For Immediate Release: July 13, 2005
Media Contact: Lisa Higgins Pechter, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, 610-282-9455 x4

Lightning quick character, location, and locomotion changes take audiences on a whirlwind adventure around the globe in the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival's production of Around the World in 80 Days, a play adapted by Mark Brown from the novel by Jules Verne.

With sold-out preview performances today and tomorrow, July 13 and 14, as well as a sold out opening night on Friday, July 15, the comedy runs through August 7 in the Arena Stage at the DeSales University Labuda Center for the Performing Arts. Ticket prices range from $25 to $37. Performances are Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm. There are Saturday 2pm matinees on July 23 and August 6. The Family Night performance at 7:30pm on Sunday, July 17 is sold out; there are still tickets available for the Family Night performance on Sunday, July 31at 7:30pm.

Five actors playing 39 characters in settings that range from London and India to Africa and the American West. As the play offers tour-de-force opportunities for actors, 80 Days features a team of adventurous theatrical veterans. Greg Wood, whose credits are so numerous at PSF that he inspired applause when he stepped on stage last season as Elyot in Private Lives, assumes the role of Phileas Fogg, the clock-watching bettor who leads the spectacular sojourn. He is accompanied by his unstoppable manservant Passepartout, played by PSF newcomer, Brad DePlanche, who also plays John Sullivan.

Eric Hissom and Christopher Patrick Mullen portray a variety of colorful comic characters. Mr. Hissom plays Detective Fix, a misguided law officer who is convinced that Fogg has robbed a bank, and pursues him around the globe with missionary zeal. His characters also include an elephant owner, priest and conductor.

Mr. Mullen -- whose PSF credits range from the title role in Hamlet (2002) to the cross-dressing Lord Fancourt Babberly in Charley's Aunt (nearly as diverse as the roles he will perform in 80 Days) -- will play a British consul, a Western cowboy, a Chinese broker, a judge and numerous clerks, for a grand total of 17 distinct roles.

Fogg's adventures would not be complete without love. As he is two days ahead of schedule, he rescues an Indian princess, Auoda, played by Kim Carson, a recent DSU graduate.

Russell Treyz returns as director. Previous PSF credits include Richard III (2000), Romeo and Juliet (1992), Twelfth Night (1993), The Merchant of Venice (1994) and The School for Wives (1996). Four-time Emmy Award winner Bob Phillips is scenic designer; Amy E. Lobmeyer designed costumes and Eric T. Haugen designed lights. Matthew Given serves as sound designer.

Alvin H. Butz, Inc. is production sponsor, Michael and Sophie Schubert/GMAC-RFC are co-sponsors.

The 2005 Associate Season Sponsors are: The Morning Call, The Harry C. Trexler Trust, and Service Electric Cable and Communications.

The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival at DeSales University is the Official Shakespeare Festival of the Commonwealth and a professional, not-for-profit theatre company. An independent 501 c 3 organization, PSF receives support from DeSales University and relies on contributions from individuals, government agencies, corporations and foundations. PSF is a constituent of the Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American theatre, and is a member of both the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia and the Shakespeare Theatre Association of America.

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