Book-It Opens 29th Season With The Eponymous Heroine JANE EYRE

Book-It Repertory Theatre will open its 2018-2019 season with Jane Eyre. Called the 'first historian of the private consciousness', author Charlotte Brontë explores classism, sexuality, and female expression in this Gothic mystery. Julie Beckman adapted and directed Jane Eyre for Book-It in 2001 and will direct the 2018 production.

"Considered by many to be the first feminist novel, Jane Eyre tells the story of a marginalized young woman, a 'poor orphan child' who rises above the trauma of her youth and the limitations of her situation to achieve self-fulfillment and love. Jane is not defined by the men in her world, nor does she accept the limiting doctrines and social norms of her day-many of which are still in place. Her passion, intelligence, capacity for self-examination, and independent spirit make her a role model, even today," says Beckman.

Orphaned as a child, Jane Eyre musters up the courage to take a governess job at Thornfield Hall where she meets the brooding Edward Rochester. Though she finds herself captivated by his kind spirit, she is distracted by the strange occurrences at the house. In this revolutionary piece of literature, eponymous heroine Jane maintains her integrity and inner strength as she grows into adulthood.

Mi Kang, who appeared as Nao in Book-It's 2016 production of A Tale for the Time Being, will be playing Jane Eyre. Seattle-based film and theatre actor Ross Destiche will be playing Edward Rochester.

The cast includes Ian Bond as John Reed/St. John/Ensemble, Ross Destiche* as Edward Rochester, Keiko Green* as Blanche/Bertha/Ensemble, Mi Kang as Jane Eyre, Frank Lawler as Mr. Brockelhurst/Ensemble, Jacoba Lee as Georgiana/Ensemble, Marty Mukhalian as Mrs. Reed/Mrs. Fairfax/Ensemble, Zoe Papadakis and Jazzlyn Bleil-Geiselman as Adele/Ensemble, and Ayo Tushinde as Helen/Grace Pool/Ensemble.

The design team includes scenic design by Will Abrahames, sound design by Kyle Thompson, and lighting design by Thorn Michaels.

*Member of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States

For information or to arrange interviews, please contact Communications Manager Val Brunetto at valb@book-it.org.

Jane Eyre plays September 13-October 14, 2018 (Opening/Press Night on September 15) at The Center Theatre at the Armory (305 Harrison Street, Seattle, WA 98109). Performance tickets start at $26 with group rates available. $20 tickets will be available to students during the entire run with valid school ID. Purchase at book-it.org or by calling the box office at 206.216.0833. The box office is open Tues through Fri, 12pm - 5pm (Tues - Sat during production run), located in the outer lobby of The Center Theatre at the Armory, 305 Harrison St., Seattle.

Beyond-the-Book Events

Conversations that both illuminate Book-It's production and act as catalysts for deeper exploration of the book's themes. Book-It will announce Beyond-the-Book events at a later date.

About Julie Beckman

Julie originally adapted and directed Jane Eyre for Book-It in 2001 and is overjoyed to return to this story. Her other adaptations include Dickens' Hard Times, Jonathan Raban's Waxwings, and Edith Wharton's The Bunner Sisters. For Theatre22, Julie directed Downstairs by Theresa Rebeck as well as Water by the Spoonful (three Gypsy Rose Lee awards and Seattle Times Footlight Award) and The Happiest Song Plays Last, both by Pulitzer Prize-winner Quiara Alegría Hudes, as well as Annapurna and Fifth of July. Directing work with Strawberry Theatre Workshop includes The Bells (three Footlight Awards), The Elephant Man (four Gregory nominations) and Fellow Passengers. Previous directing work includes A Small Fire with Sound Theatre Company (four Gypsy Rose Lee awards) and 4 Dogs and a Bone for Theater Schmeater (Footlight Award). She has also directed for The 14/48 Projects, Stone Soup Theatre, Our American Theatre, Seattle Public Theater, University of Washington, and Cornish College of the Arts. She has an MFA in a directing from Northwestern University.

PLEASE NOTE: We ask that you use Book-It's full name "Book-It Repertory Theatre" or simply "Book-It", in all text and listings. Thank You.

About THE 2018-2019 Season
In the fall of 2018, Book-It presents Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre, where classism, sexuality, and female expression are explored in this Gothic mystery. The enchanting American classic My Ántonia by Willa Cather takes the stage during the holiday season. Kicking off 2019 is a brutally honest look at addiction during Seattle's grunge years with Seattle native Tom Hansen's American Junkie. In the spring, Returning the Bones combines classic storytelling with fluid physical style and is performed by Helen Hayes Award-winner Gin Hammond at the Erickson Theatre. Book-It closes out its 29th season with Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue, which masterfully weaves a story of class divide, immigration, and marriage.

About Book-It Repertory Theatre

Book-It Repertory Theatre, a leader in the narrative theatre movement, was founded in 1990. Book-It is a non-profit organization with a dedication to great literature and quality theatre experiences employing simple, sensitive, and imaginative production techniques, and to inspiring its audiences to read. The company is funded, in part, by generous contributions from corporations and foundations, and hundreds of individuals who share its passion for literature.

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