Jane Austen News

American Theatre magazine, published by Theatre Communications Group (TCG), has just released its annual lists of the Top 10 Most-Produced Plays and Top 20 Most-Produced Playwrights for the new season.

The full company has been announced for Laura Wade's new play THE WATSONS, adapted from Jane Austen's unfinished novel, which receives its world premiere at the Minerva Theatre from 3 November - 1 December, with a press night on 8 November. Directed by Samuel West, the cast is: Sam Alexander, Sally Bankes, Joe Bannister, Jane Booker, Elaine Claxton, Tim Delap, Leonardo Dickens, Sophie Duval, Archie Elliot, Louise Ford, John Wilson Goddard, Grace Molony, Elander Moore, Katherine Rose Morley, Paksie Vernon, Cat White and Laurence Ubong Williams.

A much-beloved European Christmas tradition is coming to Edmonton. Dickens Fest Edmonton is a new festival that builds on Edmonton's exuberant embrace of its status as a Winter City. The inaugural Dickens Fest Edmonton will take place inside the Citadel Theatre November 30 to December 2, 2018.

To kick off its 55th Season, Orange County's Tony Award-winning regional theater South Coast Repertory is presenting a charming new stage adaptation of the Jane Austen literary classic SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, which continues performances in Costa Mesa through September 29. In tone, pacing, and casting, SCR's fresh if still lengthy adaptation of the 1811 novel is lovingly fluffy and buoyant, yet achingly relatable and grounded-just the sort of expectation one gets from a reverent adaptation of a work from one of literature's most revered female voices.

The Chicago League of Lady Arm Wrestlers (CLLAW) return for CLLAW XXXI: Fall Brawl on Friday, October 12, 2018 at Logan Square Auditorium, 2539 N. Kedzie Ave. in Chicago. CLLAW's 31st benefit match will feature Chicago's biggest, baddest lady arm wrestlers, live musical entertainment and a cash bar. Doors open at 9 pm with the first match beginning at 9:30 pm.

Pittsburgh Public Theater begins its 44th season with a new management team - Artistic Director Marya Sea Kaminski and Managing Director Lou Castelli - and the Pittsburgh premiere of Kate Hamill's innovative comedy, Pride and Prejudice. Directed by Desdemona Chiang, Pride and Prejudice runs September 27 - October 28, 2018 at the O'Reilly Theater, Pittsburgh Public Theater's home in the heart of Downtown's Cultural District.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) Conservatory Director Melissa Smith and Young Conservatory Director Jill MacLean announced today the 2018-19 production lineup and schedule for the Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) Program and Young Conservatory. Tickets for all performances are available online at www.act-sf.org/csvshows or by calling the A.C.T. Box Office at 415-749-2228.

September 12, Karen Zacarias' topical comedy Native Gardens will kick off a season of cutting-edge contemporary voices, including three world premieres and five plays by women, in celebration of Merrimack Repertory Theatre's 40th Anniversary, according to Artistic Director Sean Daniels and Executive Director Bonnie J. Butkas.

Twelfth Night takes place on the mythical, magical island of Illyria, where almost anything can happen in Director Jennifer LeBlanc's fresh and comedic version of this classic. A shipwreck has stranded two survivors here, Sebastian and Viola, brother and sister, although each is unaware of the survival of the other. The sister, Viola, dresses as a man to protect herself in this strange environment, frustrating Duke Orsino who finds himself falling in love. Great comic confusion ensues involving some of Shakespeare's greatest comic characters, including Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Sir Toby Belch, jester-like Feste and the imposing Malvolio. Will true love win out? Will siblings be reunited? Not easily. And therein lies our tale.

Trinity Rep will open its 2018-19 Season with Pride and Prejudice by Kate Hamill, adapted from the novel by Jane Austen. This classic "will they or won't they" romance between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy is infused with fresh vitality and hilarity in this effervescent new comedic adaptation, directed by Birgitta Victorson.

The touching new Musical Daddy Long Legs is making it's Georgia premiere at the Legacy Theatre! This beautiful Off-Broadway hit opens September 7th and runs through September 30th.

Southern California audiences will be able to get lost in Jane Austen's elegant, Regency era romantic classic, Sense and Sensibility, next month. The production opens South Coast Repertory's 55th season. British playwright Jessica Swale adapted Austen's story and the show is directed by Casey Stangl on the Segerstrom Stage, Sept. 1-29.

Pear Theatre's 2018-19 season opens in August with "Northanger Abbey," adapted by Pear founder Diane Tasca from the novel by Jane Austen. Pear Theatre's production of "Northanger Abbey," directed by Troy Johnson, previews on August 30, with press and Opening Night today, August 31, followed by a champagne gala.

Pear Theatre's 2018-19 season opens in August with "Northanger Abbey," adapted by Pear founder Diane Tasca from the novel by Jane Austen. Pear Theatre's production of "Northanger Abbey," directed by Troy Johnson, previews on August 30, with press and Opening Night on Friday, August 31, followed by a champagne gala.

Vintage Theatre Productions announces 11 shows for the 2019 season. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. at Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St. in Aurora. Early bird season tickets are $199 and currently on sale. Single ticket will go on sale October 1. Call 303-856-7830 or purchase online at www.vintagetheatre.org. 

Warner Brothers next expected Crazy Rich Asians to be as successful as it has. They predicted the movie would take in 20-25 million its first weekend. Instead, it took in 35 million. In its second week, it took 25 million, remaining in first place at the box for a second week straight and only dropping 6%, bringing in huge numbers for the studio. It is rare for a movie to have such a low drop in its second week; word-of-mouth has been golden and everyone is rushing to see the feel-good movie of the summer that has all their friends and co-workers buzzing.

IMPRO Theatre presents Jane Austen Unscripted, September 17, 2018 at 7:30pm.

Ted Austin, Chair of the Board of Directors at Portland Center Stage at The Armory in Portland, Oregon, announced today that Marissa Wolf has been selected as the next Artistic Director at Portland Center Stage at The Armory, after an eight-month, nationwide search. Wolf, who is currently the Associate Artistic Director/Director of New Works at Kansas City Repertory Theatre, previously served as the Artistic Director at San Francisco's innovative Crowded Fire Theater. Wolf will join Managing Director Cynthia Fuhrman as co-leader of Portland Center Stage and begins her role full-time on September 15, 2018.

 Tickets for the first two productions of Pioneer Theatre Company's 2018-2019 season, and the theatre's add-on productions, are now on sale to the general public.

Playwright Kate Hamill is everywhere these days.   She was one of the top-ten most produced playwrights of the last year and was named 2017 Playwright of the Year by the Wall Street Journal.  Her adaptations of classics like Vanity Fair and Sense and Sensibility have garnered productions and awards across the country and her latest adaptation of Little Women is scheduled for a New York premiere in the coming months.  Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company (BETC) is delighted to bring this acclaimed playwright to Boulder by presenting the regional premiere of another of her adaptations, Jane Austen's beloved classic, Pride & Prejudice.