'Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley' Takes Stage at Morgan Theatre Just in Time for Holidays

Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley takes the Morgan Theatre stage tonight, December 2, at 7:30 p.m. The show runs Dec. 2-3 and 6-8 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 4 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley picks up two years after Pride & Prejudice ends. We revisit our favorite Austen characters as they celebrate Christmas at Lizzy and Mr. Darcy’s estate. The Bennet family’s middle sister, Mary, grows tired of the spinster role her family has cast upon her, but an unexpected guest sparks her hopes for a love match. However, nothing is that simple in Austen-land and chaos, comedy, and romance ensue as Mary’s sisters act as matchmakers. This holiday comedy is a fun and heartfelt play for the whole family to enjoy.

The show is guest directed by Tarah Flanagan, who serves as Co-Associate Artistic Director of the Great River Shakespeare Festival. Some of her other recent credits include Every Brilliant Thing and An Iliad at Cleveland Playhouse and the world premiere of Buzz at Alabama Shakespeare Festival.

Flanagan said she grew up reading and loving Jane Austen because of her unforgettable characters, sharp social satire, wit, and brilliant insight into all that is splendid and ridiculous in human nature.

“I had the opportunity to spend time at USU as a visiting professor back in 2018,” Flanagan said. “I had a wonderful experience working alongside the students and faculty and found Logan to be one of the prettiest places I’d ever been. It was the combination of personal, professional, and artistic opportunities that made this directing assignment so appealing.”

Flanagan said fans of Austen will have the chance to spend time with many of their most beloved characters from Pride & Prejudice.

“The play is set in the great house, Pemberley, and is sprinkled throughout with quotes and references to Austen’s novel,” Flanagan said. “However, audiences do not need to have any previous experience with Jane Austen to enjoy this play. More than anything, this is a comedy of love and family; sometimes silly; occasionally very touching. Everyone will recognize their own family somewhere in this play and feel invited into the story.”

Jane Austen and playwrights Lauren Gunderson and Margaret Melcon have created characters who celebrate and argue, experiment and moralize, risk and retreat. They are witty and brave, ridiculous and fearful. They love, they ask forgiveness, they offer grace. She calls them gloriously larger than life.

Tickets for Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley are $15 adults, $10 seniors/youth, $8 USU faculty/staff, one free ticket for CCA faculty/staff, and free for USU students with ID. For more information or tickets, contact the CCA Box Office in room L101 of the Chase Fine Arts Center on USU’s campus, call 435-797-8022, or go online to cca.usu.edu.