Jane Austen News

American RepertoryBallet (ARB) brings its acclaimed production of Douglas Martin's full-length ballet, Pride and Prejudice, to the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts for two performances on Friday, March 2, at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, March 3, at 8:00 p.m.

PITTSBURGH CLO is pleased to welcome a collection of writing teams from across the country to Pittsburgh for the inaugural SPARK festival in March. These teams were chosen from a highly-selective submissions process and will have the opportunity to rehearse and revise their work in residencies ranging from two days to three weeks. SPARK will provide dramaturgy and production resources to 10 new musicals at all stages of development, in addition to the world premiere of UP AND AWAY. As a part of the development period, eight of the musicals will receive public presentations through which the writing teams can gather audience insights and focus their intentions for the next phase of development. A major initiative of Pittsburgh CLO's recently completed Next Generation Capital Campaign, SPARK is designed to cultivate new and innovative work from emerging and established musical theater artists. 

The Tony Award nominated producer Triptyk Studios (An American in Paris; Oh, Hello; You're Welcome America) will present Unrigged Live!, a variety show event celebrating the courage of progressive political activism and the fight to 'unrig the system' hosted by Academy Award winner Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook), Emmy Award nominee Tig Notaro ('One Mississippi,' 'Transparent,' 'In a World,' Off Broadway's #nastywomen), Nikki Glaser (Trainwreck), National Medal of Arts recipients, The Preservation Hall All-Stars, former Ohio Senator and President of Our Revolution, Nina Turner and many more on Saturday, February 3.

Shakespeare & Company is pleased to announce the return of Lovers' Spat, this year with a new twist. The popular performance will be hosted by internationally acclaimed comedienne Alison Larkin. Company actors and guest performers explore the complexities of love in staged readings featuring theatre's most notorious couples' loving, fighting, scheming and wooing. Lover's Spat is directed by Artistic Director Allyn Burrows and will be performed in the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre on Saturday, February 17 at 7:00pm and Sunday, February 18 at 2:00pm.

In an effort to help today's K-5 students develop the resiliency and coping strategies needed to deal with bullying at school and avoid bullying others, and to learn how to manage when stress and pressure become overwhelming, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley's Education program will be touring Bay Area schools with its award-winning shows Oskar and the Big Bully Battle, and Oskar and the Last Straw. The Oskar tour runs February 26 to April 13, 2018 with performances scheduled in the South Bay, Peninsula, East Bay, and San Francisco (see tour location list below for specific schools). To contact TheatreWorks Education about scheduling an assembly, schools may email learn@theatreworks.org or call 650-463-7154.  

We long for other worlds. For all our individual reasons, which are varied and true, we long to experience the elsewhere. Be it movies, books, tv, theatre, dance, or museums, we welcomingly fall into other places. These places can provide opposition or solidarity, but always stir empathy within. They may be wholly different or strikingly similar to our own worlds but we are never alone in these places to which we have escaped. We become invested in characters and viscerally respond to their triumphs and failures. By the very essence of the human psyche, we see ourselves in these stories regardless of place or status and Virginia Stage Company's recent production of Jane Austen's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE is proof of that.

Theatre in the Round Players (TRP) continues its 66th season with Emma, in weekend performances from February 9 - March 4, 2018.

Pear Theatre is proud to announce its 2018-2019 season, a signature mix of classic works and contemporary pieces, all of which can be considered "true originals." All performances are held at the Pear Theatre's performance space at 1110 La Avenida St., Mountain View. Each show offers a preview performance on the first Thursday, followed by Press/Opening Night on Friday. For subscriptions and individual tickets the public may visit www.thepear.org or call (650) 254-1148.

Virginia Stage Company presents PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, based on the 1813 novel by Jane Austen, and adapted for the stage by Joseph Hanreddy and J.R. Sullivan. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE opened January 17th and runs through February 4th.

The Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities continues the 2017 2018 Black Box Season with the regional premiere of Sense and Sensibility by Kate Hamill today, January 26, 2018. Sense and Sensibility directed by the Arvada Center Director of Plays, Lynne Collins is a playful adaptation of Jane Austen's beloved novel. The Off-Broadway world premiere was named Top Ten of 2014 by Ben Brantley chief theater critic of the New York Times and by the Huffington Post, which called it the greatest stage adaptation of this novel in history. Sense and Sensibility is the first of three plays that will perform in repertory running into May. Sense and Sensibility is underwritten by Diana and Mike Kinsey. The 2017 2018 Theatre Season is sponsored by Lutheran Medical Center.

Pride and Prejudice at Virginia Stage Company will continue through February 4, having set box office records by opening night this past weekend. Directed by Virginia Stage Company's Artistic Director, this stage adaptation of Jane Austen's most beloved novel will sweep you away with its witty, fast-paced exploration of expectations that has become the template for modern romance. Sparks fly when the charming, vibrant Elizabeth clashes with the aloof, enigmatic Mr. Darcy.

One for fans of Jane Austen and for anyone who likes to see an intelligent production performed with technical skill and rewarding wit.

Based on the classic novel which inspired the 1955 movie starring Fred Astaire a beloved tale in the spirit of Jane Austen, the Bront Sisters, and Downton Abbey this heartwarming Cinderella story about a witty and winsome young woman and her mysterious benefactor has charmed audiences of all ages from Los Angeles to London. Critics are cheering: Daddy Long Legs has echoes of She Loves Me and top-notch performances and is one of the most enthralling, entertaining and moving love stories on the American musical theater stage.

This winter, Book-It Repertory Theatre and Caf Nordo pair up once again for a theatrical culinary collaboration. After a resounding success with A Moveable Feastlast year, both companies are elated to bring audiences a sexy, shadowy evening of mystery with Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon. A multi-course meal will deliciously underscore a signature Book-It theatrical experience.

International City Theatre opens its 33rd season with a musical rags-to-riches tale of newfound love. Daddy Long Legs, with music and lyrics by Tony Award-nominated composer/lyricist Paul Gordon (Jane Eyre) and book by Tony-winning librettist John Caird (Les Mis rables), opens on February 23 at ICT's home in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, where performances continue through March 11. Two low-priced previews take place on Feb. 21 and Feb. 22.

The New York Society Library presents a new chamber musical based on Euripides' The Trojan Women on Monday, January 22, at 6pm. With libretto by Ellen McLaughlin and music by Sarah Taylor Ellis, The Trojan Women will be directed by Rachel Dickstein and music directed by Mila Henry.

LA's own Impro Theatre delves into the world of fairytales featuring wondrous magic, dangerous journeys and true love, with a lesson or two along the way at The Broad Stage on Saturday, February 3 at 11am. Inspired by the suggestions and imaginations of our youngest audience members, Fairytales UnScripted brings to life stories that no one has ever seen and no one will ever see again.

Virginia Stage Company opens the new year with Jane Austen's most popular literary novel, Pride and Prejudice. Directed by Virginia Stage Company Producing Artistic Director, Tom Quaintance, Pride and Prejudice will sweep you away with its witty, fast-paced exploration of expectations that has become the template for modern romance. Fans of the novel will be thrilled with this faithful adaptation of the story.

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that anyone in possession of wit and good taste must be in want of great entertainment Join Austentatious for the society event of the season, as they take London's West End by storm for two more performances at Piccadilly Theatre, following a hugely successful West End debut.

New York's Aquila Theatre Company offers its acclaimed take on the classics at Bailey Hall with a theatrical adaptation of Jane Austin's Sense and Sensibility on Wednesday, January 24 at 7:30 p.m. and Shakespeare's Hamlet on Wednesday, January 31 at 7:30 p.m.