Pride and Prejudice kicks off the Guthrie's 40th anniversary season and features direction by Guthrie artistic director Joe Dowling. In a statement, Dowling said, "We are delighted to open our [season] with this internationally celebrated adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. This wonderfully witty and humorous story of love and romance, with its sumptuous costumes and beautiful sets, is the perfect way to spend a summer evening."
Set in late 18th-century England, Pride and Prejudice concerns Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, who try to find wealthy husbands for their five beautiful, yet dowerless, daughters. This stage adaptation of the Austen novel, which will play the Guthrie through Aug. 30, was first presented last season at Ireland's Gate Theatre where it became the most popular production in the theatre's history.
Stephen Sondheim regular Barbara Bryne — who starred in the original Broadway casts of Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George and Into the Woods — is featured in the Guthrie cast as Lady Catherine de Bourgh. The company also includes Bianca Amato (Elizabeth Bennet), Erin Anderson (Lydia Bennet), Julian Bailey (Sir William Lucas), Robert O. Berdahl (Col. Fitzwilliam), Raye Birk (Mr. Bennet), Jennifer Blagen (Miss Caroline Bingley), Virginia S. Burke (Miss Anne de Bourgh), Cheyenne Casebier (Jane Bennet), Laura Esping (Charlotte Lucas), Bard Goodrich (Mr. Wickham), Matthew Greer (Mr. Darcy), Summer Hagen (Kitty Bennet), Richard S. Iglewski (Mr. Collins), Heather Kendzierski (Mrs. Jenkinson), Tracey Maloney (Mary Bennet), Lee Mark Nelson (Mr. Charles Bingley), Alex Podulke (Denny/Captain Carter) and Sally Wingert (Mrs. Bennet).
The creative team comprises John Lee Beatty (set designer), Mathew J. LeFebvre (costume designer), Kenneth Posner (lighting designer), Scott W. Edwards (sound designer), Tom Linker (musical consultant), Carla Steen (dramaturg), Marcela Lorca (movement), Gillian Lane-Plescia (voice and dialect consultant), Martha Kulig (stage manager), Michele Harms (assistant stage manager) and Rebecca Easton (assistant director).
Tickets — $13-$48 — for Pride and Prejudice are available by calling the Guthrie box office at (612) 377-2224. The Guthrie Theater is located at 725 Vineland Place in Minneapolis, MN. Go to www.guthrietheater.org for more information.
