The cast of the Pendragon Theatre production of “Pride and Prejudice” can be seen here. The show will be presented at SUNY Potsdam on Sept. 14 and 15 at 7:30 p.m., in the Performing Arts Center.
Pendragon Theatre will present Kate Hamill’s family-friendly adaptation of Jane Austen's classic novel, “Pride and Prejudice,” during an upcoming residency at SUNY Potsdam. The “Pride and Prejudice” performances will be offered on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 14 and 15 at 7:30 p.m., in the Proscenium Theater, located in SUNY Potsdam’s Performing Arts Center.
Playwright Kate Hamill is well known for her fresh and funny adaptations of Jane Austen's work. According to the New York Times, she “has a gift for condensing three-volume novels into galloping two-act plays. Her screwball ‘Pride and Prejudice’ hasn’t met a rib it can’t tickle.”
The play is centered around outspoken Elizabeth Bennet, played by Amy Stringer, who faces mounting pressure to secure a suitable marriage from her status-conscious mother, played by Pendragon veteran Laura Jean Schwartau. But is marriage suitable for a woman of Elizabeth’s intelligence and independence? It’s a question that keeps coming up for her, especially when the irritating, aloof, self-involved, yet tall, vaguely handsome, mildly amusing and impossibly aristocratic Mr. Darcy keeps popping up at every turn. Philip Rosen, who just finished a stint in Pendragon's “I Hate Hamlet,” is stepping in as Mr. Darcy.
SUNY Potsdam alumni Manley Gavich '16 and Emma Simon '12 will also be featured in the cast, along with Rachel Kemp, Gabrielle Dion and Evan Raines.
Director Karen Lord-Kirkham describes the play as a romp that both Austen fans and those who have never read the novel will enjoy. Highly theatrical, with actors playing multiple roles, this adaptation captures both the spirit and sparkle of the novel. Original music composed for this production by the New York City-based musician Ellen Mandel adds another layer of dramatic flair, and the show also features actor Evan Raines playing violin live during the performance, with the rest of the cast providing various other soundscapes to underscore the action.
Tickets are $15 for general admission, and $10 for senior citizens, youth, and SUNY Potsdam faculty, staff and students. To purchase tickets, contact the Community Performance Series Box Office at (315) 267-2277 or www.cpspotsdam.org, or visit the box office, located in the PAC lobby.
The Proscenium Theater is wheelchair accessible. There will be no sign language interpreter for these performances.
Pendragon Theatre is an ensemble of theatre artists, based in the Adirondacks, who are dedicated to preserving the vitality and enhancing the quality of professional theater, through year-round performance and educational programs. Pendragon receives funding from the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. For more information, visit www.pendragontheatre.org.
From directing, choreographing, acting and dancing, to designing and technical work, theatre and dance are highly collaborative art forms at SUNY Potsdam. Students and professionals engage in creative problem solving, requiring the setting and meeting of long-term goals, and the analysis and understanding of movement and dramatic literature. For more information about SUNY Potsdam’s Department of Theatre and Dance, visit www.potsdam.edu/theatre.
Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of only three arts campuses in the entire SUNY system. SUNY Potsdam’s arts curriculum offers the full palette: music, theatre, dance, fine arts and creative writing. No matter the discipline, people from all backgrounds can find their creative compass at Potsdam, with myriad arts immersion experiences available for both campus and community.
Arts & Culture