Arcelus, Brunnell, Keating, Jerome and More Set for Reading of Pride & Prejudice Musical

By Andrew Gans
and Zachary Pincus-Roth
August 2, 2007

A by-invitation-only reading of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice, the musical — which combines the world of the Bennet family in "Pride and Prejudice" with the world of Austen as she writes the novel — will be presented Aug. 3 in Manhattan.

Mark Lamos will direct the reading at the New 42nd Street Studios. The afternoon will feature the talents of Carey Anderson as Kitty Bennet, Sebastian Arcelus as Wickham, Jenni Barber as Mary Bennet and Georgiana Darcy, Daniel Bogart as Mr. Collins, Catherine Brunnell as Jane Austen, Marilyn Caskey as Mrs. Bennet, Jeremy Hays as Charles Bingley, Colin Donnell as Mr. Darcy, Timothy Jerome as Mr. Bennet, Isabel Keating as Lady Catherine, Alli Mauzey, Caroline Bingley and Kristine Reese as Lydia Bennet, Carolyn Sanita as Jane Bennet, Michael Scott as Mr. Gardiner, Molly Sorohan as Mrs. Gardiner and Jennifer Hope Wills as Elizabeth Bennet.

"Jane Austen," according to Pride & Prejudice press notes, "brings to life the world of 'Pride & Prejudice' through her writing process. She creates the classic love story of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy before our eyes for us to fall in love with all over again. . . . It is a story of love — the love an author has for her characters and the love the characters have for one another."

Pride & Prejudice, the musical was penned by Lindsay Warren Baker and Amanda Jacobs. Fred Lassen will be the musical director for the upcoming performance.

A previous reading was held Feb. 15 that featured Polly Bergen as the narrator. The musical also had a 2004 workshop at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, and then world premiered in 2006 at the Ohio Light Opera.