From the beginning, we knew as a company that bringing to life this beautiful adaptation of one of the most iconic and deeply loved pieces of English literature would be a tremendous challenge. It is not an exaggeration to compare the complexity and nuance of Jane Austen’s story and characters--nor their place in literature and our collective imaginations--to those of Hamlet. (But unlike Elizabeth Bennet in our adaptation, Hamlet occasionally gets to leave the stage for a drink of water and a chance to breathe…) Elizabeth Bennet has inspired generations of women--particularly and without exception all the women I admire most in my life--to be their own person, to expect and demand more from society, and to pursue their dreams and protect their loved ones even in the face of disaster. This is what keeps this story so relevant and makes it so vital to be retold again tonight.
From a theatrical standpoint, I can think of few plays better suited to challenge our students. In this comedy of manners, the characters rarely say what they mean but always mean what they say. The intentions and tactics employed by them--the nuts and bolts of acting--are delivered almost exclusively through subtext, insinuation, and understatement. “If you will excuse me…” can be as cutting and cold as “It is very good to see you…” can be an apology, an inquiry, and a declaration of love. The work undertaken by these students to capture and master these emotions, stakes, characters, and circumstances over the past two months has been immense. Adding to the challenge, we chose to stage our play in the round, layering on an immediacy and physical complexity that no student on stage tonight had yet experienced. As pared down as this production is technically, this staging also increases the demands on our designers, as lighting and sound shoulder much of the physical storytelling normally shared by set and costume changes. Few high-school theatre students or programs would be capable of taking on so much in a single production. Furthermore, at the end of last schoolyear, we lost a talented and experienced group of actors when the Class of 2025 graduated. Their absence has required new student leaders to step forward, some as young as freshmen and sophomores, to fill the gap and set the standard for our ensemble.
I cannot tell you how proud I am of these students and their astounding ability to meet and overcome all these challenges to share this incredible story with you tonight. For as young as our company is, their commitment, talent, and hard work--and the experience they have gained on such a challenging production--promise an exciting future for our program. Thank you for all your support, and please enjoy our show.
PHILLIP KORTH
November 10, 2025
