The University of West Florida Department of Theatre presents Jane Austen’s “Emma.” Performances will be held April 14-16 and 21-23 with shows at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. All performances will take place in the Mainstage Theatre of the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82, on the Pensacola campus.
Set in the same time period as the hit TV show Bridgerton, “Emma,” based on the novel by Jane Austen, and adapted for the stage by Sandra Fenichel Asher, pledges never to marry and focuses on her new-found passion, matchmaking. Her newest project, Harriet Smith, has already received a proposal, but Emma insists she should marry the eligible vicar Mr. Elton. Emma is warned by the family friend, Mr. Knightly, to give up matchmaking, but she ignores all warnings. When Emma discovers that Mr. Elton is more interested in her, she is forced to fend him off and find another suitor for Harriet. When Highbury welcomes two new guests, the mysterious Jane Fairfax and the charming Frank Churchill, things begin to get difficult! Emma finds herself falling in love with Frank Churchill, but decides Frank is better suited for Harriet only to discover that Harriet has fallen for Mr. Knightly! Emma suddenly realizes that SHE is in love with Mr. Knightly. Romantic entanglements ensue as everyone figures out their best match.
Director, Marci Duncan, is an accomplished actress and director, and is currently in her seventh year as a UWF assistant professor of acting, teaching acting for the stage and camera along with being the director of the acting program.
Duncan is a SAG and AFTRA actress who holds multiple credits in stage, film, commercial and television drama. Her credits include professional camera appearances for Disney, Verizon Wireless, Neaxium Films and Lifetime TV. Among her credits include roles in the Lifetime TV Network movie, “Life is not a Fairytale: Fantasia Barrino Story” and the urban drama, “Just Another Day.” Duncan completed a network series for NBC, “Young Rock” and a one woman show called “Florida Girls” at Emerald Coast Theatre Company. Marci provides actor coaching with her acting studio, Artists at Play, and is currently on tour with her new original play, “DISSONANCE”.” She has also starred in “The Mountaintop” and James Webb's award-winning play, “The Contract.”
Duncan currently serves as chair for the Southeastern Theatre Conference Auditions Committee and as a board member for the Florida Theatre Conference.
Duncan holds a Bachelor of Science in Theatre from Florida A&M and a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance from the University of Florida.
General admission ticket prices are $20 per person for adults, $16 per person for senior citizens and active military, $14 per person for non-UWF students and UWF faculty and staff, and $7 for high school students. UWF students are admitted free with their Nautilus cards. Tickets can be purchased at the CFPA Box Office, Building 82, by calling 850.857.6285 or online at uwf.edu/tickets.
