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Mick Reed \u201chelping\u201d with the fundraiser<\/p>\nFairfield Ludlowe High School students in Connecticut, USA, are gearing up for their last stateside performance of Pride and Prejudice \u2013 which will also double as their last fundraiser. <\/p>\n
The performance will take place on 17 July and afterwards the Drama Club is bringing a more limited cast to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in early August. <\/p>\n
The expense of bringing a show to Edinburgh is already well known to be considerable, and in the case of Fairfield Ludlowe it is definitely a determining factor in the number of students who will actually arrive in Scotland later this month. Only 14 out of an original cast of 42 will make the trip.<\/p>\n
All manner of fundraising has gone on to make the trip viable \u2013 (including Sohana\u2019s father, Mick, dressing up as Sandy Clause in the depths of winter to pose for photos on the beach with anyone who would pay).<\/p>\n
Mick Reed \u201chelping\u201d with the fundraiser<\/p>\n
The school\u2019s fundraising page<\/a> explains that the total cost of the trip will be around $100,000 with travel to London for two days and Edinburgh for 10, accommodation, venue rental, costumes and production expenses \u2013 including the hire of the performance space.<\/p>\n But the school was determined the play would be part of Fringe 2025. Their fundraiser says: \u201cBeing accepted to play the Edinburgh Fringe is beyond our dreams.\u00a0We are proud to take a public school show to the largest and most influential arts festival in the world!\u201d<\/p>\n Send off show<\/p>\n The send off show in the US next Friday will mark the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen\u2019s birth with a party at Roger Ludlowe Middle School offering prizes which include Broadway tickets. There will be none of that booty to share when they arrive in Scotland, but performing the play is their way of marking an important date in the Austen history \u2013 and offering a tremendous life experience to their students. <\/p>\n The show \u2013 Pride and Prejudice \u2013 is one to mark in your diary \u2013 and be quick to do so as there are only four performances on 1,2, 5 and 6 August at 9am. \u201cThis isn\u2019t your grandmother\u2019s Austen! Bold, surprising, boisterous and timely, this Pride and Prejudice for a new era explores the absurdities and thrills of finding your perfect (or imperfect) match in life. It is a bold, surprising, boisterous and timely production.<\/p>\n \u201cOutspoken Lizzy Bennet is determined to never marry, but can she resist love, especially when that vaguely handsome, mildly amusing and impossibly aggravating Mr. Darcy keeps popping up at every turn?!<\/p>\n \u201cBridgerton meets Upright Citizens Brigade meets Jane Austen. Join this cast of 14 High School students from Fairfield, Connecticut as they dance their way through the Regency marriage game.\u201d<\/p>\n Regency costume with a modern twist<\/p>\n The Edinburgh Reporter spoke to teacher and director, Christy Newsom along with student, Sohana Reed, who plays Miss Bingley.<\/p>\n Christy is originally from California then moved to New York where she worked as a professional actor. She explained that she wanted to start having a family and of course \u201cthose two things don\u2019t always go hand in hand\u201d. She then began working in theatre education and found that she got the same level of fulfilment from that side as she did from being on stage herself. She has taught at Fairfield Ludlow since 2019 where she said the school has \u201cthe most supportive principal and admin. They are so pro arts and the school has been recognised on a state level through various award ceremonies. I\u2019m just really proud of the growth in the department that we\u2019ve had.\u201d<\/p>\n As to the show Christy explained that this is not the traditional Pride and Prejudice. She said: \u201cWe\u2019ve decided to do what we\u2019re lovingly calling the best of. We are combining the books and the BBC version and the Keira Knightley movie and modern sketch comedy. The kids are wearing full Regency garb but with Converse and drinking out of red Solo cups. There\u2019s music, there\u2019s dancing. It\u2019s definitely quirkier than your original Austen. <\/p>\n Sohana explained her role, saying: \u201cMiss Bingley likes this one guy, Darcy, but Lizzie the main character \u2013 she and Darcy are falling in love and Miss Bingley can\u2019t do anything about it. She is mad all the time, constantly annoyed by life \u2013 and she hates the country!\u201d<\/p>\n And as for Sohana\u2019s preparation for Edinburgh \u2013 she is buying a waterproof. <\/p>\n Don\u2019t miss their early morning performances.<\/p>\n Pride and Prejudice \u2013 1 \u2013 6 August at 9am in The Great Hall at Nicolson Square Venues<\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.edfringe.com\/tickets\/whats-on\/pride-and-prejudice<\/a><\/p>\n Watch our online interview here:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1752439151_245_w=1024.jpeg\")
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