Jane Austen Celebrated at Utah Shakespeare Festival, 7/19-24

Celebrate Jane Austen at the Utah Shakespearean Festival. To accompany the production of "Pride and Prejudice," the Festival, in conjunction with the Jane Austen Society of Northern America (JASNA), will host several Austen related events throughout the summer. As part of the festivities, the week of July 19-24 will be devoted to Jane Austen. Jane Austen Week will feature opportunities to meet the actors, a regency ball, and more. For more details visit bard.org or call 435-586-7880.

Festival events will include a production of Austen's beloved novel "Pride and Prejudice," a book signing with Utah author Jennifer Adams, Curtain Call Lunches with members of the "Pride and Prejudice" cast, and the fundraising event "Brunch with the Bennets." At the brunch, which will be held on July 22 as well as July 15, Aug. 6, and Aug. 19, audiences will enjoy a lovely garden brunch, meet cast members, and have an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the production.

"The Jane Austen Week is going to be an amazing opportunity to enjoy great theatre and the companionship of like minded people," said Aspen Anderson, coordinator for the JASNA Utah Region. "I always find that anyone who loves Shakespeare or Jane Austen invariably becomes a good friend. This is a chance for, as is said in the book ‘Emma,' ‘good people to get together.'"

The JASNA Utah Region will host additional events during Jane Austen Week including a Regency Ball. For more details about the JASNA events, contact Anderson at austenfans411@gmail.com.

A complete list of Jane Austen Week events can be found at http://bard.org/visit/austen.html.

Pride and Prejudice
July 2-Aug. 28
Tickets range from $29 to $68. An exclusive discount is available for members of the Jane Austen Society of Northern America. Contact your regional coordinator or JASNA for details. To join JASNA visit http://www.jasna.org/regions/us.html.

Curtain Call Lunch
July 20 and 23 at noon at the SUU Alumni House
Get up close and personal to actors from Pride and Prejudice as they discuss what goes into creating a production. You will have the opportunity to pose the questions you have always wanted to ask. Tickets are $15.

Book Signing with Jennifer Adams
July 21 at 7 p.m. in the lobby of the Randall L. Jones Theatre
Meet the author of Remarkably Jane: Notable Quotations on Jane Austen. Books will be for sale in the Festival Gift Shop.

Brunch with the Bennets
July 22 at 11 a.m. at the Garden House of Cedar City
Meet members of the Pride and Prejudice cast and learn exclusive behind-the-scenes details about the summer production. The brunches will be held on July 15 and 22, and Aug. 6 and 19 at 11 a.m. at The Garden House of Cedar City (165 S. 100 W.). Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door.

Tickets to "Pride and Prejudice" and "Brunch with the Bennets" are available now at 1-800-PLAYTIX (1-800-752-9849 ) and bard.org. The summer season runs from June 28 to Sept. 4 and also includes Shakespeare's "Much Ado about Nothing," "The Merchant of Venice," and "Macbeth," in addition to Alfred Hitchcock's "The 39 Steps," and the world premiere musical "Great Expectations." The Festival is located on the corner of 300 W. and Center St. in Cedar City, Utah.