Irish Rep Presents 'Around the World in 80 Days'

The Irish Repertory Theatre in association with The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park will present AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS.  This high-spirited, fast-moving and highly imaginative show, by Mark Brown from the novel by Jules Verne, begins previews July 11th, opens July 20th and continues through September 7th at the Irish Repertory Theatre (132 West 22nd Street).

This production of AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS represents the first time that the Irish Repertory Theatre has co-produced with The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park where it was well-received by Ohio audiences and critics alike.

In England in 1872, Phileas Fogg is the most exact of men. Well-traveled, very wealthy and with no friends or relatives of which to speak, he keeps his days on the most precise of schedules and spends his evenings at the local Reform Club. After a newspaper asserts that traveling around the world in 80 days is a legitimate possibility, Fogg and his fellow Londoners debate whether becoming a globetrotter is indeed that easy. Convinced he could accomplish the task, Fogg enters into a wager with the men, betting 20,000 pounds that he could complete the journey in the allotted time. The race is on, and Fogg begins a journey that will include twists, turns and travel unlike you've ever seen — from train to boat, sled to elephant.

A snooping detective who believes Fogg might be the thief, a possible human sacrifice, a runaway train and even the will of Mother Nature all conspire against Fogg's adventure of a lifetime, threatening not only his journey but also the heart of the woman he loves.

Playwright Mark Brown received his acting training at the American Conservatory Theatre and has appeared in theatres across the country including the South Coast Repertory, the McCarter Theatre and the Utah Shakespearean Festival. Film credits include Out of Sight, Holy Man and Amy's O. TV credits include the Emmy Award-winning series From the Earth to the Moon, House, Ally McBeal,
Providence and Diagnosis Murder. Brown's adaptation of AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS first premiered at the Utah Shakespearean festival in 2001 However, this wasn't the first staged version of this novel. Jules Verne himself created an elaborate stage depiction at the Port Saint-Martin Theatre, Paris, in 1874. With its huge spectacle, including live elephants, the show played for a remarkable 54 years, finally closing in 1928.

The cast for AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS includes Daniel Freedom Stewart as Phileas Fogg, Evan Zes as Passepartout/John Sullivan, John Keating as Detective Fix/numerous characters, Lauren Elise McCord as Aouda/numerous characters, Jay Russell as a variety of characters, and Mark Parenti as Musician /Foley Artist. The director of the show is Associate Artistic Director of the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Michael Evan Haney. Other members of the production team are Joseph P. Tilford (set designer), David Kay Mickelsen (costume designer), Betsy Adams (lighting designer), David Andrew Levy (sound designer), Rich Cole (casting director) and Mark Parenti (original music). The stage manager is Andrea L. Shell.

Tickets to AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS are on sale now. Prices range from $60-$55 The show will run Tuesday thru Sat at 8PM, Matinees Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at 3PM at the Irish Repertory Theatre (132 West 22nd Street).

For tickets to AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS or for more information, call the Irish Repertory Theatre Box Office at 212-727-2737 or visit the website www.irishrep.org

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