Photo Flash: Pride and Prejudice, The New Musical at the Eastman Theatre

A one-night-only concert performance Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, The New Musical  on Tuesday, October 21, at Rochester, NY's historic Eastman Theatre earned a lengthy standing ovation from its full house of almost 3,000, and drew glowing reviews from local press.

Written by two Rochester women, Lindsay Warren Baker and Amanda Jacobs, the musical adaptation is targeting a November 2009 Broadway opening.

Producer Lori Bajorek created the one-night concert performance, which featured a 17-piece orchestra made up of musicians from the prestigious Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and a 22-member cast that also included:  Juliana Ashley Hansen as Jane Bennet; Mark Blum as Mr. Bennet; Anne Letscher, Molly Ranson and Jacque Carnahan as Mary, Kitty and Lydia Bennet respectively; John Behlmann as Mr. Wickham; Rory O'Malley as Charles Bingley and Jennifer Waiser as Charlotte Lucas; ensemble:  Sarah Dacey Charles , Jonathan Michie, Kat Palardy, Jon Reinhold, Matthew Schneider, Michael Scott, Libby Servais, Eric Ulloa and Marguerite Willbanks.

"This was exactly what the show needed," Bajorek exclaims. "We know we're headed in the right direction and excited to move into the next phase of development."  Part of that phase includes a three-week NYC workshop in Spring of 2009.

The Pride and Prejudice creative team includes TONY-nominated Director Mark Lamos, Associate Director Michael McGoff, Music Director Fred Lassen, Choreographer Dontee Kiehn, Set Designer Mikiko Suzuki MacAdams, Lighting Designer Dale Knoth, Costume Designer Lynn Bowling and Sound Designer Scott Stauffer.  Its production team includes Executive Producer Donald C. Farber, Esq., Tara Rubin Casting, General Manager Charlotte Wilcox and Associate Producer John Quinlivan.

Donna Lynne Champlin as Jane Austen

Cast with writers Amanda Jacobs and Lindsay Warren Baker.

Colin Donnell

Donna Lynne Champlin and Laura Osnes.

Jacque Carnahan with Jonathan Michie, Eric Ulloa, Jim Stanek, Matthew Schneider, Jon Reinhold and John Behlmann

Laura Osnes and Colin Donnell

Juliana Ashley Hansen and Laura Osnes

Donna Lynne Champlin

Donna Lynne Champlin

Photos by Gary Geer