Saturday, December 6, 12:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Cleveland Public Library Main Library’s Louis Stokes Wing Auditorium (525 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44114)
Jane Austen, the person who helped shaped the modern novel, is turning 250 this year; and we’re having a celebration! The Ohio Center for the Book is proud to host this party for one of the pivotal figures in modern literature.
Registration is recommended (but not required). Click here.
Screening of Mansfield Park (1999)
We begin the celebration at noon with a screening of the 1999 film adaptation of Mansfield Park, written and directed by Patricia Rozema.
Time permitting, we will have a brief Q&A after the film since it departs from the original work in several ways, including incorporating the life of Jane Austen.
War of 1812: Breaking News (for Jane Austen)
Following the film screening, Robert Whitman, Chief of Interpretation at Perry’s Victory and International Peace Monument, will be providing a talk on the War of 1812. This war was a current event to Austen during her lifetime, and the “American War of 1812” was taking place at the same time as the Napoleonic War campaigns throughout the world. Mr. Whitman’s talk will provide us with some fascinating historical contexts for Austen’s life. (Start time: Approx. 2:15 pm)
Let Me Tell You About My Sister, Jane Austen…an intimate portrait of the author by her older sister, Cassandra
The finale of the day’s celebration will be a visit from Jane Austen’s sister Cassandra Austen herself! The finale of the day will be a visit from “Cassandra Austen” herself! Jane’s elder sister will share her experiences about her life with her famous sibling and engage with attendees here in the present day! A special treat for Austen fans! (Start time: Approx. 3:30pm)
Cassandra Austen will be portrayed by Anne McEvoy, a Cleveland-based actor and director whose work has been seen at most of the theatres in Northeast Ohio. Most recently, she co-directed the world premiere of Eric Coble’s First Snow of August for Seat of the Pants Theatre. Elsewhere, her work has been seen at Beck, Blank Canvas, CWRU, Clague, Cleveland Play House, CPT, Contemporary Theatre of Columbus, Convergence Continuum, French Creek, Dobama, Ensemble, Great Lakes Theatre, Karamu, None Too Fragile, Ohio Shakespeare, OSU Opera, and Seat of the Pants. Since 1998, Anne’s been a member of Women in History Ohio and currently portrays over 20 women whose life stories have impacted history. Some of her favorite portrayals include Agatha Christie, Abigail Adams, Dorothy Fuldheim, Mary Todd Lincoln, Elizabeth I, Molly Brown, Dorothy Day, and Cassandra Austen, of course. She’s currently working on adding Dr. Ruth Westheimer and Martha Graham to her programming.