CAST (in order of appearance)
SIR WALTER ELLIOT - Brendan Murray*
Baronet and owner of Kellynch Hall

MR. SHEPARD - Jonas Connors–Grey*
Sir Walter’s Lawyer

LADY RUSSELL - Molly Moores*
Sir Walter’s friend and neighbor, godmother to his children

MRS. CLAY - Dawn Thomas Reidy*•
Widowed daughter of Mr. Shepard

ELIZABETH ELLIOT - Elana Michelle*•
Sir Walter’s eldest daughter

ANNE ELLIOT - Marissa Chaffee+
Sir Walter’s middle daughter

FREDERICK WENTWORTH - Joe Carlson
A captain in the Navy

MARY MUSGROVE - Madison Sims
Sir Walter’s Youngest daughter

CHARLES MUSGROVE - Isaiah Mason Harvey*•
Mary’s husband

HENRIETTA MUSGROVE - Dawn Thomas Reidy*•
Charles Musgrove’s eldest sister

LOUISA MUSGROVE - Sophia Early
Charles Musgrove’s younger sister

SOPHIA CROFT - Elana Michelle*•
Sister to Frederick Wentworth

ADMIRAL CROFT - Jonas Connors–Grey *
Sophia Croft’s husband and Wentworth’s brother-in-law

CAPTAIN HARVILLE - Brendan Murray*
Friend of Frederick Wentworth

MRS. HARVILLE - Molly Moores*
His wife

CAPTAIN BENWICK - Elana Michelle *•
Formerly engaged to the Harville’s daughter, Fanny

MR. ELLIOT - Isaiah Mason Harvey*•
Distant cousin to Sir Walter, heir presumptive to his title and estate

CREATIVE TEAM
Director - Megan Behm
Production Manager - Lauren Engler*
Production Stage Manager - Sam Linc
Set Designer - Kathryn Kawecki
Lighting Designer - Katie McCreary*
Costume Designer - Kristina Lambdin*
Music Director - Grace Srinivasan*
Props Designer - Isabel deCarvalho
Playwright - Sarah Rose Kearns
Production Associate - Dawn Thomas Reidy*•
Technical Director - Dan O’Brien*
Sound Designer - Matthew Datcher
Dance/Movement Choreographer - Cjay Philip (Dance & Bmore)
Intimacy Coordinator - Mel Gabel
Production Advisor - Laura Rocklyn
Advisor - Dr. Juliette Wells
Assistant Stage Manager - Kai Singleton
Assistant Technical Director - Chester Stacy*
Costume Assistant - Regan McKay
Wardrobe Supervisor - Hannah Brill
Set Design Assistant - Nadia Kuffar
Board Operator - Artie Vajda

* CSC Company Member
• Member of CSC's Black Classical Acting Ensemble
+ Member of The Actors' Equity Association

Review: A brilliantly staged ‘Persuasion’ at Chesapeake Shakespeare Company - DC Theater Arts

Chesapeake Shakespeare Company Opens 2025-26 Season with Jane Austen’s Persuasion

Chesapeake Shakespeare Company Announces New Season: Love, Transformation, Classics

REVIEWS

“Chesapeake Shakespeare Company’s Persuasion presents a fitting tribute for Jane Austen’s 250th Birthday Celebration — beautiful, humorous, lively, delicious, and romantic. It is everything Austen could wish.” — Jennifer Georgia, DC THEATER ARTS

“Anne [is] played perfectly by Marissa Chaffee…a lovely evening at the theater.” — Sue Tilberry, MD THEATRE GUIDE

“Chaffee’s depiction of Anne is delightful. It’s thoroughly Austenean and Austenesque.” — J. Wynn Rousuck, WYPR Midday

PATRON REVIEWS

"Consider me persuaded! Completely charming and impossibly romantic." - Alice L, CSC Patron

“This was amazing! Supremely well done.” -Gary C., CSC Patron

“Go see it if you get the chance! I saw it yesterday and it’s absolutely fabulous. A most exquisite production.” -Patrick C., CSC Patron

“I was glad that this production stayed true to Jane Austen’s words. I loved it.” - April R., CSC Patron

“Here's a play where the ending is totally foreseeable, and the ride is wonderful. The reconciliation we saw coming for hours still draws gasps and a tear or two of joy. [Marissa Chaffee] personifies the audience's expectation of an Austen heroine.
This script was fine, playing out the notes. Kudos to the writer and the director.” - Al R., CSC Patron

MEET THE DIRECTOR
Pre-show Q&A
Date: Sunday, October 5, 1:15PM - 1:45PM
Location: Middendorf Lounge

Join Director Megan Behm for an intimate pre-show discussion about the making of CSC’s Persuasion. Learn about Behm’s artistic vision and creative process behind staging this premiere adaptation of Austen's classic.

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PLAY READING: The Austens by Sarah Rose Kearns
Special Event
Date: Wednesday, October 8 at 7:30 PM
Location: Mainstage at 7 S Calvert St

Discover a new perspective on Jane Austen with a special reading of The Austens by Sarah Rose Kearns, the same talented playwright behind our adaptation of Persuasion. This intimate play imagines Austen’s life before fame, and the quiet moments that inspired her enduring work. A heartfelt story about family, creativity, and the artist’s calling, it offers a rich complement to the world of Persuasion.

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MEET THE PLAYWRIGHT
Pre-show Event 
Date: Sunday, October 12, 1:15PM - 1:45PM
Location: Middendorf Lounge

Go behind the script with Persuasion playwright Sarah Rose Kearns in a special pre-show conversation. Hear how Austen’s voice was brought from the page to the stage and find out what compelled Kearns to reimagine this classic work.

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GETTING CURIOUS ABOUT PERSUASION 
Pre-Show Event
Date: Friday, October 17, 7:00PM - 7:45PM
Location: Middendorf Lounge

What was Austen's creative process like? How did she use aspects of her own experience? Who chose this novel's title? How well did it sell? What did her early readers think of it? Find out the answers to these and more questions at this lively talk by Baltimore's own Austen expert, Dr. Juliette Wells, illustrated by artifacts from the world-renowned Jane Austen Collection at Goucher College.

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PERSUASION PRE-SHOW SOIREE 
Pre-show Event
Price: $10 for CSC subscribers, $15 General Admission, must have 8:00 PM show tickets 
Date: Saturday, October 25, 6PM - 7:15PM
Location: Middendorf Lounge

Step into Regency-Era England with a Charm City twist. This pre-show event, inspired by the tradition of afternoon tea, features tea and pastry tastings from local favorites, period costumes, Austen-themed activities and raffle prizes, and discounted bar prices. Limited to 30 guests. A show ticket is required to attend.

Add-on for Soiree tickets will be available before checkout
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