The Complete Works of Jane Austen, Abridged

Production Team

Adam P. Blais Director	Jim Alexander Lighting Designer	Germán Cárdenas Alaminos Scenic Designer
Cynthia Davis Props Supervisor	Ryan McGowan Sound Designer	Melissa A. Nathan Stage Manager
Elizabeth Rocha Costume Designer	Elana Sheinkopf Assistant Stage Manager	Adriaen Shi Wardrobe & Wigs Supervisor

Cast

Sandy Clancy

Kelly Letourneau*

Lucas Prizant

Ethan Shaw Understudy

*Appearing through an agreement between this theatre, Theater at Monmouth, and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

From the Director

“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading theatre!” Jane Austen, Pride & Prejudice (Sort of…)

Beginning in the summer of 2018, five friends, Janeites (devoted fans or admirers of Jane Austen), and theatre artists gathered over wine and cheese to discuss the idea of creating a show similar to The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) but using the works of Jane Austen. After meeting for months and arguing over which novel was best (is it Pride and Prejudice? Or Persuasion?) they concluded that they would be most successful if they were to create an experience that could speak to both newcomers and Janeites alike, resulting in a fast-paced celebratory romp that is now being performed across the globe.

But who is Jane Austen, and why are her stories still read and enjoyed today?

Jane Austen was born in 1775 in the small Hampshire village of Steventon. While her formal education was scanty, the Austens were a highly literate and creative family, often delighting in games, acting and writing. It is in this environment that Jane began writing to entertain her family and friends. By the time Austen was twenty, she had completed first drafts of both Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice, though neither would be published until she was in her mid-thirties as publishers were hesitant to take on a novel written by a woman. By the time of her death in 1817, at the age of 41, Austen had anonymously published four novels. Her identity as their author would later be revealed in a biographical notice included in the posthumous publication of her two remaining novels. She never married.

Today, over 200 years after her death, Austen’s six completed novels are known and beloved around the world. Hailed for their witty dialogue, strong yet flawed characters, and timeless social commentary, Austen’s novels have inspired numerous television, film, and theatrical adaptations and have created a vibrant culture that often includes memes, book clubs, fan fiction and themed events.

Presented in a uniquely theatrical way, The Complete Works of Jane Austen, Abridged reverently honors the legacy of the beloved author and trailblazer while celebrating the varied ways that her work continues to infiltrate popular culture. It simultaneously celebrates the heroine and the hero, the extrovert and introvert, and spotlights all of those who dare to accept, love, and embrace their inner nerd. Whether you are a Janeite or a newcomer to the world of Jane Austen, I am certain that you will find something to enjoy in today’s performance. Welcome to the Regency Era!