Emily Mann to Direct Pride and Prejudice, Part 2: Napoleon at Pemberley

The excellent cast of our workshop for Pride and Prejudice, Part 2: Napoleon at Pemberley

Over the course of my career, I’ve been lucky to collaborate with many talented Artistic Directors and Directors. Over the past decade, I’ve worked alongside Emily Mann on more projects than anyone else. As the Artistic Director of McCarter Theatre in Princeton, NJ, Emily programmed four of my world premieres: Baskerville and A Comedy of Tenors, both in 2015; Murder on the Orient Express in 2017; and The Gods of Comedy in 2019. For those years, McCarter was my artistic home and Emily was my family. She still is.

In addition to programming Murder on the Orient Express, Emily also took the reins as director. She launched the play so successfully that it’s still one of my most-produced a decade later. You can more read about our Christie collaboration in Concord Theatrical’s Breaking Character.

I haven’t had the chance to work with Emily since the pandemic, so I am beyond excited to renew our friendship and our creative partnership with my next world premiere, Pride and Prejudice, Part 2: Napoleon at Pemberley. My sequel to Jane Austen’s masterpiece is being produced by Westport Country Playhouse this October.

Emily and I are already hard at work, coordinating with our world-class designers, adjusting the script, casting actors, and enjoying every minute.

Last week we teamed up in person for the first time in years to hold a three-day workshop in New York City. We had a wonderful cast, led by the incomparable Reg Rogers as Napoleon Bonaparte. In addition to hearing my play aloud for the first time, I was reminded what a force of nature Emily is.

I can’t wait to take Jane Austen’s most beloved characters on this journey with her.