Bryce Ryness Stars in The New Theater's AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, Beg. Tonight

The Off-Broadway Production of Around the World in 80 Days opens tonight, May 30, 2013 at The New Theater at 45th Street, under the direction of Rachel Klein, Around the World in 80 Days is comedic play by Mark Brown based on the novel by Jules Verne.

The design team includes Scenic & House Design by Robert Andrew Kovach, Lighting Design by Ben Kato, Sound Design by Sean Hagerty & Projection Design by Katherine Freer. Director Rachel Klein will personally supervise a team of design associates that include Kae Burke (Costumes), Elena Delgado (Props) & Jessica Jade Jacob (Make-up).

Producer Cedric Yau stated, "From day one, I knew Around the World in 80 Days should be a 'Fantastic Update of the Jules Verne Classic.' Between Robert Kovach's multi-level set design with panoramic murals encircling the audience, Ben Kato's awesome state-of-the-art lighting & Sean Haggarty's 6.1 Surround Sound System, I know we will deliver on the promise of a Fantastic Experience!"

Robert Andrew Kovach began his design career over ten years ago after moving to Chicago in 1999 to work as a Production Designer & Art Director for Chicago Scenic Studios (CSS). His seven-year tenure there allowed him to design in multiple venues from tradeshows & exhibits to industrials & theatre, working as a production designer, art director, theatre designer & production manager. He experienced various projects, from a $50k children's museum & theatre designs, to million dollar projects, such as "The Oprah Winfrey Show," the Democratic Conventions in 2000 & 2004 & MTV's "Real World." Robert moved to New York City & has designed the U.S. Touring Production of Carmen, plus for theatres across America, including the Walnut Street Theatre & Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, as well as corporate designs for Cadillac, ConAgra Foods & museums.

Ben Kato received a 2009 Drama Desk Nomination for Outstanding Lighting Design for Washing Machine (Sanford Meisner). As Resident Lighting Designer for NTUSA, he designed The Golden Veil (The Kitchen), Chautauqua! (P.S. 122/Walker Arts Center), Abacus Black Strikes Now (P.S. 122/OBIE Award 2006), Placebo Sunrise, Garvey & Superpants (Chashama) & Don Juan (Chocolate Factory). Other NYC Productions include: Thomas Bradshaw's Purity & Prophet (P.S. 122), Rob Roth's Screen Test (P.S. 122/Abrons Art Center/Live Design Magazine Excellence Award 2009), Sheila Callaghan's Crawl, Fade to White (13P), Benjamin Britten's Curlew River (directed by Yoshi Oida/Japan Society/Opera Rouen), 7 Seconds (NYU/HERE), directed by Yehuda Duenyas. Fashion/Industrial design credits: Associate Designer for CFDA Fashion Awards '00 & '01 (Lincoln Center/Avery Fisher Hall), Gucci & YSL in Milan and Paris. Music: Justin Bond's Lustre (Abrons Arts Center), Bang on a Can, Cellist, Maya Beiser's, World To Come Tour (with the show's Premiere at Zankell Hall, it has gone on to tour the U.S., Europe and Australia). Kato is a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829. Regionally, his designs have been seen at Dublin Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe, Williamstown, SITI & Lincoln Center Directors Lab. Current Projects: The Ascent, the mind-controlled interactive experience, Pinchbottom's Pretencion (Elektra Theatre) & The Red Book (IAP, St.Marc's).

Sean Hagerty's recent projects include music & sound for Then She Fell (Kingsland Ward), The Fall to Earth (59E59) & electric string trio music for Rachel Klein's Symphony of Shadows (Dixon Place). Interactive performances include Chopin's Minute Waltz with Dave Soldier (Le Poisson Rouge), Chasing the Train with Andrew Nemr (Webster Hall) & The Lost Victrola Sessions (Hudson Opera).

Kate Freer is a multimedia designer & video artist for theatre, film & installations. Off-Broadway & Downtown: PS Jones & the Frozen City (The New Ohio), Cry for Peace: Voices from the Congo (La Mama), Bullet for Adolph (New World Stages), Chimera (HERE), Václav Havel's Hunt for the Pig (3LD) & Seed (National Black Theater). Regional: Stuck Elevator (American Conservatory Theater), The Mountaintop (CenterStage), The Clean House (Syracuse Stage) & Holiday Review (Oregon Ballet Theater). Kate is a founding member of Imaginary Media Artists.

Kae Burke is a performer, aerialist, costume designer & comedic host based in Brooklyn, NY. She is a co-founder & director of House of Yes theatre, partner of Lady Circus performance productions & creator of Make Fun Costume Studio.

Elena Delgado is a New York-based designer & performer. Since moving to New York in 2006 upon the completion of a B.A. in Fine Arts, she has worked on numerous underground theatre productions including Symphony of Shadows, Spiderman: Turn on the Lights, Mumbo, Xenophilia & Modern Times. She is thrilled to be joining the creative team of Around the World in 80 Days & is looking forward to helping to bring such a wonderful aesthetic to life.

Jessica Jade Jacob is a film director & makeup artist originally from Pittsburgh, PA. Her work can be seen in print ads & on film. She also has developed her own line of fake eyelashes.

This rollicking Off-Broadway event stars Bryce Ryness as the phlegmatic Phileas Fogg, the quintessential Brit who takes a bet to travel the globe in 80 days. Jimmy Ray Bennett, John Gregorio, Stephen Guarino & Emily McNamara round out the cast of 5 who play 39 different characters.

Around the World in 80 Days is a fun frolic & fantastic update of the visionary classic. To win a bet, Phileas Fogg, the Victorian action hero & his acrobatic sidekick Passepartout, must circle the globe & return to London inside of 80 days. Unknowingly pursued by a tireless detective convinced that Fogg is a robber on the run, the fast-minded, fleet-footed pair traverses 4 continents & 3 oceans in a white-knuckled sprint. 5 actors cleverly portray 39 roles.

DATES: Previews Begin: May 9th Opening: TONIGHT, May 30th @ 6:30pm
THEATRE: The New Theater at 45th Street ~ 354 West 45th Street
TICKET PRICES: $80 ~ Premium Seats $99
RESERVATIONS: OvationTix (866)811-4111 https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/cal/34294
GENERAL MANAGER: Aaron Grant THEATRICAL, INC
INFORMATION: visit www.aroundtheworldinnyc.com

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