Book-It Repertory Theatre to Present EMMA This December

Book-It Repertory Theatre presents Jane Austen's Emma this December. Adapted by Rachel Atkins and directed by Carol Roscoe, Emma will help Book-it celebrate the holiday season and the 200th anniversary of the novel's publication. Emma will play at the Center Theatre from December 2, 2015 - January 3, 2016. Tickets range from $25-$50.

Emma is set in Highbury, a small town just outside of London where the bright, confident, and charming Emma Woodhouse lives with her father, Mr. Woodhouse. Living her privileged life amongst her Highbury neighbors, Emma doesn't think she herself will ever need to marry, but is quite convinced that she is a very good matchmaker. This certainty crumbles as she finds herself failing at matchmaking and falling in love, surprisingly, with family friend, George Knightly. Often acclaimed as Austen's greatest work, Emma highlights the fallibility of our presumptions.

Seattle playwright Rachel Atkins adapted Emma for Book-It and was nominated for a Gregory Award for Outstanding Playwright for the 2009 production. She received the 2014 Gregory Award for Outstanding New Play for Black Like Us. Atkins is a master teaching artist and has for many years written and directed the Living Voices educational touring performances, as well as taught for Bringing Theatre into the Classroom, a program that trains teachers in theatre skills that enhance traditional classroom teaching.

Reprising the roles they originated in the 2009 premiere of Emma are Sylvie Davison (The Highest Tide, Great Expectations) as Emma Woodhouse and Brian Thompson (Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, Pride and Prejudice) as her father, Mr. Woodhouse. The rest of the cast includes Christine Marie Brown as Mrs. Elton, Jaryl Draper as Mr. Elton, Meme Garcia as Harriet Smith, Laurence Hughes (Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet) as Mr. Weston, Sylvester Kamara (The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears) as Mr. Knightly, Serin Ngai (Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet) as Miss Bates, Sara Porkalob as Jane, and Dedra Woods as Mrs. Weston.

Tickets for Emma range from $25-$50 with group rates available. Purchase online or by calling the box office at (206) 216-0833. There are two pay-what-you-will performances, two previews, and opening night is December 5.