International City Theatre Opens AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, 1/25

Mark Brown's other plays include the musical China–The Whole Enchilada (Outstanding Musical, 2008 New York International Fringe Festival); The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge (the best-selling show in Seattle's Taproot Theatre's history, called "a sequel worthy of Dickens' approval"); his adaptation, co-written with Paul Kiernen, of The Little Prince (which set box office records at both Florida's Hippodrome Theatre and the Orlando Theatre Project) and Poe: Deep Into That Darkness Peering, co-written with Mark Rector. Mark received his acting training at The American Conservatory Theatre and has appeared in theaters across the country, including South Coast Repertory, the McCarter Theatre (company member, five years) and the Utah Shakespeare Festival. Films include Out of Sight (with George Clooney), Holy Man (with Eddie Murphy and Jeff Goldblum) and Amy's O (winner, Best Film: Santa Barbara Film Festival). TV credits include the Emmy Award winning series From the Earth to the Moon (with Tom Hanks), House, Ally McBeal, Providence, Diagnosis Murder and countless commercials and made-for-TV films. His song "Bring Me Back Home," which he wrote and performed, appears in the film "The Dig".

Allison Bibicoff is a Los Angeles-based choreographer and director. Her choreography has been nominated for a Los Angeles Drama Critic's Circle Award (The Who's Tommy), two LA Weekly Awards (Godspell and 1776) and a Back Stage Garland (Songs For A New World at ICT), and she received the Garland Award for her work on The Who's Tommy. Allison was the assistant choreographer for Xanadu on Broadway, which received four Tony nominations, including Best New Musical and Best Choreography, and she was the SDCF observer to Kathleen Marshall on Applause! at City Center Encores! in NYC, starring Christine Ebersole and Kate Burton. She has recently focused on directing and developing new work, directing staged readings of many new musicals and plays at the Colony Theatre, Academy for New Musical Theatre, Edgemar and more. Allison is currently directing and choreographing Modrock, a new jukebox musical currently in development that is set in mid-'60s London and features music originally performed by The Kinks, The Who, The Animals, Dusty Springfield, the Yardbirds, The Hollies, Petula Clark, Gerry and the Pacemakers, The Zombies, Herman's Hermits and others.

Set design for Around the World in 80 Days is by Staci Walters; lighting design is by Donna Ruzika; costume design is by Kim DeShazo; sound design is by Dave Mickey; hair and wigs are by Anthony Gagliardi; props are by Patty and Gordon Briles; and casting is by Michael Donovan Casting.

Around the World in 80 Days runs Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays @ 8 pm and Sundays @ 2 pm, January 25 through February 17. Two preview performances take place on Wednesday, January 23 and Thursday, January 24 @ 8 pm. Tickets are $38 on Thursdays and $45 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, except opening night which is $50 and includes a reception with the actors following the performance. Preview tickets are $29. International City Theatre is located in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center at 300 E. Ocean Boulevard in Long Beach, CA 90802. For reservations and information, call the ICT Box Office at 562-436-4610 or www.InternationalCityTheatre.com.

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