Theatre Department Brings “Emma” to the Stage

Published October 5, 2017

Get your tickets online now!

Emma Woodhouse’s meddling and matchmaking bring matrimony and misunderstanding to the social spheres of Highbury, England in the early nineteenth century.

“Emma,” the 1816 novel by Jane Austen, has been well loved for over a century. The Theatre Department will bring beloved, classic characters to life on October 26–28 at 7:30 p.m. on CSU’s main stage.

General admission tickets are $8 (children under 3 years of age will not be admitted). Purchase tickets online or in person at the CSU Box Office from 3–5 p.m. on weekdays.

About the Production

The performance of this comedy of manners is co-directed by Communications-Theatre major Emma Finke and professor Jonathan Strayer.

Although “Emma” seems a natural choice for a director of the same name, Finke actually landed on the show because it is a great match for her directing style. “The play is a delightful mixture of concrete and abstract theatre, so all audience members will find it easy to grasp and follow, and more artistic audience members will find it new and fresh,” describes Fink

While Jane Austen’s novel is a very long book, playwright Jon Jory adapted this play to be very fast paced, which helps the story move in this under-two-hour production.

Finke’s favorite part about the play is the set. “I can’t wait to show it to everyone,” she admits. “It’s going to be picture perfect.”

Meet the Cast

Production staff includes students Joanna Reigle as stage manager, Zacchaeus Abbiati as a crew manager, Megan Miller as dramaturg and Katelyn Hess as costume coordinator.

Cast members are students Abigail Eldridge, Aubree Emmett, Breanne Guiles, Josiah Hall, Cal Hudak, Mayling Ijomah, Alex Madsen, Bethany Magee, Naomi Muennich, Clay Salvigsen and Jack Simons.

Get your tickets online now!

Hands-On Learning

This unique student role of co-director was created as Finke’s senior project. “Students who take directing class get to direct multiple small projects, including a 10-minute play. This is different,” admits Strayer. “It’s a full-length, two-act production. As a director, you’re involved in just about every aspect of what’s going on. It helps her, as a student, see the many sides of the production on a larger scale.”

Finke did script analysis for this 60-page play and blocked out 30 scenes. Strayer says there’s an added challenge because the play is a period piece told by a contemporary playwright.

Meet the Student Director

Finke, a Lagrange, Ohio, resident who plans to graduate this coming spring, has already taken on many roles in CSU theatre, including actress, assistant director, stage manager and technical assistant. This is her first main-stage directing role.
While Finke is immersed in the intricacies of directing, Strayer offers guidance as co-director. “Since the beginning, he has always pushed me to be my best,” says Finke. “His classes were my favorite because I worked hard, and when I saw my final grade, I knew I earned it. The play is no different. He is pushing me out of my comfort zone. I know that I will be grateful as I sit back and watch our show come to life.”

“The theatre department here gave me a chance to explore the world of theatre and fall in love with it in an immersive and practical way. I learned the importance of the crew after assistant directing and stage managing. The stagecraft class made me fall in love with behind-the-scenes work. I never would have tried theatrical makeup were it not for that class, and that has quickly become a career option. CSU just gave me the chance to create and explore in a safe environment.”

Finke believes God designed her to create, and she plans to live out that purpose. Possible career goals include starting a theatre program in a church, involving children in community theatre or working at a professional theatre. “My passion is making the Bible real to people, letting them see it as more than just stories and using my love of drama to point people to Christ.”

Get your tickets online now!