Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is proud to present the regional premiere of Jane Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility” adapted by Jon Jory, on February 17- March 18th
Sara Clark as Marianne Dashwood, Giles Davies as Colonel Brandon, Kelly Mengelkoch as Elinor Dashwood & Brent Vimtrup as Edward Ferrars. Photo by Jeanna Vella.
CINCINNATI, January 27, 2012— Opening February 17, 2012, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is proud to present the regional premiere of Jane Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility” adapted by Jon Jory. Cincinnati audiences delighted in last season’s production of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” leading to a sold out run. CSC is pleased to be able to offer Jane Austen again this season in this new adaption of another one of her beloved stories, “Sense & Sensibility”. This production is directed by Drew Fracher and will run until March 18th. “Sense and Sensibility” is generously sponsored by LPK, the ensemble is sponsored by Wells Fargo Investment Advisors and the production design is sponsored by Matson Money.
All of the romance and wit of Jane Austen returns to CSC’s stage in this charmingly fast-paced and pleasing new adaptation by Jon Jory of her classic 1811 novel, “Sense and Sensibility”. When a lack of luck makes for difficult marriage prospects for the Dashwood sisters. Elinor (Kelly Mengelkoch) and Marianne (Sara Clark) Dashwood set sail on the volatile seas of courtship. Both are seeking husbands, but have completely opposite approaches. The sisters soon discover that neither reserved Elinor’s common sense nor impulsive Marianne’s passion offer the key to happiness. A suave suitor, the dashing Willoughby (Ian Bond) tries to steal the heart of Marianne who has captured the heart of another, the sometimes not-so-suave Colonel Brandon (Giles Davies). And sensible Elinor must pine after the wistful Edward Ferrars (Brent Vimtrup) as she discovers scandalous secrets of his past. Their fortune already lost to fate, will the Dashwood sisters lose all hopes of romance to their own folly?
A favorite director at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company for many years, Drew Fracher returns to helm “Sense and Sensibility”. Mr. Fracher says he is “very interested in the character’s inner lives vs. the societal manners of the day.” Mr. Fracher last directed CSC’s 2010 production of William Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing”. Drew Fracher currently is a director, fight director and actor who has free-lanced professionally for over twenty-five years. He has directed plays from Shakespeare to world premieres at regional theatres throughout the U.S., and staged fights for over two hundred and fifty professional productions, including Broadway and grand opera. He is a proud member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, The Society of American Fight Directors and Actor’s Equity Association. As a director he has worked at a wide variety of theatres in addition to Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, including Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, the Human Race Theatre Co., Florida Stage, Playhouse on the Square, American Stage Theatre Co. and the Alabama, Kentucky and Georgia Shakespeare Festivals.
“Sense and Sensibility” features CSC Resident Company members Kelly Mengelkoch, Sara Clark, Brent Vimtrup and Giles Davies. Kelly Mengelkoch was last seen on CSC’s stage in her stand-out performance as Queen Katherine in Shakespeare’s “Henry VIII: All is True.” Sara Clark, who recently directed this season’s “Love’s Labour’s Lost” was seen on stage in the power-house role of Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”. A newcomer this season to CSC is Brent Vimtrup who was most recently featured this season in “Henry VIII: All is True” and “Love’s Labour’s Lost.” A Cincinnati audience favorite for many years, Giles Davies returns to our stage for “Sense and Sensibility” having last been seen in the title roles in “Dracula” and “Frankenstein” at CSC.
Scenic and Lighting Designer Andrew Hungerford creates the various locales in southwest England that are visited in “Sense and Sensibility” with innovative scenic elements to accommodate Mr. Jory’s fast-paced adaptation. Costume design by Resident Costume Designer Heidi Jo Schiemer showcases the country inspired fashion of this part of southwest England around 1792-1797, the time period of the story. Sound Designer Doug Borntrager and Master Carpenter Travis McElroy complete the design team.
As the Producing Artistic Director of Actors Theatre of Louisville Jon Jory directed over 125 plays and produced over 1,000 during his 32-year tenure. He conceived the internationally lauded Humana Festival of New American Plays, the SHORTS Festival and the Brown-Forman Classics-in-Context Festival. He was also the Artistic Founding Director of Long Wharf Theater in New Haven, Connecticut and he has been inducted in New York’s Theatre Hall of Fame. Mr. Jory has directed professionally in nine nations, and in the United States has directed productions at many regional theatres including Washington’s Arena Stage, San Francisco’s American Conservatory Theatre, Hartford Stage, the McCarter in Princeton, Guthrie Theatre, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. He has received the National Theatre Conference Award and ATA Distinguished Career Award. For his commitment to new plays, he has received the Margo Jones Award twice, the Shubert Foundation’s James N. Vaughan Memorial Award for Exceptional Achievement and Contribution to the Development of Professional Theatre, Carnegie Mellon’s Commitment to Playwriting Award, and the Special Tony Award for Achievement in Regional Theatre. He is currently the President’s Chair in the Performing Arts Department at Santa Fe University of Arts and Design.
Performances of “Sense and Sensibility” are scheduled for February 17- March 18 on Thursday, Friday & Saturday evenings at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2pm. Preview performances are on Feb. 15 & 16. The theater is located at 719 Race Street, downtown Cincinnati, two blocks west of the Aronoff Center. Ticket prices range from $22-$32. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express are accepted. If available, student rush tickets can be purchased 30 minutes before showtime. Weekday matinee performances for school and other groups are also available, contact 513.381.2272 ext. 3202 for more information. To purchase tickets or for more information, call the CSC Box Office at 513.381.BARD (2273), or visit us online at http://www.cincyshakes.com and click any “Buy Tickets” link.
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