MRS ROCHESTER:

AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY

a new musical expansion of JANE EYRE

mrs. rochester: an autobiography

is a new multi-genre musical about unearthing quiet voices and unfolding untold stories. Half Jane's well-known story of choice between facing selfish happiness and unhappy selflessness, and half Bertha's lost narrative of disillusionment and transformational healing, we embark on a journey to discover the shape and integrity of true happiness.

This piece invites the audience to a landscape of folk, jazz, pop, and classic Musical Theatre, combined to create a dreamscape of feminine love, loss, and fury. It asks: how do we put out faith in radical hope above comfortable compliance?

mrs rochester: an autobiography (formerly jane eyre: an autobiography) was a finalist for the 2021 O’Neill National Music Theatre Conference, and a recipient of the inaugural Groundbreakers Grant from 5th Floor Theatre Company.

Originally developed as a thesis project at Playwrights Horizons Theater School, with a staged reading in 2019. When the production was cancelled due to COVID in 2020, the team created a Visual Album showcasing some of the music from the show. The Groundbreakers Grant supported a concert-reading presented at P&T Knitwear Bookstore in November 2022.

a concert reading at P&T Knitwear Bookstore

MRS ROCHESTER:

AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY

TEAM

PRODUCTION

written + composed by Beth Golison

directed by Kate diRienzi

music orchestration + direction by Kyle Brenn

dramaturgy by Nile Harris

assistant direction + stage management by Max Mooney

CAST

Ali Rojek as jane

Alexis Cofield as bertha

Jake Regensburg as rochester

Jonice Bernard as tilda/bessie

Saniya Jaffer as helen/grace

Fig Regan as john/brocklehurst/graham/st john

Rachel Keteyian as Blanche/Scatcherd/Cathy

Sophia Drapeau as mrs fairfax/mrs reed

Jamie Lockhart as mary/adele/diana

Nile Harris as Swing mary/adele/diana

jane eyre

(THE VISUAL ALBUM)

music by Beth Golison

directed and edited by Kate diRienzi

featuring

Ali Rojek as Jane, Olivia Kwarm as Bertha, Jake Regensburg as Rochester, Abby Garcia as Helen, and the ensemble of jane eyre: an autobiography

music produced by Kyle Brenn, Beth Golison, Nicholas Webster, Molly Kirschenbaum

jane eyre: an autobiography

(2019 staged reading)

written + composed by Beth Golison
directed by Kate diRienzi

performed by Orla Bordeaux, Chloe Citron, Sydney Cusic, Sophia Drapeau, Sterling Gates,

Giuliana Mancini, Jake Regensburg, Ali Rojek, Rutger Scott

assistant direction: Max Mooney
dramaturgy: Nile Harris
music direction: Kyle Brenn
stage management: Emory Kemph

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