Page and Stage: Jane Austen’s “Lady Susan”

Gather in J. Pierpont Morgan’s historic library for dramatic readings and discussion of Jane Austen’s short novel, Lady Susan (128 pages).

Actors Amelia Workman and Carolyn Baeumler will perform select readings from the novel as a point of departure for discussion led by Juliette Wells, co-curator of A Lively Mind: Jane Austen at 250, blending literary and performing arts in an intimate evening of entertainment, discussion, and community. Please note that this program is organized as a participatory conversation and attendees are encouraged to read the book prior to the program.

Published posthumously, Lady Susan is a novel in letters. Beautiful, flirtatious, and recently widowed, Lady Susan Vernon seeks to further her station through her second marriage, while simultaneously pushing her daughter into a marriage with a man she detests. Austen’s satirical look at the hypocrisy and superficiality of Regency society has become a favorite among the author’s shorter works, delighting in its wit and elegant expression.

Amelia Workman is an actress, singer and writer. She has originated many groundbreaking roles in the American theatre, and helped reimagine several rarely seen theatrical masterpieces with award winning playwrights and Tony winning directors. She is attracted to storytellers with distinct voices and vision. Her knack for identifying, understanding and ultimately aiding such collaborators took her all the way to the Sundance Film Festival with the Grand Jury Award winning feature A Thousand and One from writer/director A.V. Rockwell, Hillman Grad (Lena Waithe) and Focus Features.

Workman has worked with Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins, David Cromer, Kenny Leon, Liesl Tommy, Suzan-Lori Parks, Young Jean Lee, Leslye Headland, Dave Malloy, Annie Kauffman, Neil Pepe, Leigh Silverman, Kate Benson, David Adjmi, and Eisa Davis (selected). And with Second Stage, The Public, Lincoln Center, Soho Rep, Yale Rep, Playwrights Horizons, The Atlantic, Signature Theatre, Ars Nova, Clubbed Thumb, The Goodman, Julliard and Theatre for a New Audience (selected). Her Broadway debut was as Kerry Washington’s understudy in American Son.

As an original cast member of Young Jean Lee’s The Shipment Amelia played The Barbican (London), The Hebbel (Berlin), The Festival D’Automne (Paris), The Zurich Theater Spektakel (Zurich), The Rotterdam Seschouwburg (Rotterdam), The Kunstenfestivaldesarts (Brussels), The Contemporary Drama Festival (Budapest), The Vienna Festival (Vienna), and The Sydney Opera House (Sydney) by invitation of Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson (selected). She has performed at The New Museum, The Andy Warhol Museum, The Museum of African Diasporan Art, The Museum of Contemporary Art and The Institute of Contemporary Art.

Carolyn Baeumler originated roles in the world premier productions of Big Love (Lydia) and The Beebo Brinker Chronicles (Marcie/Lili/Nina Spicer). On stage she has portrayed Mae West, Marilyn Monroe, Kay Francis, Grace Slick, and Courtney Love in various Off Broadway and Regional Theatre productions across the country. Favorite film and TV appearances include the web series Film U, the independent film The Bride in the Box, and episodes of all the Law & Order incarnations. Carolyn is a co-founder of the theatre company Hourglass Group best known for its revival of Mae West’s play SEX, and adaptation of Trouble in Paradise. She has also understudied Cynthia Nixon, Lili Taylor, Elisabeth Marvel, and Jessica Hecht. Carolyn is a Usual Suspect at New York Theater Workshop, an affiliated artist with New Georges, a co-founder of Bad Rep Productions, and member of WomenArtistsWriting writers group.

This program takes place in J. Pierpont Morgan’s historic library. Doors to the library will open 30 minutes before the program begins. A Lively Mind: Jane Austen at 250 will be open for program attendees from 5:30–6 PM.

Lady Susan is available for purchase in the Morgan Shop.