A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Directing Sense & Sensibility
What happens when Jane Austen’s most reserved characters take over a stage built for Shakespeare’s boldest plays? In this production of Sense & Sensibility, Regency etiquette meets the joy and unpredictability of live performance.
Earlier this season, Director Jemma Alix Levy and Movement & Physical Dramaturgy Consultant Doreen Bechtol sat down at The Frederick House in Downtown Staunton to talk about the discoveries, surprises, and moments they will never forget.
Watch the Conversation
What is Sense & Sensibility About?
At the American Shakespeare Center, Sense & Sensibility is more than a classic novel on stage. Adapted by Emma Whip with Brian McMahon and directed by Jemma Alix Levy, this lively production transforms Jane Austen’s 1811 story into an experience filled with music, movement, and Regency-era elegance.
Audiences follow the Dashwood sisters as they navigate love, heartbreak, and the strict rules of polite society, all inside the Blackfriars Playhouse, the first re-creation of Shakespeare’s indoor theatre. This adaptation celebrates Austen’s humor and humanity in a way that feels both timeless and immediate.
Making Sense (and Sensibility) of Austen on Stage
Jemma knew from the beginning that Austen would feel different at the Blackfriars. While Shakespeare fills the space with grand soliloquies, Austen leaves more to our imagination. Even with this adaptation designed for the Playhouse, that intimacy remained a challenge.
“There is a vast difference between Shakespeare and Austen. Shakespeare wrote for that space, right, and so he is writing all of the direct address, which is something that I focus on as an artist. It’s my main area of interest … I feel like in Sense & Sensibility, there’s a bunch of scattered direct address among most of the characters, but the person who has the least of it is Elinor, and she’s the one I want to be our avatar.” – Jemma Alix Levy
The Power of the “Zone of Imagination”
One of Doreen’s favorite discoveries came in the storm scene with Marianne.
“I said, ‘Corrie, use the zone of imagination.’ Which is what we call another thing that’s neat about the Playhouse. You can kind of paint the space as if you are imagining while you’re speaking. Almost as if you can see it.” – Doreen Bechtol
Laughter, Humanity, and the Joy of Live Theatre
The cast’s discoveries often came through physical choices.
“One of my favorite moments is Geoffrey playing Sir John, the way he treats his coattails,” Doreen said. “He turned it into a character behavior that I think, for me, was the pop of Sir John.”
Other moments reminded everyone how imperfect humans really are, and how, when you’re sitting together in shared light, the audience and actors become a community.
“I also think our audiences love it when—this is a terrible thing to say—but they love it when things go wrong on stage,” Jemma said. “Sara, who’s playing Elinor, got her hair stuck in the umbrella one night in the storm scene and had to go to an audience member to get help … There’s something really beautiful about that. That doesn’t happen in the movies.”
Plan Your Summer Escape to Staunton
Plan your visit to the Blackfriars Playhouse and make Sense & Sensibility part of a memorable getaway in Staunton, Virginia, located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley and an easy day trip from Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, or Washington, DC.
This summer marks Jane Austen’s 250th birthday, making it the perfect time to rediscover her timeless stories. Before the performance, stroll the brick sidewalks of historic downtown Staunton, known for its local boutiques, galleries, and award-winning restaurants. Unwind with mountain views at nearby wineries and breweries. Walk the grounds of the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, or sip tea at The Frederick House, a charming inn just steps from the Playhouse.
When you step inside the Blackfriars Playhouse, you enter a world where Austen’s wit meets the joy of live theatre. Whether you come for the story, the history, or a little of both, this is an experience you will remember long after summer ends.
Reserve your tickets and start planning your Staunton escape today.