Jane Austen News

Netflix today announced that it has begun production on its all-new live action comedy series Team Kaylie starring actress-singer Bryana Salaz (Best Friends Whenever, The Voice). Team Kaylie was created by Emmy-winning producer Tracy Bitterolf (Emma Approved). The series was developed and is executive produced by Emmy-nominated producer Pamela Eells O'Connell (Jessie, Bunk'd) through her company Bon Mot Productions. She also serves as showrunner. The series is being directed by Bob Koherr (The Conners, Jessie).

This summer, take a break from the hustle and bustle and journey to the lakes region of Central Maine to celebrate Theater at Monmouth's 50 years of producing classic theatre in Maine. TAM's What Dreams May Come Season is bursting with plays to make audiences laugh, cry, gasp, and experience a sense of wonder. Through Shakespearean thrillers, contemporary romances, and classic comedies, TAM's Golden Anniversary with sparkle and shimmer all season long.

Rob Rokicki (The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical) and Eric Price (The Violet Hour) will present two new musicals at Molloy College/CAP21 this Spring. Experience Marianas! and Emma! will be workshopped this March using students from the college.

Insight Theatre Company's 12th season and 3rd year as a .ZACK resident arts organization kicks off March 28 - April 14 with the musical classic Daddy Long Legs at The Marcelle Theatre in Grand Center.

The Margeson Theater will transform into a hilarious, interactive courtroom as Hamlet's uncle, Claudius, is put on trial for the murder of King Amleth. See actors from Orlando Shakes' productions of Hamlet and Gertrude and Claudius take the meaning of live theater to a whole new level in an over-the-top, rollicking trial amidst a panel of celebrity judges. Kimberly A. Ashby of Foley & Lardner LLP, and Nicholas A. Shannin, Esq. of The Shannin Law Firm, will return as advocates.* Tickets go on sale to the general public on January 29, 2019.

Everything old is new again. But who would think the new century would have 19th Century literature resurfacing in the form of theatrical plays. This season Buffalo has seen Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice' characters in the new play MISS BENNETT: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY at Shea's 710 Theatre. But a good story is a good story. So in re-examining the age old hunt for an eligible bachelor we now bring to the stage Austen's SENSE & SENSIBILITY, that notable work that explores the issues of class, courting, and attaining the perfect husband. With some updating of the era and costumes, this timeless tale could allow Austen's often melodramatic story to play out as a 2019 romantic comedy feature film.

Directed by Eric Tucker and with sets by John McDermott, Portland Center Stage's production of Kate Hamill's SENSE & SENSIBILITY is close to the Bedlam original.

Book-It Repertory Theatre [Book-It] announces that Founder and Founding Co-Artistic Director Jane Jones and Founding Co-Artistic Director Myra Platt will step down from their roles at the end of Book-It's 30th season, in the summer of 2020. Over the next year, Book-It plans to hire a new artistic director through a local and national search.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that there can never be enough Jane Austen adaptations - at least not for Austenites like me. Coincidentally, the theatre world is newly home to not one, but two works based on Austen's masterpiece Emma: Paul Gordon's musical adaptation, a regional staple for years, has finally received a cast recording.

BroadwayWorld has teamed up with Broadway alum Ilana Levine, who makes her entrance onto the podcast stage with her new show Little Known Facts. Ilana's unique brand of celebrity interview, 'Podcast Verite,' is unfiltered, raw, honest and uniquely funny.

Pippa Evans talks about the long-running Showstopper! (back in the West End) and about her life in theatre.

Broadway Records today announced that Emma (Original Soundstage Recording) will be released digitally on Friday, January 11, 2019 and in stores on Friday, January 25, 2019. The album is currently available for pre-order at www.BroadwayRecords.com, and will be available at the Broadway Records booth at BroadwayCon.

Portland Center Stage at The Armory brings Kate Hamill's hit adaptation of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility to Portland in a vivacious production originally created by renowned New York theater company Bedlam. Hamill's fresh take on female-centered classics made her one of the most-produced playwrights across the country for the past two season.

Santa Cruz Shakespeare announces new lease terms for their theater venue The Grove in DeLaveaga Park. The City of Santa Cruz and SCS worked together to finalize the terms in the fall of 2018. The initial lease agreement in 2016 with the City of Santa Cruz was for a 2-year conditional lease. Santa Cruz Shakespeare is ready to move forward to continue its mission of making The Grove a true cultural gem in Santa Cruz.

Director Jeff Frank's team of all-star creatives and actors is serving up a Broadway-caliber production, made all the more special with First Stage's signature small-scale intimacy and kid-friendly flair.

Orange Shade Productions and the London Lovecraft Festival are pleased to announce that the winner of the first 'Writing Lovecraft' competition is James Goss, who submitted 'The Collectors of Screams,' a mythos-expanding work set in a very strange office in the twenties. Goss is best known for his work on universe building within Doctor Who, but in addition to his rich body of work in this area he's also written plays including 'The Gentlemen of Horror' (about the friendship between Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee) and a much-produced adaptation of Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency. The play will be given a staged reading at the Old Red Lion on the closing night of the 2019 London Lovecraft Festival (5PM, Saturday February 9).

Please join the Jane Austen Society of North America - NY Metropolitan Region Presents AN EVENING WITH NORMAN S. POSER'

Portland Center Stage at The Armory brings Kate Hamill's hit adaptation of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility to Portland in a vivacious production originally created by renowned New York theater company Bedlam. Hamill's fresh take on female-centered classics made her one of the most-produced playwrights across the country for the past two season.

It is the winter doldrums here in North Country, but what better way to combat those blues than to take in an entertaining, moving, or inspiring evening at one of Maine's fine theatre companies? And if not in winter, why not plan ahead by subscribing to some of these companies or buying seats for one of the many exciting upcoming events for 2019? To assist you in your planning, BWW offers these picks of the ten productions and company repertoire to which we look forward most.

On Her Shoulders is pleased to present staged readings with music of two plays by the earliest known female dramatists, directed by Lynn Marie Macy on Thursday, January 17, 2019. Doors open at 6:45pm for a 7:00pm start with The Play in Context by Melody Brooks, who situates the scripts in their historical time and place, followed by the readings and a post-performance Q&A with refreshments.  Teresa Lotz is Music Consultant. Admission is by Donation ($10 suggested). The performance is at New Perspectives Studio, 458 W. 37 St. @10th Avenue. R.S.V.P. to OnHerShouldersReservations@gmail.com.