NW Missouri Times

Theatre Northwest is set to bring the classic Jane Austen novel "Pride and Prejudice" to the stage in a musical adaptation from April 10 to 12 at the Mary Linn Auditorium, located within the Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts. The adaptation, titled “Pride and Prejudice: A New Musical,” was developed by Paul Gordon, who has previously been credited with works like “Emma,” “Sense and Sensibility,” and “Jane Eyre.”

The production, directed by Dr. Paul Hindemith, an assistant professor of music at Northwest, will showcase songs such as “Bravado,” “Headstrong," and “Happiness in Marriage.” Hindemith shared his enthusiasm for the project, noting, “The more I started getting to know it, the more I was going, ‘This fits our program really well’ because it’s the Jane Austen novel adapted.”

The story reflects on themes of love, marriage, and societal expectations, examining the intricate relationship between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy during England's Regency era.

Dr. Rachel Day, the chair at Northwest, discovered this musical version while searching for productions for the university’s biennial musical. She recommended it to Hindemith, who then decided to direct the show, finding it a good fit for the program.

Among the cast is freshman theatre performance major Michael White from Omaha, Nebraska, who plays Mr. Darcy. He has been researching various portrayals of the character, stating, “One of the big things I am doing is just constantly rereading through my script and trying to see how the writer portrayed him to then put that into my acting as well.”

Genevieve McCalla, a freshman majoring in business management from Atlantic, Iowa, plays Elizabeth Bennet and is eager to bring the character’s family-oriented and determined personality to life. She commented, “I am so excited for the costumes and the set pieces…I'm living for it. I'm also just generally excited to be performing again, and it’s such a beautiful show.”

Tickets to the performances are priced at $12 and can be reserved online. They are also available at the box office, subject to availability, beginning one hour prior to each performance.