Mad Cow Theatre to Stage THE EXPLORER'S CLUB, 1/23-2/22

Mad Cow Theatre is pleased to announce the cast and creative team for its upcoming run of The Explorers Club, by Nell Benjamin, set to open January 23, 2015 in The Harriett as part of Season 18.

Travel back to 1879, and meet The Explorers Club! This band of raucous pioneers and men of 'science' will always settle for brandy and cigars even if their farfetched expeditions don't succeed. But introduce the club's first female member, and watch as chaos and hilarity ensue. In her new comedic romp, Nell Benjamin takes us to worlds unknown and back again. Hang on to your seats, and laugh along as exotic tribesmen, warrior monks, and jilted queens fight it out in this side-splitting farce.

Mad Cow Theatre is delighted to host the regional premiere of Nell Benjamin's The Explorers Club, nominee for the 2014 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play. In 2007, Nell Benjamin earned a Tony nomination for Outstanding Score in Legally Blonde: The Musical. She also went on to receive an Edgerton Foundation New American Plays Award for The Explorers Club.

The cast of The Explorers Club features David Almeida as Sir Bernard Humphries (Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Sweeney Todd), Dennis Enos as Professor Walling (James Joyce's The Dead, She Loves Me), Ryan Gigliotti as Luigi (Rashomon), Glenn Gover as Professor Sloane (Laughter on the 23rd Floor, The Pitmen Painters), Heather Leonardi as Phyllida Spotte-Hume/Countess Glamorgan (Cock, Laughter on the 23rd Floor), Ross Neal in his Mad Cow debut as Beebe/Irish Assassin, Simon Needham as Harry Percy (Table Manners), Eric Pinder as Lucius Fretway (Urinetown, Shipwrecked!), and Kevin Zepf as Professor Cope (Death of a Salesman, Dreamgirls).

Direction is by David Russell (Laughter on the 23rd Floor), set design by William Elliott (James Joyce's The Dead, The Light in the Piazza, Other Desert Cities), costumes by Marco T. Magno (The History Boys), and lighting and sound by Michael Powers (Cock, The History Boys).

The Explorers Club runs from January 23 - February 22, 2015 in The Harriett at Mad Cow Theatre, 54 West Church Street (Second Floor) in Downtown Orlando. Preview Performances are January 21 & 22 at 7:30 p.m. All tickets are $12.00. All regular performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday - Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays. Opening Night is Friday, January 23 at 7:30 p.m. This performance will be followed by Mad Cow's traditional champagne toast and tasty treats from our opening night sponsor and downtown neighbor, Church Street Tavern. Monday Night performances will be held on February 2 & 9 at 7:30 p.m. Talk Backs occur every Thursday and Sunday following the performance at no extra cost and are free to the public as well.

Tickets start at $17. Other discounts for students and active Military apply. More information is available online on ourSavings Programs page. Single Tickets start at $29.25 and are available online at madcowtheatre.com and by calling the MadCow Theatre box office at 407.297.8788 ext. 1.

Mad Cow Theatre is Downtown Orlando's professional theatre company presenting compelling works of theatre for a wide-range of audiences, with a passion for both classic and contemporary plays and musicals representing the best of American and World literature. Founded in 1997, Mad Cow has produced over 120 works of theatre to an ever-widening audience -- promoting, enhancing and celebrating the human condition through art.
Mad Cow Theatre is a 501 c 3 arts organization funded by The State of Florida, Division of Cultural Affairs, United Arts of Central Florida, The Downtown Development Board, The Florida Theatrical Association, Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs and members of the Central Florida community just like you.