From Hallmark’s “Pride, Prejudice, and Mistletoe” to “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,” Jane Austen’s famous novel has gone through a variety of adaptations.
Transylvania University is presenting playwright Kate Hamill’s bold and timely version of the classic Feb. 26-March 2 in Little Theater. Reserve free tickets.
“I’m excited about this because ‘Pride and Prejudice’ is one of my favorite novels,” said Melissa Gilbert, resident costume designer and theater instructor. She addeed that audience members will enjoy watching the play even if they’re not devout Austenites.
Gilbert noted how they’ll find culturally familiar aspects of this production — from popping costume colors to the matriarch cooling herself with a battery powered fan — perhaps making it more relatable than sitting down with a 1813 novel.
During the past few weeks, the cast and crew have been getting ready with blocking, read-throughs, costume fitting, stage construction and other tasks.
The play is directed by Derrick Ledbetter, who also led productions of Transylvania Theater’s “Little Women” in 2022 and “The Tempest” the following year. Also working on the show are guest lighting designer Tom Willis and guest composer Ben Sexton ’22.
Senior Anne Elizabeth Forker, the scenic designer, envisioned the stage with its striking checkerboard floor and multilevel staircases.
“It has been such an incredible experience working with this team and seeing my design come to life on the stage,” she said. “Thanks to all of the hard work of the cast and crew, it is shaping up to be such a great show, and I hope everyone comes out to enjoy it.”
Fellow senior Sofia Ricketts said her behind-the-scenes experience on the production has been “nothing short of wonderful” — plus, it’ll look good on her resume.
“Working in the costume shop with Melissa has been a great experience for when I graduate in May and start applying for jobs in the area,” she said. She noted how faculty are eager to give students real-world experience that prepares them for jobs. “My time working on this show especially has reinforced everything I learned in Melissa’s Costume Construction course, and I’m happy to be able to make these connections.”
While Gilbert is helping some students learn practical skills, she’s helping others more deeply engage with Austen’s work by connecting them to the play via a cross-campus transformative text initiative. This will include a discussion on an “Air of Decided Fashion: Exploring Regency Dress in ‘Pride and Prejudice,'” on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 5 p.m. in Carrick Theater. The free talk features Natalie Maynard, costume cutter and draper for the University of Kentucky Department of Theatre and Dance.
“Pride and Prejudice” is part of Transylvania Theater’s 2024‑25 Mainstage Series, which is taking audiences on a “bold and irreverent romp through the 19th century.”