Michael Evan Haney News

First things first; there is no hot air ballooning in Mark Brown's stage adaptation of Jules Verne's Around The World In 80 Days, just in case your only familiarity with the plot comes from Michael Todd's not exactly faithful 1956 movie version. (For that matter, there aren't any martial arts fight scenes either, in case you only saw the Jackie Chan remake.) But if Verne's hero did dabble in a bit of ballooning, I'm sure Brown and director Michael Evan Haney would have found some clever way to depict it in this lively and entertaining little production that's landed at the Irish Repertory Theatre in association with Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.

Westport Country Playhouse incoming artistic director Mark Lamos and managing director Michael Ross announce a new look to the 2009 season. The Playhouse will open its 79th season in April with 'Around the World in 80 Days' directed by Michael Evan Haney. 'Around the World in 80 Days' was original scheduled for a September run, but will now open the 2009 season. 'Around the World in 80 Days,' an adventure tale adapted from the book by Jules Verne and written by Mark Brown, will play April 21 through May 9. Hailed by the New Yorker as 'a riveting testament to the ingeniousness of the human imagination,' and heralded by Associated Press as 'a clever, action-packed production skillfully directed by Michael Evan Haney,' 'Around the World in 80 Days' is a wild, global adventure for the whole family about Phileas Fogg and his ever loyal man-servant Passepartout---complete with elephants, steamboats and trains. Following 'Around the World in 80 Days,' the season's second play will be 'Children,' a timeless and touching family drama by A.R. Gurney, the playwright who penned 'The Dining Room,' 'Sylvia' and 'Love Letters.' It will run May 26 through June 13. When their mysterious brother, Pokey, returns to the family's beachside vacation home, all the family plans crumble as love affairs and family secrets explode. Westport favorite John Tillinger will direct.

The Irish Repertory Theatre in association with The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park will present AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS. This high-spirited, fast-moving and highly imaginative show, by Mark Brown from the novel by Jules Verne, begins previews July 11th, opens July 20th and continues through September 7th at the Irish Repertory Theatre.

The Irish Repertory Theatre in association with The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park will present AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS. This high-spirited, fast-moving and highly imaginative show, by Mark Brown from the novel by Jules Verne, begins previews July 11th, opens July 20th and continues through September 7th at the Irish Repertory Theatre.