Community Corner
"Estimating Lace and Muslin: Dress and Fashion in Jane Austen and Her World" Lecture/Demo Precedes "Emma" Matinee at Stage 773 May 4 .
Dead Writers Theatre Collective presents "Estimating Lace and Muslin: Dress and Fashion in Jane Austen and her World," a pre-show lecture/demonstration by Jeffrey A. Nigro May 4 at 1:30 p.m. This special event is available to ticket holders for the 2:30 p.m. performance of Jim Schneider’s staging of the Collectives’ production of "Emma," at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Seats are limited. For more information visit deadwriters.net.
"Dead Writers Theatre Collective prides itself on presenting theater with premier production values and the highest caliber of period authenticity," says Schneider. "We know theater audiences enjoy gaining insights into theatrical works. Nigro’s presentation will provide audience an inside look into history and cultural nuances that influenced fashion for both men and women in the 19th Century" and give them an appreciation of the unique impact our authentic costumes have on the actors in our production of 'Emma'."
Accompanying a slide show presentation, several "Emma" cast members will come out on stage as Nigro comments on the relevance of each piece as it pertained to the best dressed men and women of the 19th century. "Austen wrote during a time of dramatic changes in fashions and styles in
history" says Nigro. "While she rarely makes references to current fashions in her writing, it plays an important role in Austen’s work, and her letters reveal her to be as style-conscious as any‘fashion groupie’today."