UT Theater Presents PRIDE AND PREJUDICE 11/13-22 At The B. Iden Payne Theatre

The University of Texas Department of Theatre and Dance presents Jane Austen's classic novel adapted for the stage, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, November 13 - 22, 2009, at the B. Iden Payne Theatre.

James Maxwell's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE is an adaptation of Jane Austen's timeless novel, originally published in 1813. The highly plot-driven comedy of manners set in 1811 centers on the Bennet family, a comfortable, but not excessively wealthy family living in the countryside of England. As the Bennets have five daughters and no sons, Mrs. Bennet's main objective in life is to find (wealthy) husbands for her daughters and retain Longbourn, the family estate, in the Bennet name. When Jane, the eldest daughter, falls in love with a wealthy landowner named Charles Bingle, Mrs. Bennet believes her problems solved. Bingly's snobbish family and his close friend and acquaintance Fitzwilliam Darcy, however, have other ideas.

"Maxwell's fast-paced version of Austen's classic novel captures the wit, grace, and anxieties of the familiar story and focuses the action on Elizabeth-a period character who nevertheless remains intimately recognizable to modern audiences says PhD in Performance as Public Practice candidate and dramaturg, Christina Gutierrez. "Given the wealth of both recent and historical adaptations of Austen, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE offers at once a classic and a refreshing re-telling of a story that has so informed our cultural notions of love."

Guest director, Gavin Cameron-Webb makes his UT debut with this production. Previous classical productions include Hamlet (with Val Kilmer), Twelfth Night, Measure for Measure, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Game of Love and Chance, Charley's Aunt and Pygmalion. Gavin served as artistic director of the Studio Arena theatre in Buffalo, NY for 13 seasons, and also taught at the Juilliard School. More recently has returned to being a free-lance director with productions in Cairo and Vienna as well as his native Colorado.

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE features elaborate design elements in keeping with the elegant Regency period style with Set Design by Lizzie Bracken (101 Ways to..., The Roaming Bassoonist), Costume Design by Ariana Schwartz (The Shadow Box, Still Life with Iris, Br'er Wood, Footrpints: A Musical Eco-Tale, The Shape of White) and Lighting Design by Darren Levin (410 [GONE], Br'er Wood).

Join us Friday, November 13th for an Opening Night Reception immediately following the performance. Guests will be able to mingle with the cast, crew, and director of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE while enjoying an assortment of light snacks and desserts.

For more information on PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, please visit http://www.finearts.utexas.edu/tad/productions/production_season/2009-2010/pride_and_prejudice/index.cfm

The B. Iden Payne Theatre (300 E. 23rd St.) is located in the F. Loren Winship Drama Building on the University of Texas campus. For a map of the campus, please visit http://texasperformingarts.org/visit/maps_directions

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