KINGSTON, R.I. – Oct. 14, 2025 – “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen is a longstanding favorite among literary and romance fans alike. From the original novel to the 2005 film featuring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen to the book “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” by Seth Grahame-Smith, there is something about the story that we cannot seem to let go of.

URI’s Theatre Department is currently preparing its take on the beloved story with Kate Hamill’s 2017 adaptation. Hamill takes the familiar story and turns it on its head in a fresh, bold, and playful retelling of the latent love between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy that flourishes beyond socioeconomics and class. Sophia Blum, actress, director, and filmmaker, is set to direct.

“Kate Hamill is such a great writer, and she’s very specific down to every detail. She gives you really great options for every moment to clearly communicate what that tone should be,” says Blum. “I think she did a great job interpreting the story in a really fun way.”

The juxtaposition of a period piece paired with modern language and broad, slapstick comedy reaches far beyond the text of this production. Set design and costuming work had to play into this contrast. Hamill has stated she loves the element of surprise, and Blum took that seriously when collaborating with designers.

“Creating a visual world that is more period, so that when we break out with modern elements, it gives that element of surprise I wanted to embrace. Playing with color and scale became really important,” she said.

Scenic designer, Sam Cote ’24, B.F.A. theatre design technology and stage management, is ready for the challenge. As a collaborative artist, Cote strikes a balance between his taste for hyper-realistic design and elements of whimsy and play. 19th-century England requires meticulous attention to detail, which is reflected in the wallpaper and props. The playfulness is signified with bright, bold colors – often not associated with this period. 

The biggest challenge for Cote is bringing a mechanical turntable to life. Many students working under him expressed interest in making the project their “brain child,” with the help of engineering student Drew Babigan.

“It was very useful to get his ideas. He brought solutions to the table that we would never have thought of,” said Cote.

Cote is currently the Assistant Technical Director for the department. In this role, he is typically in the scene shop, where he teaches students hands-on by demonstrating how to build a set. 

Costume designer Mikayla Reid ’15, B.S. in textiles, fashion merchandising, and design, and a minor in theatre, began the process with a motif. 

“Sophia came to the table with this visual motif of a doll house, so we started thinking about how to make a person feel like a doll. That’s where we started to play with bigger prints, larger trims, and bright colors,” said Reid. 

Many of the costumes are already part of the theatre department’s expansive clothing archive. Reid’s ingenuity and expertise give many of the existing period pieces a new life, aligning them with the aesthetic of this production. The costume shop is busy building easily removable layers that can be worn on top of the actors’ base costume for different scenes. Some costumes are receiving custom painting treatments that align with the wallpaper used in the set. Her team is also finding ways to brighten typically neutral and dark tailcoats for men by taking colorful trenchcoats and modifying them to resemble a tailcoat. 

Reid also cleverly uses color to reflect a character’s personality. For example, Mr. Darcy is dressed in tighter and darker clothes while his counterpart, Mr. Bringly, is a bit more relaxed and bright. The four sisters in the story each have an assigned color for continuity and to distinguish characteristics. 

“For Lizzy, we went back and forth between blue and purple. Ultimately, we landed on blue because it is a very practical color, and Lizzy is a very practical person,” says Reid. 

Wardrobe crew head Ethan Clarke ’26, B.F.A. in Theatre, works closely with Reid on costume construction and resourcing. Although he primarily describes himself as an actor, Clarke discovered a new passion for costumes during the pandemic. 

“I appreciate being able to work with Mikayla and every experience I got in the shop. I’ve learned so much. Though I am an actor more than a designer, I love to learn as much as I can about design. I love the hands-on aspect of costume making,” said Clarke.

When casting this production, Blum noted that the characters, especially Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, require a specific nuance. They must possess the skills to hit certain comedic moments while honing their ability to be grounded in dramatic or romantic moments within the story. 

“There’s a real curiosity and excitement to be engaged in the creation of theatre,” says Blum when discussing her actors. “I really wanted to give them permission to have fun, to make the characters their own, and to lead with joy.” 

Isaiah Agabi ’26, B.F.A. Theatre, plays Mr. Darcy, and Chayla Valentine ’26, B.F.A. Theatre, plays Elizabeth Bennett. The pair have been in multiple shows together and have a built-in friendship and chemistry that lends itself to the whimsy of this production. As Valentine prepares, she is keen to note that this is her first time performing a role like this. 

“Many of the roles I’ve had before this were centered around singing and dancing. I’ve been tapping into personalizing the text and figuring out who Lizzy is. She seems to hold her tongue a lot, so I’m in the process of figuring out her physicality and questioning how far out of the box she will go, how much will she stay in it?” said Valentine.

There has always been a level of humor to Austen’s writing. Her work even suggests satire through her use of irony, wit, and realism. Hamill’s work functions like a love letter in this way. It is taking these elements and putting them under a magnifying glass, as audiences have been doing for over a century, continuing to examine their own prejudices and explore their curiosity about others. 

“I want people to have fun watching this play, to laugh, and to feel empowered—especially the women and girls in the audience. I hope everyone leaves the theater feeling like a bolder, brighter, and more alive version of themselves. Aside from the infectious silliness, I also hope this production strikes a deeper chord in audiences,” said Blum.

Pride and Prejudice runs Oct. 17-18, 22-25 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 19 and 26 at 2 p.m. in J Studio at the Fine Arts Center, 105 Upper College Road, Kingston Campus. Tickets are $22 for the general public and $20 for senior citizens and URI students, faculty and staff. Tickets can be purchased online, by calling (401) 874-5843 or at the box office in Room 101H of the Fine Arts Center. https://web.uri.edu/theatre/buy-tickets/ 

Pride and Prejudice cast
Chayla Valentine (Lizzy) 
Amelia Connor-McCoy (Lydia, Miss. DeBourgh) 
Aliza Almonte (Charlotte) 
Gabriella Stein (Mary) 
Piper Colyar (Jane) 
Brian McKenna (Mr. Bennet) 
Princess Johnson (Mrs. Bennet) 
David Santana (Mr. Bingley) 
Cecilia Savage (Miss. Bingley) 
Isaiah Agabi (Mr. Darcy) 
Alexis Sylvester (Lady Catherine) 
Eric Towne (Mr. Collins) 
Max Hunter (Mr. Wickham)
Jeremy Rodriguez (Servant, Ensemble)

This press release was written by Paige Monopoli, communications coordinator for the College of Arts and Sciences.