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Romantic comedy
Full-length, 120-130 minutes
8 females, 6 males (13-40 actors possible: 8-20 females, 5-20 males)
$75.00 per performance; $8.99 per book
All of the wit and romance of Jane Austen's classic 1813 novel come to life in this refreshingly fast-paced and engaging new adaptation. Finding a husband is hardly Elizabeth Bennet's most urgent priority. But with four sisters, an overzealous match-making mother, and a string of unsuitable suitors, it's difficult to escape the subject. When the independent-minded Elizabeth meets the handsome but enigmatic Mr. Darcy, she is determined not to let her feelings triumph over her own good sense -- but the truth turns out to be slipperier than it seems. In a society where subtle snubs and deceit proliferate, is it possible for Elizabeth and Darcy to look beyond his pride and her prejudice, and to make the best match of all? (A one-act version of this play, Darcy and Elizabeth, is also available.)
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| "Jory, the former longtime producing director at Actors Theatre of Louisville and founder of its famed Humana Festival of New American Plays, has crafted an exceptionally clear, funny and moving version." |
| --San Francisco Chronicle |
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Romantic Comedy
Full-length, 140-160 minutes
14 females, 10 males (23-26 actors possible: 13-14 females, 10-12 males)
$75.00 per performance; $8.99 per book
Marriage is an inevitable fact of life for the five Bennet sisters -- Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia. With the family estate entailed away to their closest male cousin, their only hope to advance in life is to find a rich and single man -- and one has just arrived in the form of the very handsome and very well-off Charles Bingley. The kindhearted and beautiful Jane seems poised to make a match, but must contend with her overly zealous mother, his snobbish sister, and a slippery social ladder. And when Bingley's taciturn friend Fitzwilliam Darcy shows an interest in the opinionated and spirited Elizabeth, the situation becomes more complicated than either of them expect. The fire and wit of Jane Austen's classic 1813 romance shines through in this vibrant new adaptation.
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| "This adaptation of Jane Austen's masterpiece honors the source material through a contemporary theatrical lens... Set within an elaborate social fabric, this adaptation may well be the best of many for stage or film that have emerged in recent years." |
| --The Durango Herald (Colorado) |
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Romance
Full-length, 90-100 minutes
8 females, 8 males (13-16 actors possible: 7-8 females, 6-8 males)
$75.00 per performance; $8.99 per book
Sisters Elinor and Marianne find themselves captivated by two very different men in this lively and dynamic adaptation of Jane Austen's classic novel. Sensible Elinor is charmed by the quiet, bumbling goodness of Edward, while passionate Marianne is swept off of her feet by the dashing and mysterious Willoughby. But when Willoughby's scandalous past and Edward's secret fiancee come to light, the sisters are forced to rely upon themselves and one another to weather their heartache -- and learn that when sense and sensibility meet, love can't be far behind.
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| "[Has] a freshness, speed and immediacy that, while always in sync with the humor, sentiments and manners of Austen's late 18th century English country-and-city society, gives the storytelling a contemporary energy that is downright irresistible. ...Flows like an effortlessly danced gavotte, finding just the right balance between formality, playfulness and the real pain that invariably accompanies love and hope." |
| --Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times |
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Emma adapted by Jon Jory
from the novel by Jane Austen |
 
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Comedy/Drama
Full-length, 100-120 minutes
7 females, 6 males (10-13 actors possible: 5-7 females, 5-6 males)
$75.00 per performance; $8.99 per book
In this crisp, dynamic retelling of Austen's classic, matchmaker Emma Woodhouse has just moved on to her newest "project" -- a sweet, but modest girl named Harriet Smith. Having played matchmaker for her long-time nanny, vivacious Emma is determined to find Harriet an impressive suitor in spite of her lacking social standing. But as Emma becomes entangled in the romantic lives of her friends and acquaintances, she unwittingly falls in love with the least likely of bachelors in this lighthearted tale of gossip, matrimony, and misunderstanding.
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Comedy
Full-length, 120-140 minutes
3 females, 2 males
$75.00 per performance; $8.99 per book
Watch Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy fall in love all over again -- this time filtered through the world of the internet. Modern voices interject and build on this classic love story in the form of blog posts, chat room discussions, quotes from film adaptations, and even letters from Ms. Austen herself to create a delightfully postmodern view of 19th century England. Written for five actors to play every role, Pride@Prejudice is a hilarious and moving homage to Jane Austen's most beloved novel, as well our love affair with reading.
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| "I can't think of another new work staged in Columbus in my 24-plus years as a Dispatch critic that has displayed so much promise or polish... This play seems destined to be seen and celebrated across the country." |
| --Michael Grossberg, Columbus Dispatch |
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Romantic comedy
Short, 35-45 minutes
9 females, 4 males (11-21 actors possible: 7-13 females, 4-8 males)
$40.00 per performance; $7.99 per book
Elizabeth Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy take center stage in this one-act version of Jane Austen's beloved romance. When the independent-minded Elizabeth meets the enigmatic Mr. Darcy, she is determined not to let her feelings triumph over her own good sense. In a society of deceit and vanity, is it possible for Elizabeth and Darcy to look beyond his pride and her prejudice to make the best match of all? Focusing on this central relationship, this fluid, imaginative adaptation showcases the timeless romance that is known around the world. (A full-length version of this play, Pride and Prejudice, is also available.)
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Persuasion adapted by Jon Jory
from the novel by Jane Austen |
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Romance
Full-length, 100-110 minutes
8 females, 7 males (15-20 actors possible: 8-10 females, 7-10 males)
$75.00 per performance; $8.99 per book
The Elliot family verges on financial ruin, and image-conscious patriarch Sir Walter must rent their estate to avoid bankruptcy. His daughter Anne is surprised to learn who has taken the estate: the sister of Captain Wentworth, a man whose proposal she was persuaded to refuse years before. Then, Wentworth was a poor sailor with no social standing, but he has returned a rich and eligible officer. As they are thrown into one another's company once again, Anne's affection remains despite her lack of hope for any reconciliation. But when Wentworth begins to show signs of jealousy towards one of her suitors, she must summon the courage to seek out his true feelings. This movingly romantic adaptation of Jane Austen's last novel brings a classic story of enduring love to the stage.
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Emma by Stephen Karam
based on the novel by Jane Austen |
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Musical Comedy
Full-length, 100-110 minutes
4 females, 5 males, 3 either
(12-30 actors possible: 4-17 females, 5-18 males)
$8.99 per book
Other prices can be calculated by clicking "More Info"
This modern musical adaptation lifts Jane Austen's comedy of manners out of Regency England and sets it down in contemporary Connecticut. Emma, a graduate student at Highbury College, embarks on a personal mission to set up a lonely gay student named Harry with a suitable boyfriend. She sets her sights on school a cappella star Trevor, but her plan is soon complicated by the return of an old rival and a visit from a British film star. Emma's mentor/advisor, Dr. Knight, and her old friend, Miss Bates, join the fracas -- and the rural college soon teems with missed connections. A delightful and deeply felt spin on the original.
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| "Karam's very loose adaptation of Jane Austen's classic novel is very, very good, the best I have seen over many years. ...He grabs you with a lively song right at the beginning and keeps the action going until a most satisfying conclusion that had the reserved audience on their feet cheering... What makes the musical so good is Karam's taking of the original themes and making them new and fresh. This talented young man is the best lyric writer I've heard since Stephen Sondheim." |
| --Don Fowler, The Cranston Herald |
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Austentatious
by Matt Board, Jane Caplow, Kate Galvin, Luisa Hinchliff, et al. |
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Musical Comedy
Full-length, 100-120 minutes
4 females, 3 males
$8.99 per book
Other prices can be calculated by clicking "More Info"
When the Central Riverdale Amateur Players announce a new adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, stage manager Sam has her hands full with a colorful array of community theatre misfits: a clueless director, an egotistical writer/choreographer/leading lady, a scorned diva, an overlooked veteran, and the town's local druggie. But when Sam begins to fall for the leading man, things really start to get complicated. This hilarious musical follows the group's journey as they unwittingly butcher Jane Austen's beloved classic, from chaotic auditions to climactic pirate battle and tap-off. With a jazzy score and anachronisms galore, Austentatious is terrible theater at its absolute comedic best.
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| "Punctuated by spangly musical numbers, this is a satirical ode to all the foibles of classic novel adaptations. From laughable plot embellishments, gratuitous violence, cringeworthy simulations of Austen's syntax, and even Colin Firth's wet shirt, nothing gets overlooked... Boasting sharp lyrics [...] and an utterly hilarious script." |
| --Hannah Nepil, Time Out London |
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