Jane Austen's Emma
A Musical Romantic Comedy

Book, Music and Lyrics by Paul Gordon
Directed by Jeff Calhoun
January 15, 2011 - February 27, 2011
Old Globe Theatre

Emma, a timeless love story from one of the most widely read writers of all time, is now a musical, and will once again entice modern audiences to fall in love with one of Jane Austen's most adored characters. Emma, a beautiful and clever young woman who prides herself on her matchmaking ability, is preoccupied with romance yet is clueless to her own feelings of love. When she takes on a young friend as her latest project, her well-intentioned efforts misfire, leading to a whirlwind of complications. Deliciously charming, this new romantic comedy from Tony Award nominated composer Paul Gordon and directed by Tony Award nominee, Jeff Calhoun, brings Jane Austen's masterpiece to musical life.
Paul Gordon's Jane Austen's Emma - A Musical Romantic Comedy will be performed at The Old Globe Jan. 15 - Feb. 27, 2011. Photo courtesy of The Old Globe.
Jeff Calhoun will direct Jane Austen's Emma - A Musical Romantic Comedy at The Old Globe Jan. 15 - Feb. 27, 2011. Photo courtesy of The Old Globe.
Jeff Calhoun will direct Jane Austen's Emma - A Musical Romantic Comedy at The Old Globe Jan. 15 - Feb. 27, 2011. Photo courtesy of The Old Globe.
   
   

CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM
(click on a photo to download image)
Paul Gordon (Playwright) was nominated for a 2000 Tony Award for composing the music and lyrics to the Broadway musical Jane Eyre directed by John Caird and Scott Schwartz.  Jane Austen’s Emma premiered at TheatreWorks in Palo Alto in September 2007.  The musical has since had successful regional productions at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and Repertory Theatre of St. Louis.  Daddy-Long-Legs, written with John Caird, had its world premiere at Rubicon Theatre Company in the fall of 2009.  It has since gone on to play TheatreWorks, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, The Broad Stage in Los Angeles and will receive productions at North Light Theater, La Mirada Theatre and Laguna Playhouse.  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.
Jeff Calhoun (Director) is delighted to return to The Old Globe where he last co-directed Himself and Nora with Joe Hardy. He directed the pre-Broadway production of Bonnie & Clyde at Asolo Repertory Theatre following an award-winning run at La Jolla Playhouse (Craig Noel Awards for Outstanding New Musical and Outstanding Director of a Musical).  Calhoun directed and choreographed the first National Tour of the stage musical adaptation of the hit Dolly Parton film 9 to 5.  He also directed the world premiere productions, domestic and international tours of Disney’s High School Musical: On Stage and Disney’s High School Musical 2: On Stage.  He directed and choreographed the Deaf West Theatre production of Pippin at the Mark Taper Forum and the award-winning Deaf West Theatre production of Big River (Tony and Drama Desk nominations, Best Revival; Drama Desk nomination for Best Director of a Musical; Ovation and L.A. Drama Critics Circle awards for Direction and Choreography).  Calhoun was a producer as well as director/choreographer for the Broadway production of Brooklyn the Musical and the director/choreographer of the 1994 Broadway revival of Grease! (Tony nomination, Best Choreography).  He co-choreographed the Broadway revival of Annie Get Your Gun (Tony Award, Best Revival).  His Broadway directing debut was Tommy Tune Tonight, and his collaboration with Tune led to the 1991 Tony for Best Choreography for The Will Rogers Follies.