Are the Bennet Girls OK? at The Theater at The Navesink Library

Magnolia Productions, the only all-female-run theater in Monmouth County, is set to reach another milestone. They are the first community theater to receive the rights to produce Emily Breeze's "Are the Bennet Girls OK?" Following a successful off-Broadway run in 2025 and ahead of its return to NYC's Public Theater this winter, the only place to see the show outside the city will be at The Theater at the Navesink Library beginning July 31. "This is kind of the perfect couple," said board member, producer, and director Anne Kaufman.

Magnolia Productions is part repertory, part community theater, and entirely woman-positive. Their mission is to tell stories about women, by women, and for women, focusing on female empowerment and the belief that every woman has a story worth telling. This mission aligns perfectly with Emily Breeze's modern lens on Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice. Breeze explains that her play explores why Elizabeth Bennet would agree to her fate of marrying Mr. Darcy, concluding, "The only answer I could think of for myself was I would only do that for the sake of my sisters." Using modern language and creative license, the story illustrates what the Bennets will and will not do to secure their future.

ARE THE BENNET GIRLS OK? is an adaptation of Pride & Prejudice exploring the relationship between the Bennet sisters and their mother as they navigate the increasingly desperate world of marriage market economics, as they wait for Mr. Bennet to die. An irreverent retelling in modern language, complete with uncomfortable truths about how and why people end up together.

This production marks the start of the third full season for Magnolia Productions. Their premiere production, Proof, was nominated for Best Lead Actress, Best Featured Actress, and Best Director by the NJ Association of Community Theaters. "We pride ourselves on bringing professional-level productions to our local community at affordable prices," said producer, board member, and stage manager Kate Boeckel. The first full season of four plays earned six additional award nominations.