AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS
BASED ON JULES VERNE’S CLASSIC NOVEL
BOOK, MUSIC AND LYRICS BY YARON KAFKAFI
A spectacular musical adventure that has returned to the Israeli stage across four major productions and more than 25 years.
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS
THE MUSICAL
A classic adventure | A proven musical | A journey that continues to find new audiences.
Phileas Fogg, a wealthy and impeccably precise English gentleman, makes an outrageous wager: he can travel around the world in just eighty days.
Accompanied by his newly hired French valet, Passepartout, Fogg sets off on an extraordinary race against time – pursued by a detective who believes he is a bank robber, rescuing the young Princess Aouda along the way, and discovering that a journey he intended to measure in days and miles may ultimately change the way he sees the world.
Inspired by Jules Verne’s 1872 classic, Yaron Kafkafi’s original musical preserves the period, adventure and spirit of the novel while transforming it into a large-scale theatrical experience filled with comedy, romance, dance and a melodic score.
At its heart is a timeless collision between reason and emotion – and the discovery that sometimes losing control of the journey is the only way to discover what truly matters.
WHY THIS MUSICAL WORKS
PROVEN BOX-OFFICE SUCCESS
Four major productions. More than 25 years of proven audience appeal.
A SCORE AUDIENCES REMEMBER
Melodic, accessible songs ranging from comedy and romance to large-scale ensemble numbers.
BUILT FOR STAR CASTING
Four distinctive leading roles offering strong opportunities for major local performers.
A TIMELESS CLASSIC
Faithful to Jules Verne’s original world, yet built around themes that remain strikingly contemporary.
CRITICAL ACCLAIM
FOUR MAJOR PRODUCTIONS – ONE ENDURING MUSICAL
1999
THE ORIGINAL PRODUCTION
The musical’s first major production introduced its spectacular journey around the world to Israeli audiences.
2007
A MAJOR REVIVAL
Eight years later, the musical returned in a new large-scale production, reimagining the adventure for a new generation.
2017
A NEW GENERATION
A third major production brought Fogg and Passepartout back to the stage with a fresh cast, new staging and a new visual world.
2026
THE GRANDEST PRODUCTION YET
More than 25 years after its premiere, the musical returned once again in an ambitious new production – demonstrating the enduring appeal of the story, characters and score.
Each production has reinvented the musical for a new generation while preserving the adventure, humor and emotional heart that have kept audiences returning to it for more than 25 years.
WATCH & LISTEN
Experience the music, scale and theatrical world of Around the World in 80 Days.
A memorable original score has been one of the musical’s defining strengths for more than 25 years.
Here are selected performances from different productions.
AROUND THE WORLD
From the 2007 production
The musical’s signature number – launching Fogg, Passepartout and the audience on their journey around the world.
HARD TO PLEASE
From the 2007 production
A comic character number introducing Passepartout’s complicated relationship with his impossible new employer.
WON’T YOU LOOK AT ME?
From the 1999 original production
Princess Aouda’s comic solo, as she tries to make the emotionally reserved Fogg notice that she has fallen in love with him.
REFUSING TO FALL IN LOVE
From the 2007 production
Fogg discovers that some things cannot be controlled by schedules, calculations or reason.
More highlights from the new 2026 production are coming soon.
FOUR PRODUCTIONS · ONE MUSICAL JOURNEY
Four major productions. More than 25 years on stage. Explore the changing worlds, casts and visual imagination of Around the World in 80 Days.
2026
CREATIVE TEAM
Book, Music & Lyrics: Yaron Kafkafi | Director: Tzedi Tzarfati | Choreographer: Omer Zimri | Music Director: Yehonatan Perlman | Set Design: Adam Keller | Costume Design: Ella Kolesnik | Produced by: Tomix Theatre
CAST
Phileas Fogg: Daniel Litman | Passepartout: Israel Katorza | Princess Aouda: Chen Amsalem | Detective Fix: Orel Tsabari
2017
CREATIVE TEAM
Book, Lyrics & Music: Yaron Kafkafi | Based on the novel by Jules Verne | Director: Avichai Hacham | Choreography: Nadav Zelner | Music Production: Aviv Koren | Set Design: Erez Yaniv | Costume Design: Ella Kolesnik | Lighting Design: Keren Granek
CAST
Phileas Fogg: Harel Skaat | Passepartout: Zvika Hadar | Princess Aouda: Roni Dalumi | Detective Fix: Hana Laszlo
2007
CREATIVE TEAM
Book, Lyrics, Music & Direction: Yaron Kafkafi | Based on the novel by Jules Verne | Choreography: Claude Dadia | Set Design: Nitzan Rafaeli | Costume Design: Yuval Caspin | Lighting Design: Ronen Najar | Produced by: Shai Yochelman, Yakir Asher, Solan Productions | Executive Producer: Paz Yefet | Assistant Director: Talik Ninio
CAST
Phileas Fogg: Lior Ashkenazi | Passepartout: Eli Yatzpan | Princess Aouda: Hadas Moreno | Detective Fix: David Kigler | Tribal Chief: Michael Lewis |
The Three Gentlemen: Michael Einav | Ido Greenberg | Alon Ronen
1999
CREATIVE TEAM
Book, Lyrics, Music & Direction: Yaron Kafkafi | Based on the novel by Jules Verne | Choreography: Claude Dadia | Set & Props Design: Erez Yaniv | Costume Design: Yuval Caspin | Lighting Design: Ronen Najar | Produced by: Yochelman-Asher-Friedman Productions – Shai Yochelman, Yakir Asher & Doron Friedman
CAST
Phileas Fogg: Oded Menashe | Princess Aouda: Galit Giat | Passepartout: Israel Katorza | Detective Fix: Yigal Adika |
The Three Gentlemen: Michael Einav | Oren Yair | Alon Kol | Chief’s Wife: Hani Ben Shabat
A SCORE AUDIENCES REMEMBER
1999 Original Soundtrack
listen on
Apple Music
Spotify
2007 Original Soundtrack
listen on
Apple Music
Spotify
2026 Original Soundtrack
listen on
Apple Music
coming soon
Spotify
SEE THE PRODUCTION IN TEL AVIV
The 2026 production returns in October and December at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center, home of the Israeli Opera.
International producers, presenters and licensing professionals are warmly invited to attend.
INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS & LICENSING
After four major productions spanning more than 25 years, Around the World in 80 Days is ready to begin a new journey.
With its internationally recognized story, memorable original score, strong roles for leading performers and proven appeal to family audiences, the musical offers a flexible foundation for new productions in different countries, languages and theatrical scales.
The score is designed for flexible staging — from a full pit orchestra to a track-based production — with instrumental arrangements available on request.
Around the World in 80 Days is now open for international partnership — production, adaptation and licensing enquiries are welcome.
A complete English-language script is in active preparation. In the meantime, a detailed synopsis, selected songs, production history, reviews, photographs and video materials are ready today for professional consideration.
THE JOURNEY HAS CIRCLED ISRAEL FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS.
NOW IT'S READY TO TRAVEL THE WORLD.