Jane Austen News

Theatrical Outfit continues its 2018-2019 Season of Beauty with the return of our smash holiday hit, Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, Decatur native Lauren Gunderson and co-writer Margot Melcon's sparkling and romantic sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. This year, four new actors join the cast - three of whom will make their Theatrical Outfit debuts. "The Theatrical Outfit production doesn't miss a detail … likely soon to be a holiday classic," says The Atlanta Journal-Constitution of Miss Bennet, which runs November 21 - December 23 downtown at The Balzer Theater at Herren's.

Hamill's Pride and Prejudice creates the bridge that connects the nuanced tropes of Austen's 19th-century feminism to the conversations about gender equality happening currently. Westmont's production was a refreshingly fierce look at the symptoms of the gender power imbalance that are still festering in today's culture.

This holiday season, the Jungle Theater presents THE WICKHAMS: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY, a companion to last year's wildly popular Miss Bennet - both continuations of Jane Austen's beloved novel, Pride and Prejudice. Starring Angela Timberman as the adored housekeeper Mrs. Reynolds, the play's action takes place in the cozy warmth of the Pemberley kitchen where the servants are bustling with holiday preparations. Directed by Christina Baldwin, this co-commission, co-world premiere (with Chicago's Northlight Theater and the Bay Area's Marin Theatre Company) runs December 1-30 at the Lyn-Lake neighborhood theater, located at 2951 Lyndale Ave. S. in Minneapolis. 

'Clueless,' the hit 1995 comedy, will be remade by Paramount Pictures, according to Variety. The studio is developing a remake of film with Tracy Oliver, the writer of “Girls Trip,” producing.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater presents Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, a contemporary twist based on a beloved classic in the Quadracci Powerhouse November 13 - December 16, 2018.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, continues its 2018-19 season with Mansfield Park, written by Kate Hamill, based on the novel by Jane Austen, and directed by Stuart Carden. Mansfield Park runs November 8 - December 16, 2018 at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie. The press opening is scheduled for Friday, November 16, 2018 at 8pm.

For its second show of the season, the Long Beach Playhouse presents an engaging new adaptation of Jane Austen's classic novel Pride and Prejudice. In Jon Jory's reworking, all of the wit and romance of the novel comes to life in a fast-paced, humorous, and engaging production. Finding a husband is hardly Elizabeth Bennet's most urgent priority, but it is her mother's. And with Mrs. Bennet's overzealous match-making it's difficult to escape the subject.

New Village Arts has announced the San Diego premiere of MISS BENNET: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY for the holidays. MISS BENNET is written by Lauren Gunderson (the most-produced playwright in America in 2017) and Margot Melcon, and will be directed by NVA's Executive Artistic Director, Kristianne Kurner.

Who's ready for a night of love, murder, tea, AND Sherlock Holmes? If that sounds like the perfect cup of tea (pun intended), then hurry on over to the 413 Project to get your tickets before they sell out!

As BroadwayWorld recently reported, The New Group will soon present Clueless, The Musical by Amy Heckerling. This world premiere production, with choreography by Kelly Devine, directed by Kristin Hanggi, features Ephie Aardema, Lori Alan, Sara Andreas, Gilbert L. Bailey II, Dove Cameron, Will Connolly, Danielle Marie Gonzalez, Tessa Grady, Talya Groves, Chris Hoch, L'ogan J'ones, Darius Jordan Lee, Justin Mortelliti, Brett Thiele, Dave Thomas Brown and Zurin Villanueva; with Scenic Design by Beowulf Boritt; Costume Design by Amy Clark; Lighting Design by Jason Lyons; Sound Design by Gareth Owen; Projection Design by Darrel Maloney; Music Supervision, Arrangement and Orchestration by Ethan Popp and Music Direction by Matthew Smedal.

Producers R. Erin Craig, Daniel Wallace and Trish Whitehurst just announced the new musical AUSTEN'S PRIDE will receive a staged reading presentation on Friday, October 19 at 1:30pm and Monday, October 22 at 12:00pm. AUSTEN'S PRIDE features a book, music and lyrics by Lindsay Warren Baker and Amanda Jacobs; music supervision by Kevin Stites; music direction and dance arrangements by Greg Jarrett; choreography by Andrew Palermo; and direction by Igor Goldin.

Who's ready for a night of love, murder, tea, AND Sherlock Holmes? If that sounds like the perfect cup of tea (pun intended), then hurry on over to the 413 Project to get your tickets before they sell out!

Get ready for pizza, pints, and plays! Philadelphia's Tiny Dynamite returns in 2018-19 with two world premiere productions, both 'served up' with their signature 'brilliantly casual' style. Audiences will experience one-act plays, beverages, and pizza in a cabaret setting reminiscent of the great pub theatre offered extensively throughout London.

There are plenty of ways of describing Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Sophisticated, approachable, elegant, witty. But very few would describe it as wacky... unless those lucky few had seen Kate Hamill's production, as directed by Desdemona Chiang at the Pittsburgh Public Theater. I can't remember the last time I had quite as much fun at a 'classical' period piece, even while realizing that this was certain to be one of the most divisive shows in PPT history. Throughout the evening I heard audiences laughing, clapping, even cheering the production's gleeful ingenuity, while at intermission I heard several people complain that 'it's a wonderful production of a stupid play' and that they 'thought it would be more Masterpiece Theatre.'

As BroadwayWorld reported earlier, The New Group has just announced complete casting and the design team for Clueless, the Musical. Amy Heckerling takes us back to 90s Beverly Hills with this musical version of her beloved film Clueless, a modern spin on Jane Austen's Emma. With her singular voice, she gives us a score that reimagines 90s hits into ingenious parodies and yearning monologues for her lovesick characters. Director Kristin Hanggi (Rock of Ages) and choreographer Kelly Devine (Come from Away) drive this fresh take on the story of Cher (Dove Cameron - 'Liv and Maddie,' Descendants, Hairspray Live!), a girl so psychotically optimistic she can't see that her bungling attempts at playing Cupid disguise her own fashion-plated isolation.

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE has been adapted over and over (once with zombies!) because it's a classic tale of manners, social mores, love and determination.  The version currently playing at Trinity Rep was adapted by Kate Hamill who is known for her contemporary adaptations of classic works. Unfortunately, in the case of this production, the excellent cast and cheeky adaptation were marred by clunky staging and what seemed like an unwillingness to fully commit to to the contemporary premise.  Interesting double casting makes the show fun and unexpected in many ways, but also causes the stage to be set up in a way that doesn't do the audience any favors. True devotees of Pride and Prejudice will no doubt find much to love with the exceptional cast, but some of us may just be underwhelmed.

The New Group has just announced complete casting and the design team for Clueless, The Musical by Amy Heckerling.  This world premiere production, with choreography by Kelly Devine, directed by Kristin Hanggi, features Ephie Aardema, Lori Alan, Sara Andreas, Gilbert L. Bailey II, Dove Cameron, Will Connolly, Danielle Marie Gonzalez, Tessa Grady, Talya Groves, Chris Hoch, L'ogan J'ones, Darius Jordan Lee, Justin Mortelliti, Brett Thiele, Dave Thomas Brown and Zurin Villanueva; with Scenic Design by Beowulf Boritt; Costume Design by Amy Clark; Lighting Design by Jason Lyons; Sound Design by Gareth Owen; Projection Design by Darrel Maloney; Music Supervision, Arrangement and Orchestration by Ethan Popp and Music Direction by Matthew Smedal.  Previews begin November 20 in advance of an Official Opening Night on Tuesday, December 11.  A limited Off-Broadway engagement is slated through January 12 at The Pershing Square Signature Center (The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre, 480 West 42nd Street).

Jane Austen's classic romantic comedy, Pride and Prejudice completes GLT's Fall Repertory pairing. While everyone around her is pressuring marriage, the outspoken Elizabeth Bennet is barely interested - until she meets the handsome, enigmatic Mr. Darcy, that is. Despite finding themselves unwittingly and unwillingly attracted to one another, will Mr. Darcy's pride and Elizabeth's prejudice undo the fledgling romance before the relationship blossoms? Fearless, funny and utterly irresistible, Jane Austen's classic is sure to steal the hearts of audiences.

THEATER 2020, Brooklyn Heights' NY multi-award winning theater company is pleased to announce a Gala Event! Join us at Theater 2020 to Celebrate 200 years of #JaneAusten's novel 'Northanger Abbey' first published in 1818! Please come to a Fundraising Party and Reading of Lynn Marie Macy's adaptation 'Northanger Abbey, A Romantic Gothic Comedy,' performed by a dynamic professional cast of world class actors in a beautiful Victorian Ballroom on Saturday, October 27th!

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