COD theater presents 'Pride and Prejudice'

Jane Austen's tale of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy will come to life on stage next month at the College of DuPage.

Performances of "Pride and Prejudice" are scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays, July 9-19, in the McAninch Arts Center's Playhouse Theatre on the Glen Ellyn campus, 425 Fawell Blvd.

Set in 1810, the production follows witty and willful Elizabeth Bennet as she navigates social expectations and love amid determined bachelors, nosy neighbors and embarrassing relatives.

"'Pride and Prejudice' is arguably Jane Austen's best-known work. It's a great character-driven piece that shows a true understanding of human nature," said Director Connie Canaday Howard, a theater professor at the college. "It's a renowned love story, hinging not on the falling in love, but rather - in addition to attraction - the valuing of the other as an individual."

Originally published in 1813, the late 18th and early 19th century provides a wonderful backdrop, given the coming shift in societal traditions, she said.

"Individuals were struggling with traditions that seemed to no longer serve society, particularly in regard to women," Canaday Howard said. "Yet the story isn't about characters breaking away from society, but more about the pangs of an evolving society - a theme that holds true today."

Tickets are $14 for adults and $12 for students and seniors. For tickets, call the MAC box office at (630) 942-4000 or visit www.atthemac.org.