The production of Sense & Sensibility now running at the Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre in Carmel, Indiana, is more than a production of Jane Austen’s beloved novel—turns out, it’s a gathering of Bulldogs.

The cast includes Emily Bohn ’16 portraying Elinor Dashwood, Abby Gilster ’16 as Fanny Dashwood, Lucy Steele, and a gossip; and Elisabeth Speckman MFA ’16 and current College of Communication Adjunct Professor as Margaret Dashwood, Anne Steele, and a gossip.

John Michael Goodson, the Director, is an Adjunct in the Dance Department, where he has taught since 2011. Deena Fogle, the Stage Manager, earned her Master of Science in School Counseling in 2013.

Speckman said she knew Bohn and Gilster were Butler graduates. She and Bohn had performed together in Shakespeare’s Cymbeline in October at Indianapolis’ Bard Fest, and Bohn and Gilster are roommates.

“Then one night at rehearsal we were talking about our lives outside of the rehearsal room and realized that there were lots of us!” Speckman said.

Sense & Sensibility follows the fortunes (and misfortunes) of the Dashwood sisters—sensible Elinor and hypersensitive Marianne—after their father’s sudden death leaves them financially destitute and socially vulnerable. Set in gossipy late 18th-century England, the show examines our reactions, both reasonable and ridiculous, to societal pressures. When reputation is everything, how do you follow your heart?

The show runs February 2–17. Show times, tickets prices, and more information are available here.

(In the photo: John Michael Goodson, Deena Fogle, Emily Bohn, Abby Gilster, Elisabeth Speckman)

Media contact:
Marc Allan
mallan@butler.edu
317-940-9822