ELLSWORTH – Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime with Ellsworth High School’s rendition of “Around the World in Eighty Days!” hitting the stage March 27-29.

Journey along with Londoner Phileas Fogg as he circumnavigates the globe in 80 days for a wager of 20,000 pounds. Along the way he rides some trains, takes some boats, makes some friends, falls in love, and rides an elephant, all while being, unknowingly, chased by Detective Fix who thinks he may be an escaped bank robber. Will he make it in time and win the wager, or will it not be as easy as he assumes? You’ll have to attend to find out.

Director Kimberley Catron said she was looking for a play that could accommodate a small or large cast depending upon how many students tried out.

“I also wanted to incorporate some new presentation methods, and I thought this play would lend itself to that,” she said.

The show utilizes the overhead screen throughout the play to emphasize places and scenes, providing a new visual element Ellsworth productions have not seen. One thing to look out for is the life-sized elephant.

As with wrangling a large number of students for any event, working around the student performers’ schedules is always challenge when rehearsing, Catron acknowledged. With work and other activities, it’s tough to get the entire cast and crew together for every practice. They have been putting in the hours since Jan. 2 two to three nights per week. However, the reward is worth it when it all comes together, students embrace their characters ad sets are brought out without a hitch, Catron said.

When preparing for a play, long rehearsals can bring out the silliness, especially after a long day of school. It’s those fun little moments that live on in memory.

“Someone stole my apple one night when we were on a 5-minute break and ate it,” Catron said. “No one has fessed up to it yet either! And I really wanted to eat the apple. It was a Pink Lady.”

Catron wants the students enjoy themselves onstage and off.

“As always I hope they enjoy themselves, stretch themselves as people and actors, and learn how to work together and support one another,” she said. “I hope the audience sees the time and effort these students put into bringing this play to the community. Some of them had over 200 lines that needed to be memorized. I hope they enjoy the story, even though this version does NOT utilize a hot air balloon (unfortunately).”

Showtimes are at 7 p.m. Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28, with a matinee at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 29 at Ellsworth High School Auditorium (323 W. Hillcrest St.) Doors open half an hour before each show; all tickets are $5 and are available at the door. There is no assigned seating. Concessions will be sold to support TurningPoint for Victims of Sexual and Domestic Violence, a non-profit organization that provides support to families and individual victims of domestic or sexual violence.

Cast & crew

Phileas Fogg: Madeline Saver

Passepartout: Bailey Oleson

Detective Fix/priest: Loralei Johnson

Aouda/Actor #2: Elianna Ortiz

Sir Francis/Actor #1/engineer: Bella Lee

Proctor/British Consul/ship clerk: Dakota Moldenhauer

Andrew Stuart/Judge/U.S. conductor: Kately Homan

Gauthier Ralph/Speedy: Cole Keenan

Actor #3/Mudge/porter/yet another British Consul/India train conductor/broker: Andy Schiller

Reverend Wilson’s servant/John Sullvan/Actor #4: Livia Schladweiler

Newspaperman/Oysterpuff/Bunsby: Brielle Richardson

Director of Polce/elephant operator/conductor/ship engineer/train clerk: Eden Fritz

Jane Forster/Young Parsi, clerk in NY/waiter: Layla Cook

Tech Manager: Leah Diercks

Stage Managers: Kendra Ziegler and Miles Petersen

Slides: Aria Mennenga

Sound Effects: Evan Ladwig and Matthew Pieper

Lights: Anna Oleson

Spotlight: Savvy Schmidt and Neveah Peters

Microphones: Paighton Hotchkiss

Backstage hands: Joey Saver,  Gavin Chen, Alison Hamilton, Morgan Laska, Grace Hall, Sarah Farrell, Payton Vossen, Ani Whelan, Zoia Bang, Kiera Wiering

Director: Kimberley Catron