“I couldn’t be more thrilled to have Ashley Rose Montondo joining the cast of Pride and Prejudice,” said artistic director Joe Dowling in a statement. “She is an accomplished young actor and a testament to the vitality of our BFA program and partnership with the University of Minnesota. It will be a delight for all of us to witness her performance in the beloved role of Elizabeth Bennet—this is the beginning of a remarkable journey for Ashley and one that no one will want to miss!”
Montondo, a 2011 graduate of the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater BFA Actor Training Program, previously appeared at the Guthrie in 2011 as Amy Spettigue in Charley’s Aunt and has understudied roles in The Primrose Path and Long Day’s Journey into Night.
Directed by Dowling, opening night is scheduled for July 12; performances will continue through Aug. 31.
The cast will be led by Vincent Kartheiser (“Mad Men”) as Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, who will be joined by Ivy Beech as Miss Kitty Bennet/Miss Annabel de Bourgh, J.C. Cutler as Sir William Lucas/Mr. Reynolds, Laura Esping as Miss Charlotte Lucas, Hugh Kennedy as Mr. Charles Bingley, Aeysha Kinnunen as Miss Lydia Bennet, Juan Rivera Lebron as Mr. George Wickham, Kris L. Nelson as Mr. William Collins, Thallis Santesteban as Miss Mary Bennet/Miss Georgiana Darcy, Anna Sundberg as Miss Caroline Bingley, Peter Thomson as Mr. Bennet, Suzanne Warmanen as Mrs. Bennet, Christine Weber as Miss Jane Bennet and Sally Wingert as Lady Catherine de Bourgh/Mrs. Gardiner.
"Jane Austen’s witty comedy of manners—one of the most beloved novels of all time—tells the story of the five Bennet daughters who are in need of suitable husbands," according to the Guthrie. "The arrival of the wealthy Mr. Bingley and his best friend Mr. Darcy stirs romantic thoughts among the sisters and the matrimonial matchmaking begins. Tensions mount between the young, spitfire Elizabeth Bennet and the arrogant Mr. Darcy, though he cannot escape a growing attraction to her rebellious behavior. A tangle of mistaken impressions and unexpected revelations keeps Austen’s famous young couple apart until a major social error ironically allows Darcy to swallow his pride and Elizabeth to rethink her prejudice." The artistic team includes Alexander Dodge (set designer), Mathew J. LeFebvre (costume designer), Philip S. Rosenberg (lighting designer), Scott W. Edwards (sound designer), Carla Steen (dramaturg), Lucinda Holshue (voice and dialect coach), Joe Chvala (movement), Jason Clusman (stage manager), Meaghan Rosenberger (assistant stage manager) and Adrian Balbontin (assistant director).
For ticket information visit guthrietheater.org.
