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Pride & PrejudiceOpening Date: Dec 4, 2019
Closing Date: Jan 4, 2020 Air date: April 10, 2020 Medium: online Where to watch: Streaming Musicals, Amazon (as an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases from this link) |
Stage Production Notes
From the composer of Daddy Long Legs and Broadway's Jane Eyre, Pride & Prejudice is a musical adaptation of the well-known Jane Austen novel.
Following on from Emma (2007) and Sense and Sensibility (2012), Pride & Prejudice was the third in a musical trilogy of Austen novels to be adapted by Paul Gordon. In an interview for BroadwayWorld, the composer noted that he felt Jane Austen novels had a contemporary and surprisingly modern feel.
Pride & Prejudice was first workshopped at the New Works Festival hosted by TheatreWorks in 2018.
The musical opened at the Lucie Stern Theatre at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley on December 4, 2019. It was the 70th world premier at TheatreWorks and one of the final shows for company founder and artistic director Robert Kelley, retiring after his 50th season.
The musical received generally positive reviews. While some critics noted the lack of consistency in the score, the cast were universally praised for their performances —notably Heather Orth as Mrs Bennet and Monique Hafen Adams as Caroline Bingley. The sumptuousness and effectiveness of Joe Ragey's scenic design and Fumiko Bielefeldt’s costume design also received high praise. Regarding Arts critic Tony Lacy-Thompson claimed the musical “breathes new life into the characters,” while Splash Magazines critics Henry Etzkowitz and Alice Zhou stated it was "A delightful proto-feminist interpretation of Austen’s classic, well worth seeing.” San Francisco Chronicle’s Lily Janiak stated the while lyrics were occasionally cliched and the score’s musical style a “confusing hodgepodge,” it was ultimately thrilling to see old characters bought to new life.
Pride & Prejudice closed on January 4, 2020.
From the composer of Daddy Long Legs and Broadway's Jane Eyre, Pride & Prejudice is a musical adaptation of the well-known Jane Austen novel.
Following on from Emma (2007) and Sense and Sensibility (2012), Pride & Prejudice was the third in a musical trilogy of Austen novels to be adapted by Paul Gordon. In an interview for BroadwayWorld, the composer noted that he felt Jane Austen novels had a contemporary and surprisingly modern feel.
Pride & Prejudice was first workshopped at the New Works Festival hosted by TheatreWorks in 2018.
The musical opened at the Lucie Stern Theatre at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley on December 4, 2019. It was the 70th world premier at TheatreWorks and one of the final shows for company founder and artistic director Robert Kelley, retiring after his 50th season.
The musical received generally positive reviews. While some critics noted the lack of consistency in the score, the cast were universally praised for their performances —notably Heather Orth as Mrs Bennet and Monique Hafen Adams as Caroline Bingley. The sumptuousness and effectiveness of Joe Ragey's scenic design and Fumiko Bielefeldt’s costume design also received high praise. Regarding Arts critic Tony Lacy-Thompson claimed the musical “breathes new life into the characters,” while Splash Magazines critics Henry Etzkowitz and Alice Zhou stated it was "A delightful proto-feminist interpretation of Austen’s classic, well worth seeing.” San Francisco Chronicle’s Lily Janiak stated the while lyrics were occasionally cliched and the score’s musical style a “confusing hodgepodge,” it was ultimately thrilling to see old characters bought to new life.
Pride & Prejudice closed on January 4, 2020.
Filmed Production Notes
Following the success of the Daddy Long Legs livestream in 2015, composer Paul Gordon sought make more musicals available online, and so Streaming Musicals was born.
Launched in 2018, Streaming Musicals have released two “soundstage musicals” (a hybrid between stage and film) Emma and No One Called Ahead, and a web series, The Hunted: Encore based on "the longest running web series of all time,” The Hunted.
Paul Gordon has stated that he hopes that by releasing musicals online, a wider audience will be able to access them, and more regional theatre will be interested in producing them.
Pride & Prejudice was filmed with three HD cameras during its run at TheatreWorks.
On April 10, 2020, Streaming Musicals hosted a free “virtual opening night” screening hosted by Broadway stars Laura Osnes and Beth Leavel (both of whom appeared in Bandstand), and SiriusXM host Julie James. The musical was streamed at 6.30pm EST, and re-broadcast at 10pm EST, with cast interviews during intermission.
Over 160,000 viewers from 14 different countries tuned into the stream.
It was announced that artists involved in the production would receive income from the livestream “through a unique profit-sharing model.”
Pride & Prejudice is available to rent or purchase at Streaming Musicals, Stage Player Plus, and Amazon (as an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases from this link).
Following the success of the Daddy Long Legs livestream in 2015, composer Paul Gordon sought make more musicals available online, and so Streaming Musicals was born.
Launched in 2018, Streaming Musicals have released two “soundstage musicals” (a hybrid between stage and film) Emma and No One Called Ahead, and a web series, The Hunted: Encore based on "the longest running web series of all time,” The Hunted.
Paul Gordon has stated that he hopes that by releasing musicals online, a wider audience will be able to access them, and more regional theatre will be interested in producing them.
Pride & Prejudice was filmed with three HD cameras during its run at TheatreWorks.
On April 10, 2020, Streaming Musicals hosted a free “virtual opening night” screening hosted by Broadway stars Laura Osnes and Beth Leavel (both of whom appeared in Bandstand), and SiriusXM host Julie James. The musical was streamed at 6.30pm EST, and re-broadcast at 10pm EST, with cast interviews during intermission.
Over 160,000 viewers from 14 different countries tuned into the stream.
It was announced that artists involved in the production would receive income from the livestream “through a unique profit-sharing model.”
Pride & Prejudice is available to rent or purchase at Streaming Musicals, Stage Player Plus, and Amazon (as an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases from this link).
Pride & Prejudice PRODUCTION CREDITS
Theatre: Lucie Stern Theatre, TheatreWorks
Producer: Tom Polum, Stacia Fernandez
Book, Music, and Lyrics: Paul Gordon
Director: Robert Kelley
Musical Director: William Liberatore
Orchestrations: Conor Keelan
Choreography: Dottie Lester-White
Scenic Design: Joe Ragey
Costume Design: Fumiko Bielefeldt
Lighting Design: Pamila Z. Gray
Sound Design: Brendan Aanes
Stage Manager: Randall K. Lum
Cast:
Samantha James Ayoob (Lady's maid and Townsperson), Seton Chiang (Footman and Townsperson), Taylor Crousore (Mr. Wickham), Travis Leland (Mr. Bingley), Mary Mattison (Elizabeth Bennet), Justin Mortellitit (Mr. Darcy), Heather Orth (Mrs. Bennet), Sharon Rietkirk (Jane Bennet), Michelle Skinner (Lady's Maid and Townsperson), Heather Mae Steffen (Lady's Maid and Townsperson), Chanel Tilghman (Kitty Bennet), Melissa WolfKlain (Mary Bennet), Tara Kostmayer (Lydia Bennet), Monique Hafen Adams (Miss Caroline Bingley / Ann De Bourgh), Lucinda Hitchcock Cone (Lady Catherine De Bourgh / Mrs. Gardiner), Sean Fenton (Captain Denny/Colonel Fitzwilliam), Brian Herndon (Mr. Collins/Mr. Gardiner), Dani Marcus (Charlotte Lucas/Georgiana Darcy), Christopher Vettel (Mr. Bennet/Pemberley Steward)
Theatre: Lucie Stern Theatre, TheatreWorks
Producer: Tom Polum, Stacia Fernandez
Book, Music, and Lyrics: Paul Gordon
Director: Robert Kelley
Musical Director: William Liberatore
Orchestrations: Conor Keelan
Choreography: Dottie Lester-White
Scenic Design: Joe Ragey
Costume Design: Fumiko Bielefeldt
Lighting Design: Pamila Z. Gray
Sound Design: Brendan Aanes
Stage Manager: Randall K. Lum
Cast:
Samantha James Ayoob (Lady's maid and Townsperson), Seton Chiang (Footman and Townsperson), Taylor Crousore (Mr. Wickham), Travis Leland (Mr. Bingley), Mary Mattison (Elizabeth Bennet), Justin Mortellitit (Mr. Darcy), Heather Orth (Mrs. Bennet), Sharon Rietkirk (Jane Bennet), Michelle Skinner (Lady's Maid and Townsperson), Heather Mae Steffen (Lady's Maid and Townsperson), Chanel Tilghman (Kitty Bennet), Melissa WolfKlain (Mary Bennet), Tara Kostmayer (Lydia Bennet), Monique Hafen Adams (Miss Caroline Bingley / Ann De Bourgh), Lucinda Hitchcock Cone (Lady Catherine De Bourgh / Mrs. Gardiner), Sean Fenton (Captain Denny/Colonel Fitzwilliam), Brian Herndon (Mr. Collins/Mr. Gardiner), Dani Marcus (Charlotte Lucas/Georgiana Darcy), Christopher Vettel (Mr. Bennet/Pemberley Steward)
Sources
Articles
- Henry Etzkowitz and Alice Zhou, "“Pride & Prejudice: the Musical” Review – TheatreWorks at Lucie Stern,” Splash Magazines (Dec 8, 2019)
- Tony Frankel, "Theater Review: PRIDE & PREJUDICE (World Premiere Musical at TheatreWorks in Palo Alto)” Stage and Cinema (Dec 18, 2019)
- Paul Gordon, "First Person: Pride & Prejudice Musical Composer Paul Gordon Sees the Future in Streaming,” TheaterMania (April 8, 2020)
- Sam Hurwitt, "Review: Austen’s ‘Pride & Prejudice’ now a so-so new musical in Palo Alto,” The Mercury News (Dec 9, 2019)
- Lily Janiak, "Review: ‘Pride & Prejudice’ musical gives new voice to Austen’s beloved characters,” San Francisco Chronicle (Dec 8, 2019)
- Tony Lacy-Thompson, "Pride, Prejudice and great music in TheatreWorks world premiere,” Regarding Arts (Dec 12, 2019)
- Jim Munson, "BWW Interview: Paul Gordon of Pride & Prejudice at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Makes the Works of Jane Austen Sing,” BroadwayWorld (Dec 2, 2019)
- Steve Murray, "BWW Review: Pride & Prejudice at Lucie Stern Theatre,” BroadwayWorld (Dec 10, 2019)
- Mackenzie Nichols, "Streaming Musicals Website Hosts Virtual Opening Night With ‘Pride & Prejudice’ Musical (EXCLUSIVE)” Variety (April 1, 2020)
- Mackenzie Nichols, "Streaming Musical’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’ Virtual Opening Night Generates 160,000 Viewers," Variety (April 14, 2020)
- Eddie Reynolds, "Regional Reviews: San Jose/Silicon Valley: Pride & Prejudice, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley,” Talkin’ Broadway (Dec 12, 2019)
- Jean Schiffman, "‘Pride & Prejudice’ comes to TheatreWorks’ stage with music,” San Francisco Examiner (Dec 9, 2019)
- Richard Wolinsky, "Review: Pride & Prejudice at TheatreWorks Palo Alto,” 94.1 KPFA (Dec 17, 2019)
- Paul Gordon, “About,“ Accessed via: http://paul-gordon.weebly.com/about.html
- Pride & Prejudice: A New Musical, Accessed via: https://www.prideandprejudicepremiere.com/
- Streaming Musicals, “Pride & Prejudice,” Accessed via: https://www.streamingmusicals.com/#!/browse/film/28470/pride-and-prejudice?trailer
- TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, “Pride & Prejudice,” Accessed via: https://www.theatreworks.org/201920-season/pride-and-prejudice/
Written by Luisa Lyons (April, 2020)