Melissa Leilani Larson

Jane Austen’s PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

Full of distinct characters, sparkling wit and timeless romance that has never gone out of print, Jane Austen’s classic PRIDE AND PREJUDICE comes alive on stage in this crisp, theatrical adaptation that audiences adore.

Almost from their first meeting, Elizabeth Bennet finds herself at odds with the reticent Mr. Darcy. She finds him cold and arrogant while he disapproves of her family and social standing. Despite his pride and her prejudice — or is it her pride, and his prejudice? — Elizabeth and Darcy can’t seem to avoid each other’s company. Brought together by a series of events beyond their control, both must reconsider their first impressions.

“It added just the right new touches to the story without taking anything away from the tale we know and love. It was a perfect adaptation. I enjoyed it so much that I saw it three times.” — Rachel Wagner, Utah Theatre Bloggers (selected as one of the best plays of 2023)

Recent productions:
Grand Theatre Co., Salt Lake City, UT
Chesterton Academy of the Sacred Heart, Peoria, IL
Wayne Theatre, Waynesboro, VA
Inspire Theatre Co., Mesa, AZ
Texas Shakespeare, Kilgore, TX
Hale Center Theater, Orem, UT
Chichester College, Chichester, UK

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE is available for perusal and licensing through StagePartners.

“This adaptation is truly sublime.” — Jennifer Chapin Mustoe, Front Row Reviewers

Jane Austen’s PRIDE AND PREJUDICE was commissioned by Brigham Young University in 2013 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the novel’s publication; it was first produced at BYU in March 2014. Winner of the 2014 Association for Mormon Letters Drama award, as well as a 2014 Salt Lake City Weekly Arty award for “Best Modern Jane.” In 2021, a Zoom production was shortlisted for Best Virtual Play by The Chicago Reader. In early 2023, this adaptation enjoyed an entirely sold-out run, breaking box office records and adding more than a dozen performances, at Hale Center Theater Orem, one of Utah’s most popular theatre destinations.

“What’s innovative about Melissa Leilani Larson’s script is that she uses the stage to make Jane Austen’s masterpiece feel fresh without resorting to gimmickry.... Larson’s script employed several theatrical devices to develop relationships, pulled the cleverest bits out of the text, and followed each of the Bennet sisters’ journeys without stretching the play to the length of a miniseries.” — Salt Lake City Weekly “Best Modern Jane” citation (2014)

“PRIDE AND PREJUDICE hits all the right notes.... A large portion of the praise belongs to local playwright Melissa Leilani Larson.... The performance flowed and shifted and eased through Austen’s world of manners and rules and class distinction flawlessly.” — Rachel Helwig, Utah Theatre Bloggers

“I appreciated the uniquely theatrical aspects of the production. Larson and director Barta Heiner helped incorporate important parts like letter writing and family portraits to splendid dramatic effect.... Anyone who loves Austen and her beloved book will adore this new play.” — Zach Archuleta, Utah Theatre Bloggers

“It’s a pleasure to report how effectively Larson has adapted PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. Her script is rich and humorous.... Rather than amplify the Elizabeth Bennet/Fitzwilliam Darcy despise-each-other-then-can’t-live-without-each-other romance and limit the colorful interactions of the other Bennet sisters, as some adaptations have, Larson makes the bold decision to present each of the main players. And her characters are distinctive and fully formed, with their traits intact. It’s a monumental achievement.” — Blair Howell, The Deseret News

“Larson did a remarkable job making her adaptation fresh, and even though I have read the story and watched the films countless times, I delighted in the execution of this production. Not only was the script a breath of fresh air, the technical elements and the staging created a unique version of the story.” – Ashley Kelly, Front Row Reviewers