Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is a true literary classic. It is the story of a family of sisters in the 1800’s raised to become skilled, upstanding wives and elegant women of their time.
 
When a set of suitors comes along, the sisters are more than a little intrigued by the new men, and thus readers are introduced to a world of turn-of-the-century society and status quo.
  
Some of VSU’s best actors and actresses have stepped up with the theatre and dance departments to bring this story to the Sawyer Theatre. The play is taken from an adaptation from Jon Jory, who condenses the rather long novel into an engaging two to two and a half hours. 

 Jon Jory, who published the play, has had practice in the field. 

 He is the founder of the Humana Festival of New American Plays—an internationally renowned event, showcasing great theatrical works and projects. 

 “I thought this adaptation was particularly enjoyable,” H. Duke Guthrie, director and associate professor, said. “It has a large cast and we are looking for opportunities to put many actors on stage.” 

 “The entire cast is important,” he said.   

 “Our costume designer wanted to begin constructing the costumes (including corsets for all the women in the cast) as soon as she could, which meant we needed to be cast by Thanksgiving,” Guthrie said.  “It has been a very full rehearsal period, but not particularly rushed. I try not to waste the actors’ time.” 

 Everyone stressed the importance of the time period portrayed in Austen’s original work. 

 “There will be a lot of humor and dance and romance,” Jacque Wheeler, theatre professor and dialect coach, said. “I think the time period will be really appealing to audiences.”
 The production is not only for the VSU audience.  

 The cast and crew hope to incorporate their performance with the curriculum of the surrounding high school literature classes studying Austen.

 “The work has merit,” Wheeler said. “Many students know the novel, so it is relatable.”

 Guthrie was gracious and made sure to not forget anyone who helped produce this Jory and Austen show.

 “I am particularly grateful to: professor Esther Iverson for the costume design, Thomas Poje (VSU senior theatre major) for the lighting design, professor Eric Brandt Nielsen for the choreography (there are 6 dances in the show), professor Jacque Wheeler for serving as dialect coach, professor Deborah Morgan for her dramaturgy, and of course the student-artists who have been involved in all areas of this production,” Guthrie said.

 The cast and crew of “Pride and Prejudice” are set to perform in the Sawyer Theatre on Feb. 17-19 and Feb. 21-23 at 7:30 p.m., and also on Feb. 20 at 3 p.m.

 The main cast includes: Isaac Huntington (Mr. Bennet), Casey Sams (Miss Lydia Bennet), Ashley Anderson (Miss Elizabeth Bennet), Amanda Layton (Miss Mary Bennet), Susanna Agnew (Miss Jane Bennet), Lacey Harper (Miss Kitty Bennet), Holly Dickerson (Mrs. Bennet), Chance Wall (Mr. Bingley), John Holladay (Mr. Darcy), Rebecca Morris (Miss Charlotte Lucas), Jake Alley (Sir William Lucas), Christy Kirkland (Miss Bingley), Jeffrey Clifford (Mr. Collins), Jared Kay (Officer), Andrew Miller (Mr. Wickham), Luke Newsome (Mr. Gardiner), Emih Abrahamson (Mrs. Gardiner), Kelsey South (Lady Catherine de Bourgh), Tim Olivar (Col. Fitzwilliam), Charlotte Grady (Miss Georgiana Darcy), Patrice Trower (Housekeeper), and Indya Childs, Jessica Moss, Matthew Hogan and Michael Morgan as the ball guests, officers and servants.