TheatreSquared presents the original amazing race — Around the World in 80 Days
By Jules Verne — adapted by Mark Brown, directed by Mark Shanahan
On stage November 26– December 21, 2014
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — November 17, 2014 — Jules Verne's 1873 adventure Around the World in 80 Days sets off next week at TheatreSquared in a fast-paced adaptation by Mark Brown featuring five actors in 39 roles. When Phileas Fogg makes a wager that he can circumnavigate the globe in just 80 days, he sets out with his servant Passepartout—but his every step is dogged by a detective who thinks Fogg is a bank robber on the run. Equal parts danger, romance, theatrical invention and comedy, Around the World in 80 Days is recommended for all audiences. Performances are scheduled November 26 through December 21, on Thursdays at 7:30, Fridays at 7:30, Saturdays at 2:00 and 7:30, and Sundays at 2:00 and 7:00. TheatreSquared performs at Walton Arts Center’s Nadine Baum Studios (505 W. Spring St., Fayetteville, AR 72701). Tickets range from $15-$39 ($10/Under 30) and are available through Tickets Northwest Arkansas at (479) 443-5600 or online at theatre2.org.
“It's the original amazing race," said Executive Director Martin Miller. "The artistic team is exceptional — with credits from Spamalot to The 39 Steps on Broadway. But the most remarkable company member may be the scenery, which is called upon to transform into a sailboat, three trains, a dozen exotic locales, and an elephant."
"We love a good challenge,” said Artistic Director Robert Ford, “and this is a challenge three times over: it’s technically demanding, requires virtuosic performances, and tackles one of literature’s most famous adventures. If you manage to get a seat, I guarantee you’ll see firsthand why it’s worth our hard work.”
The cast of Around the World in 80 Days includes Mason Azbill, Gil Brady, Anissa Felix, Cameron Folmar, and Bruce Warren, accompanied by musicians/foley artists Sean Hagery and Ashtyn Nilsen.
The creative team includes director Mark Shanahan, scenic designer James J. Fenton, lighting designer Nathan Scheuer, properties head Brodie Jasch, costume designer Ruby Kemph, sound designer Will Eubanks, dialect coach Kathy Logelin, technical director Josh Tillotson, stage manager David Loranca, and assistant stage manager Shannon Jones.
The performance will run two hours and ten minutes with one intermission and is recommended for all ages. Tickets are on sale now at (479) 443-5600 or by visiting theatre2.org.
TheatreSquared’s locally produced and nationally acclaimed productions reach 30,000 patrons each year. The company is Northwest Arkansas’s only year-round professional theatre, offering a unique audience experience in its intimate 175-seat theatre at Walton Arts Center’s Nadine Baum Studios. In 2011, TheatreSquared was recognized by the American Theatre Wing, founder of the Tony Awards, as one of the nation’s ten most promising emerging theatres. For further information or press tickets, contact TheatreSquared at (479) 445-6333 or visit theatre2.org.
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Around the World in 80 Days is sponsored in part by Tod Yeslow and Jackie Telfair.
Major funding for the TheatreSquared Season 9 is provided by The Walton Family Foundation, Inc.; by the Shubert Foundation; by the John and Robyn Horn Foundation; and by the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Major marketing support for TheatreSquared Season 9 is provided by the Fayetteville Advertising and Promotions Commission. Media sponsors include NWA Media, Fayetteville Flyer, CitiScapes, KUAF, and Mailco USA.