‘JANE EYRE’ NAMED 2025 SCHMECKFEST MUSICAL
Drama was presented by Freeman Academy in 2017; will take the stage April 3-5
The program committee charged with producing the Schmeckfest musical announced late Tuesday afternoon that “Jane Eyre” will be staged as part of the 2025 festival. The musical drama will be presented each evening of the 64th Schmeckfest Friday and Saturday, April 4 and 5, as well as an opening-night performance on Thursday, April 3. It will be under the direction of Jill Hofer.
“Jane Eyre” is based on the 1874 novel by the same name written by Charlotte Brontë and was adapted as a musical in 1996; it made its Broadway debut four years later.
While “Jane Eyre” is new to Schmeckfest, it has been presented in Freeman before. Freeman Academy staged it as its fall musical in 2017.
It is being produced for Schmeckfest with special arrangements through Musical Theatre International (MTI), which says this about the show:
“Charlotte Brontë’s great love story comes to life with music to lift your heart and set your spirit soaring. This beloved tale of secrets and the lies that secrets create, of unimaginable hope and unspoken passion, reminds us what it is to fall deeply, truly and completely in love. Nominated for five Tony Awards, Jane Eyre explores religion, sexuality and protofeminism, all while enchanting audiences with a timeless love story.
“Jane’s story begins in Gateshead, where she is in the unfortunate care of her cruel Aunt Sarah and cousin, John, as per her uncle’s dying wish. The miserable young orphan is finally rescued when she is sent away to attend Lowood School for Girls. After six years, Jane leaves Lowood and is shortly after hired as a governess at Thornfield Hall. Here, she meets Mr. Edward Rochester, thus beginning her passionate and heart-wrenching journey of love, loss and the struggles of morality.
“This intellectual period drama is a wonderful work of theatre. It provides an opportunity for the classically trained voice, not to mention an excellent chance for all aspects of technical theatre to bring this masterful piece to life.”
