Go back in time with 'The Jane Austen Soiree' holiday event

Go back to the time of Jane Austen on Dec. 11 at the Lincoln Civic Auditorium and sample the delights of the Regency period at "The Jane Austen Soiree." The Rockstar Music Academy and Placer Repertory Theater present a holiday event, "The Jane Austen Soiree," at which audiences are encouraged to arrive early, dressed inspired by the period, to enjoy refreshments, listen to the music, and watch or join in the contra dance Patrons will hear historical information and social graces of the period and can participate in the audience costume parade at intermission or win goodie baskets from local merchants and makers. The main feature of the night is actors performing the stage-reading of "Persuasion," a holiday romantic comedy, inspired by the Jane Austen novel, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., which includes a post-show Q&A to meet the actors, playwright and creative team. The play is set in England in 1814 and the entire second act takes place during the winter holiday season in Bath, ending with a Christmas party that defines the characters' fates. The story follows Miss Anne Elliot who spent the last eight years dutiful and depressed amongst her comically dysfunctional family and social circle, since she was persuaded by her father and Lady Russell to break her engagement to Commander Wentworth. But now the love of her life returns from the war as a wealthy captain. Will she successfully persuade her social circle to accept Captain Wentworth, assuming she can help him overcome his bitterness or shall she marry a charming gentleman she meets in Bath, who makes his interest abundantly clear at a holiday concert? "This play is full of rich, eccentric characters and a surprising amount of action, which makes it the perfect holiday treat for the whole family," said playwright T.S. Forsyth. "The Jane Austen Soiree" is the second milestone event of the Placer Rep Educational Outreach Program to middle and high school students, partnered with the Rocklin Friends of the Library, showing students how they can be inspired by reading and engaging with the many resources and programs available at the library "The Jane Austen Soiree" is sponsored by Armrod Charitable Trust, Arts Council of Placer County, The Rockstar Music Academy and private donors. "Placer Rep is particularly grateful to be partnered with The Rockstar Music Academy of Lincoln (TheRockstarMusicAcademy.com) and the Rocklin Friends of the Library for this exciting event," said Placer Rep program operations manager Blaire Hartman. "The Rocklin Friends promote and operate programs for and in conjunction with the Placer County Public Library to the enrichment of our local community. More information about the Rocklin Friends of the Library may be found on their web site, RocklinFriends.org." The nonprofit Placer Repertory Theater commissioned and recently produced the "New Beginnings" event partnered with the Rocklin & Roseville Historical Societies, featuring aplay about Placer County railroad history in July. Placer Rep is also the performing arts organization that won Gold Country Media's "The Best of the Best: Best Live Theatrical Group" for Rocklin. Contact Kevin Foster, Outreach Director, at Outreach@PlacerRep.org, or Teresa Stirling Forsyth, Producing Artistic Director, at ArtisticDirector@PlacerRep.org for more information.