AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS Comes To Taproot, Opens 5/22

Get ready for a madcap, cross-continental race against time packed with adventure, danger, suspense and love at Taproot Theatre Company with the regional premiere of Around the World in 80 Days. Jules Verne's 19th century novel comes to life before your eyes in Mark Brown's wildly theatrical adaptation.

A bet to travel around the world in 80 days is a fool's venture in 1872, unless you happen to be named Phileas Fogg. Villainy, a damsel in distress and an array of transportation disasters are met with Victorian virtue and a precision pocket watch in Brown's comic play that's part James Bond, part Lord Peter Wimsey and pure fun. Around the World in 80 Days, directed by Scott Nolte, opens on May 22 and runs through June 20 with low-price previews on May 20 & 21, plus a pay-what-you-can performance on May 27.

Around the World in 80 Days had its world premiere at the Utah Shakespeare Festival in September 2001, was work-shopped at the Orlando Shakespeare Festival in May 2002, and had its off-Broadway premiere this past July. The playwright is the award-winning writer behind The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge, which Taproot Theatre presented in 2005, and The Little Prince (co-written with Paul Kiernen), among other works. His acting credits include Out of Sight with George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez, Holy Man with Eddie Murphy, Diagnosis Murder and Ally McBeal.

A largely true-to-the-book yet theatrical adaptation of the classic novel, Around the World in 80 Days takes five actors and has all but one-the actor playing Fogg-rapidly transforming from one character to another nearly in the blink of an eye.

"Brown is a playwright who loves the classics and the sense of wonder created by reinventing them onstage," said Nolte. "As an actor himself he knows how much fun it is to surprise the audience - hence we have 5 actors playing over 30 characters, with the fewest props and set pieces possible so the audience's imagination and sense of humor is engaged too. I think our audiences are in for a terrific mix of adventure, delight and storytelling."

After Around the World in 80 Days, Taproot Theatre's 2009 Mainstage season continues with Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming, the third installment of the belovEd Sanders family series (July 8-August 8), and Enchanted April, Matthew Barber's adaptation of Elizabeth von Arnim's 1920s novel (September 23-October 24).

Support for Taproot Theatre's 2009 season is generously provided by 4Culture, ArtsFund, The Charles Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences, Washington State Arts Commission, Nesholm Family Foundation and PONCHO. Thanks to The Upper Crust, our Opening Night sponsor, and Romio's Pizza and Pasta and Dry Soda, our Pizza and a Play sponsors.

Taproot Theatre Company is a professional, non-profit theatre company with a multi-faceted production program. Founded in 1976, Taproot Theatre serves the Pacific Northwest with Mainstage Productions, Touring Productions and Acting Studio. Taproot exists to create theatre that explores the beauty and questions of life while bringing hope to our search for meaning. Taproot Theatre Company is a member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), Theatre Puget Sound (TPS), and the Greenwood-Phinney Chamber of Commerce.TICKETS: Wednesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday matinees, $26-28; Friday and Saturday evenings, $30-33; preview performances, $20-22; student/senior discount of $2 off per ticket; ages 25 and under, $10. Senior matinee performance on June 17 is $20. Pizza and a Play Night on May 28 is $10 for ages 18-25, and includes free Romio's pizza and Dry Soda.

For tickets contact Taproot Theatre's box office at (206) 781-9707 or call Ticketmaster at (206) 292-ARTS. Group rates are available. For groups, call (206) 781-9708.

Tickets for the pay-what-you-can performance on May 27 go on sale at 5 p.m. day of show at the box office only. Plus, a limited supply of $10 tickets will be offered from 12-5 p.m. on May 27 for that evening's performance. Limit six tickets per person from 12-5 p.m., and four per person after 5 p.m

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