In honor of Jane Austen’s 250th anniversary of birth, the high school theatre arts department at The Grauer School, an independent school in Encinitas, presented the Austen classic “Pride & Prejudice” as a “theatre in the round” production where the audience was seated around the center stage area.
Since its publication in 1813, the book has received numerous TV and movie screen adaptations. Most recently, Netflix has ordered a six-part mini-series of “Pride & Prejudice” from director Euros Lyn and best-selling author Dolly Alderton with the cast including actors Emma Mcintyre, Pascal Le Segretain and Matt Holyoak, according to a news release.
“The cast and I have loved and embraced ‘Pride and Prejudice’ with all of its humor and self-discovery,” said Erin Langen, the theatre arts teacher and director of the play, in the news release. “I continue to be in awe of this cast and the entire department. Their dedication to character, details and loving the theatre process has been rewarding to observe and exciting to experience.”
The Visual and Performing Arts Department collaborated to showcase the students’ talents from various disciplines. Theatre students took center stage, acting in and directing the performances. Visual Arts students brought the world of the play to life by crafting props and deg set pieces.
The Film Studies department filmed the performance to create a compelling video that could be shared with the broader community. Behind the scenes, the Audio-Visual department played a crucial role in ensuring that each performance was technically flawless, managing the lighting and sound to create the perfect atmosphere for every moment of the show.
“It was a beautiful performance, with a beautiful stage — an amazing job by the technical crew — and the British accents were truly on point,” said Alicia Tembi, principal at The Grauer School, in the news release. “The audience greatly enjoyed themselves. I think one of my favorite parts of the theatre in the round is seeing the reactions of those in the crowd. There was pure delight on the faces of the parents and other loved ones in attendance. It is a gift to see actors grow from year to year thanks to the confidence, critique and opportunities from our phenomenal theatre program.”
The Grauer School is hosting The Grauer School of Rock Gala on Saturday, May 3 at The Belly Up Tavern from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. to raise funds for its Visual and Performing Arts programs. Learn more about The Grauer School and gala by visiting www.grauerschool.com.
