Press Release

 

GREENSBORO AUDIENCES GO AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS WITH TRIAD STAGE

Mark Brown’s Family-Friendly Comic Adaptation of Jules Verne’s Classic Adventure in Extended Run, February 7 – March 7, 2010

(Greensboro, NC) —Triad Stage begins the second half of its 2009-2010 Season – “A Season Together” – with Around the World in 80 Days, actor/playwright Mark Brown’s popular adaptation of the 19th century novel by the same name. It’s not the destination, it’s the journey. Jules Verne’s classic tale springs to life in this clever, fast-paced comedy for the whole family. Proper gentleman Phileas Fogg strikes a wager and sets off on a race that puts his fortune and life at risk. With his faithful servant at his side, he has just 80 days to circle the globe—an inconceivable feat in the year 1872! Fierce natives, furious typhoons, runaway trains, a damsel in distress and a dogged detective threaten to delay him at every step in this delightful, whirlwind odyssey that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to unexpected end. Around the World in 80 Days runs February 7 through March 7, 2010. (This is an extension of the previously announced run of February 7 – 28.) Opening Night is Friday, February 12. The production is sponsored by the VF Corporation.

Mark Brown’s adaptation of Around the World in 80 Days is currently one of the most produced plays in North America. “It’s easy to see why,” says Preston Lane, Triad Stage Artistic Director/Co-founder and the production’s director. “This play has it all, laughter, adventure, romance and a story the whole family can enjoy together. The minute I read it, I knew I had discovered a theatrical gem–a play as big as our imaginations that allows an audience to lose themselves on one of the most amazing journeys ever taken.”

Brown relied on his long experience as an actor when creating the play. He always intended for five actors to play over 30 different characters, and knew how to pace the play to allow for costume changes and scenic transitions, all while maintaining the fun and excitement of the story and remaining true to the original classic. “He’s done an extraordinary job of making theater out of Verne’s novel,” credits Lane. “He’s cut to the chase, focused on the comedy and made a kind of theatrical magic. The play takes us around the world in two hours and asks us to use our imagination as our principle mode of transportation.”

For Triad Stage’s production of Around the World in 80 Days, Lane has assembled a cast of talents from New York and North Carolina. The 5-member ensemble includes: Michael Tourek, Andrew Rein, Jamison Stern, Elena Araoz and Ray Collins.

The creative team includes: scenic designer Howard C. Jones, costume designer Kelsey Hunt, lighting designer Norman Coates and sound designer Janie Bullard. The dramaturg is Drew Barker, the dialect coach is Christine Morris and the fight director is Jim Wren. Cindi Rush is the casting director and the stage manager is Eric Tysinger.

Biographies for the cast and creative team, and more information on the production can be found online at www.triadstage.org.

In keeping with Brown’s “theatrical magic,” scenic designer Howard C. Jones (Picnic, The Night of the Iguana, Hedda Gabler) was enlisted to create a stage that was more than something the actors could perform on, it would be something they could perform with. The solution was a life-sized toy theater from the Victorian age. “I have always been fascinated by Victorian Toy Theaters,” exclaims Preston Lane, “those miniature wonders that brought the magic of theater into the imagination of children, reducing the playhouse to a toy box. By creating our own Victorian miniature theater, we are giving ourselves permission to combine the theatrical conventions of yesterday with the comic construct of Laugh In and the technology of today.”

Kelsey Hunt’s designs for the period costumes from various countries around the globe enhance the imagery. “All of the colors and patterns for the costumes are taken from Victorian decorative prosceniums of the toy theaters—lots of saturation and hard lines,” says Hunt. “With costume quick changes galore added to the endless action already onstage, it will be sight to see.”

 

Associated Events
In conjunction with its run of Around the World in 80 Days, Triad Stage is producing two special events. In the spirit of The Amazing Race, the theater and Downtown Greensboro, Inc. present Around Downtown in 80 Minutes, a race for time and points, on Friday, February 5 from 7:00 pm – 8:20 pm. Triad Stage will also host Around the World Day at Triad Stage on Saturday, February 20 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. Parents are invited to bring their children out to experience cultures from various countries and to get a look at the stage craft behind the scenes of the play. Both events are free of charge and more information can be found online at www.triadstage.org.

 

Performance and Special Event Information
Tickets for Preview performances of Around the World in 80 Days, on February 7, 9, 10 and 11, are all $16 each. From Opening Night, February 12, single ticket prices range from $10 to $42. Prices vary depending on the day of the week and seat location desired. Tickets are $16 for children ages 17 and under for all performances.

All performances are at Triad Stage at The Pyrle Theater, located at 232 South Elm Street in downtown Greensboro, North Carolina (between Market and Washington Streets).

Discount rates are available for groups of 10 or more. Group tickets can be purchased by calling Sherry Barr, Director of Audience Services at 336.274.0067 ext. 221 or emailing groupsales@triadstage.org.

Show times for Around the World in 80 Days are 7:30 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings (except March 7) and 8:00 pm on Friday and Saturday evenings. Sunday matinees are at 2:00 pm. Saturday matinees are at 2:00 pm on February 20 and March 6. There are no matinee performances during previews. Pay-What-You-Can performances are Sunday, February 14, and Tuesday, February 16, at 7:30 pm. Wine Tasting Friday is February 19, prior to the evening’s 8:00 pm performance, with wines provided by Zeto Wine and Cheese Shoppe. A Sign-Interpreted performance is on Tuesday, February 23, at 7:30 pm, with services provided by the Greensboro Communication Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Technically Talking,a behind-the-scenes discussion with members of the design team is Tuesday, February 9, immediately following the 7:30 pm preview performance. The InSight Series, the free humanities program that brings a noted speaker to the Triad to discuss the world of the play and its subject matter, will be held on Sunday, February 14, immediately following the 2:00 pm matinee performance with Jean-Michel Margot, president of the North American Jules Verne Society. PostScript, a lively, open discussion with members of the cast, will be held on Thursday, February 18, immediately following the 7:30 pm performance.

 

About Triad Stage
Triad Stage is a professional not-for-profit regional theater company based in Greensboro’s downtown historic district. All Triad Stage productions are created in Greensboro using the best of local and national talent. Triad Stage gratefully acknowledges the support of its Season Sponsors: Mitre Agency, the North Carolina Arts Council and the United Arts Council of Greater Greensboro. The starring sponsor for Around the World in 80 Days is the VF Corporation. The production sponsors are Ann Benjamin Zuraw of Compass Financial Partners, LLC and Triad Stage’s Producers Circle and Center Stage level donors.

Triad Stage’s 2009-2010 Season – “A Season Together” – continues with Ethel Waters: His Eye Is on the Sparrow, a life in music by Larry Parr (April 11 – May 2, 2010) and the world premiere of Providence Gap, an Appalachian saga by Preston Lane, with original music by Laurelyn Dossett (June 6 – July 4, 2010). 2009-2010 Season Passes and single tickets for all productions are on sale now.

All Triad Stage productions feature the bold acting and breathtaking design that have been nationally recognized by The Wall Street Journal and haveearned the theater accolades including “One of the Best Regional Theatres in America”, New York’s Drama League; “Best Live Theater”, Go Triad/News & Record and The Rhinoceros Times; and “Professional Theater of the Year”, North Carolina Theatre Conference. 

To purchase tickets or for performance information on Around the World in 80 Days, call the Triad Stage Box Office at 336.272.0160 or toll-free at 866.579.TIXX (8499), or visit www.triadstage.org.