The Off-Broadway Production Around the World in 80 Days, has zoomed to a galloping start, opening on May 30, 2013 at The New Theater at 45th Street. Around the World in 80 Days is a comedic play by Mark Brown based on the Jules Verne novel, starring Guy LeMonnier as Phileas Fogg. Shirine Babb, Jimmy Ray Bennett, John Gregorio & Stephen Guarino round out this ensemble cast of five, who portray 39 different characters. Rachel Klein directs.

Around the World in 80 Days is a fun frolic & fantastic update of the visionary classic. To win a bet, Phileas Fogg, the Victorian action hero & his acrobatic sidekick Passepartout, must circle the globe & return to London inside of 80 days. Unknowingly pursued by a tireless detective convinced that Fogg is a robber on the run, the fast-minded, fleet-footed pair traverses 4 continents & 3 oceans in a white-knuckled sprint. 5 actors cleverly portray 39 roles.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have Rachel Klein as director,” observes producer Cedric Yau. “She combines a daring, uncompromising vision for design with a technical prowess for comedy.”

Guy LeMonnier has toured extensively throughout the US & much of Europe over the past ten years & is thrilled to be portraying the role of Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days. He has performed in scores of shows in both New York & regionally, starring in the Prince & the Pauper Off-Broadway (Miles Hendon), Jesus Christ Superstar (Judas/Pontius Pilate), Jekyll & Hyde (Jekyll/Hyde) & Dracula, the musical (Dracula), to name a few. An original founding member of the highly acclaimed Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Guy spent the majority of 2011 creating their Holiday album, The Kings of Christmas, featuring alumni from the orchestra. He is currently recording a new solo album & preparing a national tour of The Kings of Christmas-365 Days A Year.

Shirine Babb (Auoda) is a classically trained actress who has appeared Off-Broadway, at Long Wharf, Hartford Stage, in Play to Win: The Jackie Robinson Story at TheatreWorks, Almost Heaven: Songs of John Denver at the Barter Theatre & in London.

Jimmy Ray Bennett (Speedy & 15 Other Roles) has appeared in Damn Yankees & Off-Broadway in White’s Lies with Betty Buckley & is a founding member of the Off-Broadway cult hit, The Nuclear Family, as well as The Extended Family on the Sundance Film Channel.

John Gregorio (Passepartout) has appeared Off Broadway in Silent Laughter, The Nuclear Family & 365 Days/365 Plays. TV audiences have watched him in “The Extended Family” (Sundance), “Good Eats” (Food Network) & “Smoking Gun TV” (Court TV). John is a founding member of The Nuclear Family (New York), with whom he teaches & performs improvisation around the country with fellow 80 Days Company members, Jimmy Ray Bennett and Stephen Guarino.

Stephen Guarino (Fix & 8 Other Roles) is best known as Derrick from ABC’s “Happy Endings” & for his years on “The Big Gay Sketch Show.” He is also a founding member of The Nuclear Family, along with his Improv partner Jimmy Ray Bennett.

Upon news of his casting, Bennett and Guarino issued the following joint statement: “A no-brainer! We have been collaborating with Gregorio since the 90’s! He is one third creator of our Off-Broadway show The Nuclear Family & he is the funniest person ever…other than us…and Annette Benning.”

The design team includes Scenic Design by Robert Andrew Kovach, Lighting Design by Ben Kato, Sound Design by Sean Hagerty & Projection Design by Kate Freer. Director Rachel Klein, who also designed the costumes, will personally supervise a team of design associates that includes Kae Burke (Costumes), Elena Delgado (Props) & Jessica Jade Jacob (Make-up).
Producer Cedric Yau stated, “From day one, I knew Around the World in 80 Days should be a ‘Fantastic Update of the Jules Verne Classic.’ Between Robert Kovach’s multi-level set design with panoramic murals encircling the audience, Ben Kato’s awesome state-of-the-art lighting & Sean Haggarty’s 6.1 Surround Sound System, I know we will deliver on the promise of a Fantastic Experience!”

Robert Andrew Kovach began his design career over ten years ago after moving to Chicago in 1999 to work as a Production Designer & Art Director for Chicago Scenic Studios (CSS). His seven-year tenure there allowed him to design in multiple venues from tradeshows & exhibits to industrials & theatre, working as a production designer, art director, theatre designer & production manager. He experienced various projects, from a $50k children’s museum & theatre designs, to million dollar projects, such as “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” the Democratic Conventions in 2000 & 2004 & MTV’s “Real World.” Robert moved to New York City & has designed the U.S. Touring Production of Carmen, plus for theatres across America, including the Walnut Street Theatre & Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, as well as corporate designs for Cadillac, ConAgra Foods & museums.

Ben Kato received a 2009 Drama Desk Nomination for Outstanding Lighting Design for Washing Machine (Sanford Meisner). As Resident Lighting Designer for NTUSA: The Golden Veil (The Kitchen), Chautauqua! (P.S. 122/Walker Arts Center), Abacus Black Strikes Now (P.S. 122/OBIE Award 2006), Placebo Sunrise, Garvey & Superpants (Chashama) & Don Juan (Chocolate Factory). Music: Justin Bond’s Lustre (Abrons Arts Center), Bang on a Can, Cellist, Maya Beiser’s, World To Come Tour. Regionally, he has designed at Dublin Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe, Williamstown, SITI & Lincoln Center Directors Lab.

Sean Hagerty’s recent projects include music & sound for Then She Fell (Kingsland Ward), The Fall to Earth (59E59) & electric string trio music for Rachel Klein’s Symphony of Shadows (Dixon Place). Interactive performances include Chopin’s Minute Waltz with Dave Soldier (Le Poisson Rouge), Chasing the Train with Andrew Nemr (Webster Hall) & The Lost Victrola Sessions (Hudson Opera).

Kate Freer is a multimedia designer & video artist for theatre, film and installations. Off-Broadway & Downtown: PS Jones & the Frozen City, Cry for Peace: Voices from the Congo, Bullet for Adolph, Chimera, Václav Havel’s Hunt For the Pig & Seed. Regionally, she has worked with American Conservatory Theater, CenterStage & Syracuse Stage. She is a founding member of Imaginary Media Artists.

INFORMATION: Visit www.aroundtheworldinnyc.com