KC Rep Presents Production of Lookingglass Theatre’s AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, 1/22-2/14

Following the extraordinary success of its world premiere of A Christmas Story, The Musical! and Moisés Kaufman's direction of Into the Woods, Kansas City Rep continues its season of high-voltage productions with Lookingglass Theatre's presentation of Around the World in 80 Days, Jules Verne's classic novel of adventure and intrigue, written and directed by Laura Eason and staged by Heidi Stillman. The show comes to life at the Rep's Spencer Theatre January 22-February 14.

The wealthy Phileas Fogg-a dedicated man of scientific reason-has staked his entire fortune on his idea that the globe can be circumnavigated in a mere 80 days. Will bandits, a herd of buffalo, an act of chivalry and a meddlesome inspector from Scotland Yard prevent him from fulfilling this inconceivable task? Follow Fogg and his loyal valet Passepartout from the misty alleys of Victorian London to the steamy subcontinent; aboard steamships, locomotives and elephants-as he learns about the heart, himself and a world that is much larger than he ever anticipated.

Kansas City Rep partners with CENTERSTAGE of Baltimore to present this powerful, physically vibrant production that had its world premiere in 2008 at the award-winning Lookingglass Theatre Company of Chicago.

The all-Equity cast of eight actors is made up of: Usman Ally (Mr. Naidu and others) appeared in the Lookingglass Theatre World premiere of Around the World in 80 Days and was featured in ChicaGo Productions of The Arabian Nights, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, Relatively Close, Celebrity Row, Public Enemy and Tranquility Woods. In 2008, he was named one of top five actors in Chicago by NewCity Stage.

Lance Baker (Phileas Fogg) has appeared in many ChicaGo Productions including Mauritius (Jefferson Award nomination), Amadeus, Lady, A Steady Rain, Young Lady from Rwanda, Thom Pain (based on nothing)-Jefferson Award, Dollhouse and Lobby Hero (both Jefferson Award nominated). He has also directed at A Red Orchid and Collaboraction and has appeared in the films Express, Public Enemies and Payback and on "Early Edition" and "Turks".

Rom Barkhordar (Captain Speedy and others) has performed in the Lookingglass Theatre World premiere of Around the World in 80 Days and also in Chicago in The Elephant Man, Fallen Angels, Incident at Vichy, Pravda, Journey's End, The Constant Wife, King Lear, Anna Karenina, and Woman Without a Name. He has also acted in the A&E film "The Beast" with Patrick Swayze.

Ravi Batista (Mrs. Aouda) has appeared in the world premiere of Around the World in 80 Days at Lookingglass Theatre and also in Mad Dancers, What Dreams May Come, Holiday Storybox and Gogol Stories at Chicago's Priven Theatre.

Joe Dempsey (Inspector Fix) has appeared in Chicago in the world premiere of Around the World in 80 Days, The Shaggs, Summertime and My Life in Pop (Lookingglass Theatre) and also in Art (Steppenwolf Theatre), Strange Interlude, The Disappearance of the Jews, Silk, Trojan Women and Design for Living (Goodman Theatre).

Kevin Douglas (Passepartout) has appeared at Lookingglass in the world premiere of Around the World in 80 Days, Our Town, and Black Diamond: The Years the Locusts Have Eaten, Lookingglass Alice and in KiWi Black (Victory Gardens Theatre). He has also performed at Actors Theatre of Louisville and The New York Fringe Festival.

Patrick New (Colonel Proctor and others) has appeared in Chicago in the world premiere of Around the World in 80 Days at Lookingglass and at Steppenwolf Theatre, Goodman Theatre, and Writers' Theatre. He has toured nationally with Roundabout Theatre Production's Twelve Angry Men and acted at Seattle Rep, Indiana Rep and Illinois Shakespeare Festival.

Ericka Ratcliff (Captain Von Darius and others) has appeared Off-Broadway in Macbeth and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Funk It Up About Nothing. At Lookingglass in Chicago she has performed in the world premiere of Around the World in 80 Days and Black Diamond: The Years the Locusts Have Eaten.

The creative and design team includes stage direction by Heidi Stillman (ensemble member and artistic director of new work at Lookingglass Theatre); scenic design by Jacqueline and Richard Penrod (three Jefferson nominations); costume design by Mara Blumenfeld (Metamorphoses, The Arabian Nights at KC Rep, three Jefferson Awards, Olivier nomination and TCG Design Fellow); lighting design by Lee Keenan (Lookingglass, Silk Road Theatre Project, About Face Youth Theatre, Collaboraction); sound design by Joshua Horvath (Clay, Winesburg, Ohio, The Trip to Bountiful and upcoming Venice at KC Rep, Clay at Lincoln Center and Kirk Douglas Theatre, three Jefferson Awards and six nominations; musical compositions by Kevin O'Donnell (Lookingglass, Steppenwolf, ten Jefferson nominations, two After Dark Awards).

All performances and events will take place at Spencer Theatre in the James C. Olson Performing Arts Center on the UMKC campus, just east of the Country Club Plaza. Tickets for Around the World in 80 Days cost $15-$55; youth tickets (18 years and younger and students with valid school ID) are $15. For information about performance times and ticket options, call the Rep Box Office at 816-235-2700 or visit www.KCRep.org.

Special Events for Around the World in 80 Days at Spencer Theatre:
Meet the Creative Team Wednesday, January 27, following 7 p.m. performance
Opening Night/Press Night Friday, January 29, 8 p.m. curtain
Signed performance Saturday, February 6, 2 p.m. performance
Scholars' Forum Saturday, February 6, following 2 p.m. performance
Actors' Forums Sunday, February 7, following 2 p.m. performance
Tuesday, February 9, following 7 p.m. performance

About kansas city repertory theatre
Now in its 45th year, Kansas City Repertory Theatre is one of the nation's leading professional theatres and a member of the League of Resident Theatres. The Rep produces a full season of plays and events at Spencer Theatre on the UMKC campus, where the Rep is the professional theatre in residence, and at Copaken Stage downtown. Its diverse repertoire includes new works, musicals and classics of literature. The theatre serves approximately 100,000 patrons annually and employs more than 250 professional artists, technicians and administrators. This year, more than 8,500 students from 150 schools in the two-state region will attend special matinee performances, and more than 1,200 students will experience the Rep's classroom programming and workshops.

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