Waltham Local Stars in Jane Austen's "Sense and Sensibility"

STORRS. Connecticut Repertory Theatre will present Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility by adapted for the stage by Joseph Hanreddy and J.R. Sullivan as the fourth show of its 2015-2016 season. Waltham local Meredith Saran portrays the role of Fanny Dashwood in this Jane Austen classic. The show is directed by Kristin Wold, a faculty member at UConn and member of Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, MA. Sense and Sensibility will be held in the Harriet S. Jorgenson Theatre from February 25 through March 6, 2016. For tickets and information please visit crt.uconn.edu or call (860) 486 2113.

Full of passion, wit, and soaring emotions, this new adaptation of Jane Austen’s first published novel is co-written by the same authors as our extraordinarily popular Pride & Prejudice. Following their father’s untimely death, the penniless Dashwood sisters pursue life and love in their own distinctive ways. Elinor is smart and down-to-earth. Marianne is wildly romantic. They each attract suitors whose startling secrets obstruct the path to happily ever after.

Saran is graduate student in the UConn MFA Acting program. As a student in the department, she receives conservatory style training that prepares young actors for careers in film, television and theatre. Students take classes in voice, movement, acting, and camera work, amongst others. Saran was recently seen on the CRT stage as Romaine Patterson in The Laramie Project, Lila DeWitt in Band of the Black Hand, and Messenger in Antigone. Boston credits include: Wonder of the World (Cass) with Titanic Theatre Company, What Once We Felt (Laura) with Flat Earth Theatre Company, She Kills Monsters (Lilith) with Company One, Dr. Faustus (Bad Angel, Benvolio) with Wax Wings Productions, Rock N Roll (Lenka) with The Longwood Players, Crave (M) with Heart and Dagger Productions and multiple roles in The Donkey Show with ART. She is a graduate of Bridgewater State University where she studied Theatre Arts. Connecticut Repertory Theatre is the producing arm of UCONN at the Storrs campus, and provides students with the opportunity to work on professional shows as they complete their education. CRT brings in guest directors, actors, and designers to work alongside the students on these productions.

Saran says, “Diving into the world of proper etiquette and British accents in 19th century England has been a blast. There is a completely different set of rules for social interaction in Sense and Sensibility, and my character especially is very upper class. I’ve enjoyed playing a character who thinks, feels, and acts completely different from me. Working on this play has been a challenging and rewarding process!”

Joining Saran is actor Cynthia Darlow, a founding member of the American Repertory Theatre who appeared on Broadway in BILLY ELLIOT, RABBIT HOLE and PRELUDE TO A KISS among others, as well as actor Don Noble, who appeared in the Broadway productions of ONCE and END OF THE RAINBOW, as well as the National Tour of MAMMA MIA!

CAST

The rest of the cast includes: MFA graduate actors: Michael Bobenhausen, Arlene Bozich, Darren Brown, Natalia Cuevas, Sam Kebede, Curtis Longfellow, Emile Saba, Meredith Saran, and Bryce Wood. BFA actors: Coleman Churchill, Shavana Clark, Madison Coppola, Braley Degenhardt, Vivienne James, Lily Ling, Gavin McNicholl, Susannah Resnikoff, Jenn Sapozhnikov. And BA Theatre Studies student: Max Helfand.

PERFORMANCE AND TICKET INFORMATION

Evening performances start at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Select matinee performances start at 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Season subscriptions and single tickets are available now. Single tickets range from $7 to $30. All student tickets are only $7.

Children must be at least 4 years old to attend CRT productions. For additional ticket information or to charge tickets by phone, call 860.486.2113. All sales are final; no refunds. Play selections and performance dates are subject to change.

Please call the box office at 860.486.2113 for tickets and additional information or visit www.crt.uconn.edu for specific show dates and times because performance schedules vary and are subject to change.

The Harriet S. Jorgenson Theatre is located on the campus of the University of Connecticut in Storrs