook Festival (Festival Best Director). John is the Artistic Director of Fox Valley Rep.

Around the World in 80 Days opens on Thursday, June 9, 2011 and runs through Sunday, July 31, 2011. Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m. Thursday performances are available on June 9 and June 16 at 8pm; and June 23 and June 30 at 2pm. Special Note: The Saturday, July 16 performance is at 4pm. The Friday, July 15 & 19 performances are at 7:30pm. There are no performances on July 8 and 22. The show is rated PG.

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and is sponsored in part by the Daily Herald and Dupage Airport.

Pheasant Run Resort is located at 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles, IL. For tickets, call the Pheasant Run Box Office at 630-584-6342, or visit www.ticketmaster.com. Additional performance information may be obtained at www.foxvalleyrep.org.

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