Rover Dramaworks Presents AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS 3/5-21

Rover Dramawerks presents the World Premiere adventure comedy Around the World in 80 Days by award-winning playwright Carol M. Rice of Plano at the Courtyard Theater, 1509 H Avenue in Plano (next to the Cox Building Playhouse). Performances are March 5-21, 2009, with shows on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., with an additional matinee performance on Saturday, March 14 at 2:00 p.m.

In the age of steamships, locomotives, and the miracle of telegraphy, the once immense world has arguably shrunk to the point that an audacious bank robber could escape to any quarter of it undetected. In the same vein, a gentleman of means claims he can circumnavigate the world in the unheard of time of 80 days. Had a less dispassionate man suggested the adventure, he might be accused of folly and dissuaded, but Phileas Fogg (played by Gary Anderson of Richardson) is a man of precise methodical process. He has made a wager, and he intends to win it...no matter how ridiculous things become along the way.

Mr. Fogg is accompanied on his journey by his servant Passepartout (Coby Cathey of Carrollton), pursued by Detective Fix (Mike Hathaway of Dallas), and joined by an Indian princess he rescues from her death (Sasha Truman-McGonnell of Plano). Along the way, he meets characters ranging from ship captains to elephant salesmen to circus performers, played by the ensemble of Howard Korn of Frisco, Nancy Lamb and Joe Porter of Dallas, Nic Pfost of Richardson, Richard Russell of Addison, and LonHendre Keggins of Duncanville.

This will be Ms. Rice's first World Premiere for Rover Dramawerks. She has been Artistic Director of Rover Dramawerks since co-founding the company in 2000 and has directed, designed, and acted for the company on numerous occasions. As a playwright, she has seen productions of her adaptation of The Three Musketeers at the now defunct Theatre on the Hill, her melodrama The Belle of West Texas (first place winner of the Mesquite Literary Festival) at Mesquite Community Theatre, and her one-act play The Dancer at Flower Mound Performing Arts Theatre, among others.

Jason Rice of Plano directs, with Karen Bower Robinson of Duncanville as Assistant Director/Stage Manager. Jeff Mabry of Dallas is set designer, Dawn M. Wittke of Carrollton is lighting designer, and Rich Frolich of Arlington is sound designer. Robin Coulonge of Allen is properties designer, and Suzi Cranford of Dallas is costume designer.

Tickets for Around the World in 80 Days are $15.00 on Thursdays and matinee and $18.00 on Fridays and Saturdays. Thursday, March 5 is Preview Night, and all seats are "pay-what-you-can."

Around the World in 80 Days is the third show in Rover Dramawerks' 2008-09 Season. Tickets may be ordered online at www.roverdramawerks.com, and season tickets are also available.

Rover Dramawerks' production of Around the World in 80 Days is sponsored by Gay, McCall, Isaacks, Gordon and Roberts, P.C. Season sponsors include the City of Plano, Plano Arts and Cultural Endowment, Texas Commission on the Arts, the City of Richardson, and Haggard Property Group, Ltd. For more information, please call 972-849-0358 or visit www.roverdramawerks.com.

"What a funny way to see the world!"

Photo by Carol M. Rice