May 31, June 6, 7, 13, 14, 1964

It is England in 1872. With a £20,000 bet at stake, our hero Phileas Fogg (Mike Goodwin) must not falter. Will he make it Around the World in 80 Days? Inspector Fix of Scotland Yard and his sister are in hot pursuit. And Passepartout (Howard Thoreson), the French valet, is along for the ride—and the girls! This musical is based on the novel by Jules Verne. The book and lyrics are by Peter Gurney, with music by Gilbert Leilinger. Director Earl Kelly arranged and adapted the show for the Forest Theatre.

The Players' decision to send up a balloon in Around the World in 80 Days created a few problems. First, no one knew where to find a balloon of the right size and design. Morris Moen saw a magazine ad with a balloon much like what was needed, and asked the company where they obtained it. The company said it was a weather balloon, repainted for their uses. So meteorological stations were contacted and the necessary balloons obtained.

The Players learned they needed to meet Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulation Title 14, chapter 1, subchapter F, part 101.1, paragraph A, subparagraph 4, part 1. The weather balloons met this regulation. The Players had to carry the helium tanks, which were very heavy, to the Theatre by sheer brute strength. They lugged the tanks down the trail and inflated a balloon for each performance. With all that effort, a balloon flew off properly only once. The other times it tangled in the trees.

A funeral pyre was needed for the Indian princess Aouda, who was forced to commit suttee. The gas pipe used for the burning bush in Green Pastures again safely provided real flames.

In one performance, a can-can girl's bloomers slipped to her ankles. Without missing a beat, she stepped out of them and with her next high kick tossed them into the front row of the audience.

On June 7, a continuous heavy downpour fell upon 517 brave souls. Good attendance, climaxed by 1522 on June 14, raised the total to 4375.