Introducing the Arrival of The Austen Gazette

At last we have our own dear child!  It is with great pleasure that we can announce the arrival of our very own JASI newsletter, The Austen Gazette.  
It is reserved for signed-up members only, but I can tell you that it includes a wonderful list of Austen related gift items that might come in handy this Christmas, compiled by Society Secretary, Sinead Ryan Coughlan. There is also a look at a very unique Austen website that is sure to improve your prose style.  
Some of our enthused members wax lyrical about their varied Austen experiences this year, and we even get a sneak glimpse into Mr Collins's little black book.  
If you are curious to find out more, you can join the Society today, and we will email your copy of the Austen Gazette straight away.  Joining the JASI is simple; just click on the 'Membership' link on the right of the page.  
Let me take this opportunity to thank all the contributors to our very first issue of the Austen Gazette; we really do appreciate you taking the time to send in pieces for publication, and a special thanks too to John Deering for supplying us with this very festive cover illustration.  John was very eager to assure us that no Austen novels were harmed in the making of this newsletter.  What a relief! Happy reading everyone! 

Celebrating Jane Austen's Birthday this December

 Jane Austen was born 238 years ago this December.  What better way to celebrate the birth of our favourite author than to go along to the Gate Theatre, Dublin, next month, with the JASI, to see the latest production of Pride and Prejudice, in this the bicentenary year of that novel's publication.
But wait!  Exciting News!  The lovely people at The Gate Theatre have organised a speaker to come and talk to us before the evening performance of Pride and Prejudice on the 5th December.  Now you have a very good reason to book your tickets on that particular evening and to come along and meet your fellow JASI members after the show in the bar.  Of course, this means that you will need to be there at 6:30, an hour before the play begins.
The pre-show talk will be given by Lori Comerford, the very she who is currently presenting a course on Jane Austen every Monday evening in University College Dublin.  I am sure she will have us enthralled!  So do hurry and book your ticket for The Gate on Thursday, December 5th; it promises to be a wonderful evening.  What a fine way to celebrate Jane Austen's birthday!

Here is the cast list, just to whet your appetite:

We are excited to announce that Sam O’Mahony will play the role of Mr. Darcy.
Lorna Quinn will play Elizabeth Bennet, Eleanor Methven will play the part of silly Mrs. Bennet, while her long suffering husband, Mr. Bennet, will be played by Stephen Brennan.
Mark O’Regan will play Elizabeth’s cousin Mr. Collins.

Other cast members include:
Aoibhinn Garrihy as Jane Bennet; Rachel Gleeson as Mary Bennet; Kerrie O’Sullivan as Kitty Bennet; Genevieve Hulme Beaman as Lydia Bennet; Stephen Swift as Mr. Bingley; Rebecca O’Mara as Caroline Bingley; Maeve Fitzgerald as Charlotte Lucas; Barbara Brennan as Lady Catherine de Bourgh; David O’Brien as Sir William Lucas; Michael Ford Fitzgerald as Mr Wickham and Jonathan Delaney Tynan as Colonel Fitzwilliam.
This production will be directed by Alan Stanford.
Set & Costume Designer Bruno Schweng

Lighting Designer James McConnell
Tickets: Previews €25 | Opening Night €32 | Monday: ALL TICKETS €25 | Tuesday-
Thursday: €32 | Friday-Saturday: €35 | Matinees €25 |
Booking www.gatetheatre.ie or 01 874 4045