Non-union, paid - stipend,
apply by June 27, 2025
Pride and Prejudice
by Jane Austen
adapted by Emma Whipday, 2024
A comedy of wit, attraction, silliness, and pride.
Show Dates: November 14 – December 14, 2025
CHARACTER BREAKDOWNS (All ethnicities):
Jane Bennet / Housekeeper (F, 20-30)
Lizzie Bennet (F, 21-28)
Mr. Bingley (M, 20-29) - younger than Mr. Darcy
Mr. Darcy (M, 25-mid 30’s)
Lydia Bennet / Charlotte Lucas (F, 16-29)
Kitty Bennet / Caroline Bingley (F, 15-29)
Mary Bennet / Mrs. Gardiner (F, 18-38)
Mrs. Bennet / Lady Catherine de Bourgh (F, 45 & up)
Mr. Bennet / Sir William Lucas (M, 45-70)
Mr. Wickham (M, 25-mid 30’s)
Mr. Collins (M, 25-40)
SYNOPSIS:
Surrounded by four sisters, a dithering but determined matchmaking mother, and a beloved, long-suffering father, Elizabeth Bennet is one of literature’s most cherished heroines. In her iconic journey toward love, she learns the pitfalls of hasty judgment and discovers the difference between superficial and genuine goodness. The sharp wit and irresistible romance of Jane Austen’s masterwork have won generations of fans—now it comes to Compass Rose Theater in a lively new adaptation by Emma Whipday.
AUDITION/ACTOR INFORMATION:
Please send your video audition, a 90-second comedic or classical monologue (preferably in an “English” accent) along with your resume and headshot to [email protected]. Subject: Pride & Prejudice (by Friday, June 27.)
You may also audition with one of the 7 monologues below or click here.
After review, some actors will be invited for in-person evening auditions on Monday and Tuesday, July 14 and 15 (6:00 pm- 9:30 pm) with callbacks slated for Saturday, July 19 (1 pm-5 pm) and Monday, July 21 (6:30 pm-9:30 pm)
Rehearsals run from Monday, August 25-November 13, 2025, on Weeknights and Saturdays. Please note that there will be no Pride and Prejudice rehearsals during the weeks of September 7 and September 14, except for costume fittings.
Please note that the theater will be closed during Thanksgiving week (beginning Sunday, November 23 – Tuesday, Dec 2)
Compass Rose Theater, an award-winning professional teaching theater at Maryland Hall in Annapolis, is committed to diverse, inclusive casting without regard to race, age, color, national origin, ethnic origin, or any basis otherwise specifically indicated.
Out-of-town actors will be considered if they can audition in person and relocate from Sept - December 2025. Housing provided for out-of-area actors.
CREATIVE TEAM
Barbara Webber, Producer
Madeline Austin, Director
Jack Benedict, Musical Director
MONOLOGUES FOR PRIDE & PREJUDICE
MONOLOGUE #1 (MR. COLLINS) and is proposing to Elizabeth (Lizze) Bennett.
NOTE: MR. COLLINS is funny, socially awkward and completely unaware that he is.
MR COLLINS: Believe me, my dear Miss Elizabeth, that I am not offended by your modesty. It adds to your other perfections. But before I am run away with by my feelings on this subject, I must explain my reasons for marrying. Firstly, that I think it a right thing for a clergyman to set an example to his parish; secondly, that I am convinced it will add greatly to my happiness; and, thirdly, which perhaps I ought to have mentioned earlier, that it is the particular advice and recommendation of Lady Catherine De Bourgh.
Being, as I am, to inherit this estate after the death of your honored father, I could not satisfy myself without resolving to choose a wife from among his daughters – a motive that I flatter myself will not sink me in your esteem. As for your lack of fortune, you may assure yourself that no ungenerous reproach shall ever pass my lips when we are married. [LIZZIE rejects him]
I understand that it is usual with young ladies to reject the addresses of the man whom they secretly mean to accept, and I shall hope to receive a more favorable answer. In spite of your manifold attractions, it is by no means certain that another offer of marriage may ever be made you. I must, therefore, attribute your refusal to your wish of increasing my love by suspense, according to the usual practice of elegant females.
MONOLOGUE #2 (MR. DARCY)
NOTE: MR. DARCY (the romantic lead of the story) – proposes to Elizabeth (Lizzy).
MR. DARCY: Forgive me – I had to return. (LIZZIE stands, in amazement.) In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.
It is, I know, a degradation, for a man of my rank, consequence, and family to consider such an alliance. Besides the inferiority of your connections, the want of propriety shown by your mother, your cousin, your younger sisters, and even, on occasion, your father, must invite reproof. And yet the strength of my attachment to you is such that I have found it impossible to conquer. It will not be conquered. Plainly know, I love you, beyond sanity, beyond my strength. I can only hope that the warmth of my attachment will now be rewarded by your acceptance of my suit.
MONOLOGUE #3 (MR. DARCY)
NOTE: DARCY is crushed by LIZZIE’s rejection and accusation of being unfair and unkind to MR. WICKHAM
DARCY: Be not alarmed, madam, by the apprehension of this letter containing any repetition of those sentiments which were so disgusting to you. I write in explanation of my actions;
Knowing him as I did – and as my father did not – I knew that Mr Wickman ought not to be a clergyman. I granted him the compensation of three thousand pounds, in addition to his legacy, hoping rather than believing him to be sincere in his intentions.
How he lived, I know not, but last summer he most painfully obtruded on my notice. I must now mention a circumstance which I had thought not to unfold to any human being. My sister, who is more than ten years my junior, was left to my guardianship. Last summer she went to Ramsgate, and there met with Mr. Wickham. He so far recommended himself to Georgiana, whose affectionate heart remembered his kindness to her as a child, that she was persuaded to believe herself in love and to consent to an elopement. She was then but fifteen.
I joined them unexpectedly a day before the intended elopement, and Georgiana, unable to support the idea of grieving me, told me all. You may imagine what I felt and how I acted. Mr. Wickham’s chief object was unquestionably my sister’s fortune, but I cannot help supposing that a further inducement was the hope of revenging himself on me. His revenge would have been complete indeed.
MONOLOGUE #4 (LIZZIE BENNETT)
NOTE: LIZZIE (heroine of the story) speaking to MR. DARCY (whom she is now in love with)
LIZZIE: I beg your pardon, but I must find my Aunt this moment; I must return home to Longbourn. [She begins to sob, while he hovers anxiously, but recovers herself].
I have just had a letter from Jane, with such dreadful news. My youngest sister has – has eloped, has thrown herself into the power of Mr. Wickham. They are gone off together from Brighton. You know him too well to doubt the rest. She has no money, no connections, nothing that can tempt him. She is lost forever.
When I consider that I might have prevented it! I who knew what he was. But it is all too late now. My father has gone to London, but nothing can be done – I know very well that nothing can be done. I have not the smallest hope.
…….. Oh, yes! Be so kind as to apologize for us to Miss Darcy. Please conceal the unhappy truth for as long as it is possible. I know it cannot be long. [DARCY bows and exits.]
Shall I ever see him again? Never have I so much felt that I could have loved him, as now, when all love must be vain.
MONOLOGUE # 5 (LYDIA) speaking to her sister Lizze.
NOTE: LYDIA BENNETT – 16 – Silly, impulsive, irresponsible. Have fun
LYDIA: Lizzie, you have not heard an account of my wedding! But I must tell you how it went off! We were married at St Clement’s, because Wickham’s lodgings were in that parish. It was settled that we should all be there by eleven o’clock, and there was my aunt, all the time I was dressing, talking away just as if she was reading a sermon.
Well, I did not hear above one word in ten, for I was thinking of my dear Wickham. And so I was only half-ready when my uncle arrived to take me to the church! You should have seen how
Mr. Darcy scowled when we arrived at the service ten minutes late, though my Wickham only laughed. [Lizzie gasps in surprise]
Oh, yes! Mr. Darcy went everywhere with Wickham you know, from the moment he discovered us, and paid for everything, though it made my uncle most uneasy, for he had to take the credit for it. But, gracious me! I quite forgot! I ought not to have said a word about it. It was to be such a secret!
MONOLOGUE #6: LADY CATHERINE (speaking to Lizzie)
NOTE: Haughty, prideful, formidable, and horrified that her nephew DARCY is in love with LIZZE.
LADY CATHERINE: You can be at no loss, Miss Bennet, to understand the reason for my visit. A report of a most alarming nature has reached me. I was told, that not only was your sister on the point of being most advantageously married, but that you, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, would soon be united to my own nephew, Mr. Darcy. Though I know it must be a scandalous falsehood, I instantly resolved on coming here, that I might make my sentiments known to you.
This match, to which you have the presumption to aspire, can never take place. Honor, decorum, prudence forbid it. Your alliance will be a disgrace; your name will never even be mentioned by any of us.
I will not be interrupted! Nor will I be dissuaded from my purpose by a young woman without family, connections, or fortune! If you were sensible of your own good, you would not wish to quit the sphere in which you have been brought up.
I know of your youngest sister’s infamous elopement, Miss Bennet. And is such a girl to be my nephew’s sister? Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?
Do not imagine that your ambition will ever be gratified. I take no leave of you, Miss Bennet. I send no compliments to your mother. You deserve no such attention. I am most seriously displeased.
MONOLOGUE 7: (MRS. BENNETT)
NOTE: Mother of the Bennett girls. A little silly, over-dramatic and crushed that Lydia has run away with Mr. Wickham.
MRS. BENNET: Oh! So you have come back, Lizzie, and heard all of my poor Lydia! I am sure the Forsters must have neglected her, for she is not the kind of girl to do such a thing. And now here’s Mr Bennet gone away, and I know he will fight Wickham, and then he will be killed, and what is to become of us all? The Collinses will turn us out, before he is cold in his grave.
But how else will he make Wickham marry her? There is no money. And Colonel Forster writes that he had left gaming debts behind him in Brighton – to the matter of a thousand pounds!
Oh my poor dear child, what is to become of her?
(end)
You can also click here to print monologues.