People's Light Presents Regional Premiere of SENSE AND SENSIBILITY

Nationally esteemed theatre-maker Joseph Hanreddy, former Artistic Director of Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, directs a cast of 19 in his new version of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility on the Leonard C. Haas Stage at People's Light from February 10 to March 20, 2016.

Adapted by Hanreddy and long-time colleague J.R. Sullivan, this production builds on the rousing success of the team's earlier Austen venture, an adaptation of Pride and Prejudice that played to sold-out houses in Malvern in 2014. People's Light is located at 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, PA 19355. For tickets, call 610.644.3500 or visit peopleslight.org. "Pride and Prejudice was a thrilling, multi-generational experience here.

Audience members across a wide age continuum shared with us how much they relished entering into Austen's world," says People's Light Producing Director Zak Berkman. "There's a distinctive energy in the room when people discover Austen's characters for the first time alongside people who are returning to her, and people who are dedicated to her. It may not be Star Wars, but it's something similar."

"Co-adapter J.R. Sullivan came to People's Light to see that production," Berkman continues. "He was impressed, and shared with us an early draft of his and Joe's adaptation of Sense and Sensibility. We read it, loved it, and stayed in touch with them during its premiere at Utah Shakespeare Festival. When Joe expressed interest in directing the production, we jumped at the chance to bring his immense knowledge of Austen and his love of actors to Malvern."

"I've known about People's Light for a long, long time," says Hanreddy. "I feel a kinship because they are a resident company and that's what we were doing at Milwaukee Rep. And I'm really comfortable in that world of artists who can grow and mature together over the years. That kind of environment is something that I'm particularly attracted to in the theatre."

Sense and Sensibility follows the penniless Dashwood sisters as they pursue life and love in divergent ways. Down-to-earth Elinor and her wildly romantic sister Marianne attract suitors whose startling secrets obstruct the path to happily ever after. Director Hanreddy feels drawn to the universal questions the story poses.

"Is it better to be led in love by our hearts or our heads?" he wonders. "Are prudence and pragmatism preferable to the spontaneity of unguarded passion? And can the thrill of love at first sight be trusted, or can the true character of a person, and genuine intimacy, only be revealed over time?"

"Austen is both savvy and modest enough to know that she shouldn't-and can't- provide answers," Hanreddy notes. "She leaves us to work out our own balance between 'sense' and 'sensibility,' inspired and perhaps cautioned by Elinor and Marianne." Hanreddy's creative team includes veteran set designer Linda Buchanan in her People's Light debut.

People's Light regular Dennis Parichy designs lights and Marla Jurglanis creates costumes. New guest artist James Paul Prendergast designs sound, and Steve Tague serves as dialect coach. Resident artist Gina Pisasale dramaturgs the production, Resident Director Samantha Reading choreographs and returning guest Thomas E. Shotkin stage manages.

The 19-person cast includes People's Light company members Kevin Bergen, Claire Inie-Richards, Teri Lamm, Mark Lazar, Susan McKey and Marcia Saunders. They are joined by returning guest artists Joe Guzman, Olivia Mell, Karen Peakes, and Katie Stahl. New guests include Sam Ashdown, Lesley Berkowitz, Cassandra Bissell, Neil Brookshire, Doug Cashell, Grant Goodman, Mark Knight, Christopher David Roché, and Jennifer Summerfield. Three of these guests performed in the premiere of Sense and Sensibility at the Utah Shakespeare Festival in June 2014 and will reprise their roles here: Sam Ashdown as John Willoughby, Cassandra Bissell as Elinor Dashwood, and Grant Goodman as Colonel Brandon.

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