BRADLEY UNIVERSITY THEATRE PRESENTS
Sense and Sensibility
Sisterhood and coming of age in the late 18th century England
Bradley University Theatre concludes its 2018-2019 season with playwright Kate Hamill’s acclaimed adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen’s classic novel of sisterhood, romance, and coming of age in Georgian England. Performances are April 25- May 5, 2019 at the Hartmann Center for the Performing Arts.
Facing bleak prospects after the death of their father, the disinherited Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, attempt to adjust to life without position or money. Socially ostracized and assailed by petty gossips, predatory relatives, and questionable suitors, they find solidarity in each other and, in an England tossed between the reason (“Sense”) of late 18th century to the surging romanticism (“Sensibility”) of the 19th, the sisters endure and eventually triumph. Austen’s spectacular language and benevolent humor fuel their journey, and playwright Hamill’s adaptation evokes their world with ingenious theatricality and style.
“It’s a beautiful and funny play that has created space for a wide range of cast and crew members to grow,” says the play’s director, Dan Matisa, Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts. “In this production, we have Theatre Arts majors, minors, and non-majors performing, designing, and serving on the crew. I served as a guiding hand for them at the beginning of the process, but as we’ve continued, they’ve grown and developed their artistry and are now able to take full ownership of their work in this funny, unique, and highly theatrical adaptation of the Jane Austen classic.”
“This sparkling play ingeniously evokes both the love and satire with which Jane Austen uniquely depicted her world,” adds Theatre Arts chair, Scott Kanoff. “We’re especially thrilled to introduce to the Bradley and Peoria communities the exhilarating work of Kate Hamill, whose many stage adaptations of Austen’s novels have delighted audiences from coast to coast and made her one of the top ten most produced playwrights three years running”.
The creative team for the show includes Scenic and Lighting Designer Chad Lowell; Costume Designer Alyssa Pietrzyk (BU 2019); and Hair and Makeup designer Stephanie Begalke (BU 2020), choreoghrapher Claire Sullivan (BU 2019), and guest composer Sam Kanoff.
SENSE AND SENSIBILITY caps a Bradley Theatre season of plays about the journeys of dynamic, complex women. Previous season offerings have included the well-received SILENT SKY, about the early 20th century astronomer, Henrietta Leavitt; and SHE KILLS MONSTERS a contemporary saga about two Ohio sisters, set in a Dungeons and Dragons universe.
Cast
Marianne Dashwood.....................................................................................Ashleigh Owens Elinor Dashwood..................................................................................................Susan Falk Margaret Dashwood/Mrs.Ferrars............................................................................ Africa Hill Mrs.Jennings/Gossip....................................................................................Haley Rapisarda Fanny Dashwood/Lucy Steele.............................. ...............................Jamie Yerkes Colonel Brandon/Thomas............................................................................ Antonio Duca Edward Ferrars/Robert Ferrars............................................................................Trevor Baty John Willoughby/ John Dashwood.......................................................................Tyler Pesko Mrs. Dashwood/ Anne Steele ...................................................................Jody Holtz Sir John Middleton/ Doctor...................................................................................Joe King Stage Manager...................................................................................................Lluvia Lopez
About the Playwright
Kate Hamill is an award-winning NYC-based actor/playwright. She is deeply passionate about creating new female classics: stories that center around complicated women. Her work as a playwright celebrates theatricality, often features absurdity, and closely examines social and gender issues - as well as the timeless struggle to reconcile conscience / identity with social pressures.
She was named 2017's Playwright of the Year by the Wall Street Journal. Recent plays include Sense and Sensibility (in which she originated the role of Marianne) - Winner, Off-Broadway Alliance Award; Nominee, Drama League Award; 265+ performances off- Broadway; "Top Ten Theater of 2014" - Ben Brantley; "the greatest stage adaptation of this novel in history” - Huffington Post. Other plays include Vanity Fair (in which she originated the role of Becky Sharp; Nominee, Off Broadway Alliance Award; WSJ Critic's Pick), Pride and Prejudice (In which she originated the role of Lizzy Bennet; Nominee, Off Broadway Alliance Award; "Best Theater of 2017", Huffington Post; WSJ Critic's Pick), In the Mines (Sundance Lab semi-finalist), Little Women, The Scarlet Letter, Mansfield Park, Em (Red Bull New Play finalist), The Prostitute Play (O’Neill semi- finalist). Her plays have been produced off-Broadway, at A.R.T., Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Guthrie Theatre, Seattle Rep, PlayMaker’s Rep, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, Dallas Theater Center, Folger Theatre (8 Helen Hayes Award nominations; Winner, best production - S&S) & others. She is currently working on an adaptation of The Odyssey (commissioned by A.R.T.) and a new adaptation of The Scarlet Letter, as well as several new original plays - including Love Poem, In The Mines (Sundance Semi-Finalist) The Piper, and Prostitute Play (O'Neill Semi-Finalist). She was one of 2018-2019’s top 5 most-produced playwrights nationally; she was also 2017- 2018’s top 10 most-produced playwrights, and wrote one of the top 10 most-produced plays nationally in both 2017-2018 and 2018-2019.
The Hartmann Center for the Performing Arts
1423 West St. James, Peoria, IL 61625
Tickets and information:
Bradley University Cultural Events Box Office 309.677.2650
www.bradley.edu/theatre
