hese days, most matchmaking is done online through websites such as match.com or hookup sites like that orange website. There are still many


incurable romantics out there who prefer the personal touch— Bravo even has a reality show about a cow who sets up superficial bimbos with self-centered egotists. But nobody can hold a candle to Emma Woodhouse when it


comes to matchmaking enthusiasm. Jane Austen’s book Emma, is a classic piece of literature that has


withstood the test of time... more than two centuries worth. These days most people, even if they haven’t read the book by choice or by assignment, know the general story. It has had a number of television and movie adaptations (including two competing film adaptations in 1996) and the novel was the inspiration for the film Clueless. The only thing missing was a musical adaptation...until now. The brainchild of Tony Award-nominee Paul Gordon, Jane Austen’s Emma – A Musical Romantic Comedy, is a retelling of the classic story about the young idly rich Emma Woodhouse, who fancies herself to be a consummate matchmaker. Unlike many of Austen’s female protagonists, Emma is well off and so she feels no need to marry for the sake of financial security, and in fact seems uninterested in the idea of romantic love for herself. Instead, she occupies her time by meddling with her friends’ lives as she sets them up with one person after another. The classic story is brought to life with songs by creator Paul Gordon and chore-


ography by director Jeff Calhoun. Variety praised the songs that are “cleverly woven throughout” and “enhance the story in wonderful ways.” Gordon is a playwright who was nominated for a Tony Award in 2001 for composing the music and lyrics to the Broadway musical Jane Eyre directed by John Caird and Scott Schwartz. He also wrote the music and lyrics to Daddy Long Legs, also written with John Caird, which had its world premiere at Rubicon Theatre Company in the fall of 2009 and has gone on to play TheatreWorks, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, The Broad Stage in Los Angeles and other locations. His other works include Lucky Break, written with Jay Gruska and Seth Friedman, based on the 1976 film The Front, Death: The Musical and Analogue and Vinyl. Gordon is currently working on Little Miss Scrooge, a contemporary retelling of the Dickens classic. He has written several number-one pop songs and is the recipient of nine ASCAP Awards. When asked what inspired him to adapt Emma into a musical romantic comedy Gor-


don replied, “I had done Jane Eyre ten years ago on Broadway, so it was actually ‘how did I wait so long?’ I felt that although they are completely different stories and a different tone, that they were both classic 19th century novels by British authors with a woman’s name in the title. So I had always felt that Emma would really make a wonderful musical. It’s really the bedrock of a musical because of Jane Austen’s wit and humor and how she’s developed these characters. It’s just a fun story to tell.” Director and Choreographer Jeff Calhoun is delighted to return to The Old Globe


where he co-directed Himself and Nora with Joe Hardy. Calhoun directed the Broad- way-bound production of Bonnie & Clyde at the Asolo Repertory Theatre following an award-winning run at The La Jolla Playhouse. He directed and choreographed the First National Tour of the stage musical adaptation of the hit Dolly Parton Film Nine to Five, and has directed a host of other successful productions across the country. Gordon is excited to be working with such a talented director and describes the working relation- ship as one with great synergy. Patti Murin plays the title role of Emma Woodhouse. Murin recently played Euterpe and understudied Kira/Clio in Xanadu on Broadway. Her other recent credits include playing Lysistrata Jones in Douglas Carter Beane’s new musical, Give It Up!, Nicole in Band Geeks!, Amber in Hairspray, and Belle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, which was one of her favorite characters to play. Murin thoroughly enjoys the character of Emma but admits that she hadn’t read the


actual book until after she got the part. “I had never actually read Emma. It wasn’t one of the books I had to read in high school. So I had actually never read it. I knew the story of it, but mainly because of the movie Clueless,” she said. “Then when I found out I got the job, I did read the book and just loved it. It’s such a divine book.” Murin describes her character as quirky and she’s spunky. “She’s really excited, she


loves her life and she wants everyone to love their life as much as she does and she bus- ies herself with trying to do that for everyone. It doesn’t always work out, but I would say that’s what Jane Austen intended,” said Murin.


THE REST OF THE CAST IS LIKEWISE TALENTED AND EXPERIENCED. THE CAST OF EMMA INCLUDES: • Adam Daveline – as Robert Martin. Daveline recently made his Old Globe debut as The Shepherd in The Winter’s Tale. Some of his regional credits include Bruce in Finding Nemo - The Musical, Javert in Les Misérables, David in Company, and Peter in Jesus Christ Superstar. • Suzanne Grodner – plays the role of Miss Bates, a role she played at the show’s debut at TheatreWorks in Palo Alto in 2007. Grodner has performed on Broadway in Bye Bye Birdie and The Rose Tattoo and in national and international tours of The Phantom of the Opera and Brighton Beach Memoirs. Her television credits include Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and she has appeared in NBC’s Ed and HBO’s Hidden Signs. • Kelly Hutchinson – as Mrs. Bates and Mrs. Elton. Hutchinson has appeared on Broadway in Desire Under the Elms, Major Barbara, and Macbeth. Her television credits include Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Hack, and The Jury, as well as a recurring role on Strangers with Candy. Her films include Catch Me If You Can, Slippery Slope, Hysterical Psycho and the upcoming The Sea Is All I Know. • Adam Monley – as Mr. Knightly. Monley was last seen at The Old Globe in Working. He has appeared on Broadway in the original cast of Mamma Mia!, and his National Tour credits include The Phantom of the Opera and Big River, directed by Jeff Calhoun. He has appeared Off Broadway as Will Plenty in Fanny Hill and as Harley in A Gingerbread House.


Preview performances for Jane Austen’s Emma – A Musical Romantic Comedy, runs Janu- ary 15 to 22. The official opening night performance is January 23 and the show runs through February 27 at the Old Globe Theatre. Also, free post-show forums will take place January 25 and February 1 in which audience members will have the opportunity to discuss the play with members of the cast and crew. Out at The Globe Night Febru- rary 24. Tickets can be purchased online at theoldglobe.org, by phone at 619.234.5623, or by visiting the theatre box office in Balboa Park.


JANUARY 2011 | RAGE monthly 17


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