Emma Woodhouse is clever, wealthy, and believes she knows best when it comes to love—especially when it’s other people’s love lives. Her latest scheme involves the sweet Harriet Smith, whom she advises to reject a perfectly good marriage proposal in favor of another eligible bachelor. As Emma meddles in affairs of the heart, she begins to realize that love—and life—are far more complicated than she imagined, especially when it comes to her own feelings for the steadfast Mr. Knightley.
A fast-paced comedy filled with flirtation, misunderstandings, witty banter, and plenty of surprises, this fresh new stage adaptation interprets Jane Austen’s classic with delightfully original flair.
Highbury, England, the early 19th century – but also here, in your theater, right now, today, this year.
EMMA WOODHOUSE
An educated and wealthy young woman. Almost unbelievably charming; a natural comedienne. Bouncily flirty; possesses more power of manipulation than even she understands; has a certain sunny, charming self-regard—it’s what allows her to get away with so much. Very very VERY clever—and fancies herself even more clever than she is. Capable of getting ahead of herself. Incredibly dexterous, verbally. Capable of being unfair or short-sighted or impetuous; maybe a bit overindulged. Can be a bit overconfident and self-congratulatory. Capable of getting quite competitive. Generous with those she considers family. Ahead of her time. Given the chance, she just might run the world.
GEORGE KNIGHTLEY
Emma’s neighbor. A handsome man; a super charming man; an upright fellow. He’s also a bit of a rule-follower; maybe sometimes a bit of a stick in the mud. Very clever. Capable of getting ahead of himself and edging towards know-it-all. Can be competitive. Is preoccupied with Emma—they get under each other’s skin in the most delightful way. Gets quite jealous of Frank Churchill. Has the best intentions. Feels deeply. A genuinely good guy. Ultimately learns to admit vulnerability and share his feelings.
JANE FAIRFAX
Emma’s rival. You know that girl who always seems to do everything right? Jane is that girl. An overachiever. Very composed. Very beautiful. Very discreet. Very accomplished. Very smart.
HARRIET SMITH
Emma’s friend. A deeply likable girl from the lower classes who’s been given a basic education. A sweet, naturally affectionate human being, but not the brightest flame in the stove. A born enthusiast; the kind of person who leaps WAY before she looks. Has a strong tendency towards hero worship. A born follower. VERY impressionable. Has a desperate adoring friend-crush on Emma. Wants to be in love. Gets flustered easily. A bit naïve.
Original Novel
Emma was first published in December 1815, although the title page is dated 1816. As in her other novels, Jane Austen explores the concerns and difficulties of genteel women living in Georgian–Regency England. Emma is a comedy of manners.
Before she began the novel, Austen wrote, “I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like.” In the first sentence, she introduces the title character by stating “Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and a happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her.” Emma is spoiled, headstrong, and self-satisfied; she greatly overestimates her own matchmaking abilities; she is blind to the dangers of meddling in other people’s lives; and her imagination and perceptions often lead her astray.
Emma, written after Austen’s move to Chawton, was her last novel to be published during her lifetime. The last complete novel Austen wrote, Persuasion, was published posthumously.
Emma has been adapted for a number of films, television programs, and stage plays.
Stage Adaptation
Much like visual artists who create work on commission, playwrights are often commissioned to write new plays by theaters. The idea for a script can spark both ways — sometimes the playwright pitches a concept; sometimes the theater requests something specific, like when the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota asked playwright Kate Hamill to write an adaptation of Emma. But writers and theaters have a shared goal: to shepherd a play through the creative process and support its journey to the stage.
Emma premiered at the Guthrie Theater on June 18, 2022 and ran through August 21, 2022. The production was initially scheduled for March 2020 but had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It opened to rave reviews and has been praised for its feminist take on the classic, commenting on women’s rights and roles in 19th Century England and 21st Century America.
Click here to view the original production page from the Guthrie Theater’s Emma.
Archival Photos by Marlee Melinda Andrews