JASNA 2021 AGM - Chicago

First Look

"‘Is not this song worth staying for?’ said Anne”
—Persuasion, Chapter 20

We are looking forward to welcoming you to Chicago to explore connections between Jane Austen and the arts! The unusual circumstances of the past year have made planning a challenge, and some of the organizations with whom we are partnering are just beginning to reopen. Please bear with us, as it is taking longer than usual to finalize our plans for tours and special events. Check back for updates in the coming weeks.

Here are our plans, so far:

Programs and Activities Included in Registration Fee

The AGM registration fee grants admission to all plenary and breakout sessions on the conference theme, three meals (Saturday continental breakfast, Saturday banquet, Sunday brunch), the Regency ball, and a number of additional entertainments and programs. Highlights of these “extras” include:

In Jane Austen’s Actors, Angela Barlow will combine lively performance with an informative, illustrated lecture that will examine the influence of the theatre and actors on Jane Austen’s life and work. The performance of extracts from plays, letters, and Austen’s novels demonstrates the value and enjoyment this subtle yet dramatic writer found in her theatre-going.
Carolyn Brown and Lynda Hall will lead “Curating Jane: Austen-Inspired Art,” a discussion about artists who claim Austen as their muse, whether they are creating gorgeous watercolor nature scenes, amusing satires of contemporary life, large abstract works that demand a knowledge of the text, pop-up picture books, or even board games.
In a World Premiere of Jane Austen in 40 Minutes, an original comedy by JASNA member Syrie James, all six of Jane Austen’s novels are presented in a “speed-version” that distills down the plots of each to 6.6 minutes. With Jane Austen as narrator and a cast of actors in Regency attire playing multiple parts, this staged reading moves at a lightning pace.
Chicago’s own Ghostlight Ensemble will delight us with a very special reading of Miss Elizabeth Bennet: A Play from Pride and Prejudice by A.A. Milne, the beloved author of Winnie-the-Pooh. Milne originally set out to write a play about Austen, but found instead found that “it was just Miss Elizabeth Bennet speaking.” While preserving the central plot of Pride and Prejudice – that of the romance between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy – Milne put his own touches on the story. The work is most notable for Milne’s decision to strengthen the male perspective of the story. With his choices, Milne has presented us with a version of Austen’s story that has been filtered through the male gaze. Ghostlight will delight us with an additional talkback session with the actors and production team to discuss the differences between the script and the book, bringing the characters to life, and what considerations must be made in order to translate a story from page to stage, among other topics.

*Miss Elizabeth Bennet*, a play by A.A. Milne

Optional Ticketed Events and Activities

Tickets for events, tours, and workshops will be available for purchase to help you make the most of your AGM experience.

Art Institute of Chicago Tour

Narcissa Niblack Thorne. *English Drawing Room of the Georgian Period*, c. 1800. Miniature, c. 1937. Art Institute of Chicago. Mrs. Thorne credited Jane Austen as the inspiration for this room.

On Thursday afternoon, attendees will have the opportunity for a special viewing at the world-renowned Art Institute of Chicago to view its magnificent collection. The museum has identified many of its works that will be of particular interest to Janeites and fans of the Regency period. Attendees can explore galleries dedicated to painting, sculpture, and applied arts of Europe, as well as prints and drawings and the fascinating Thorne Miniature Rooms. Museum curators will be on hand to provide additional insight. As an added bonus, Ryerson Library Reading Room will be open just for our attendees, with items of interest from the library's holdings on view and library staff on hand to discuss them.

Persuasion Musical

On Sunday evening, Chamber Opera Chicago will present their musical adaptation of Persuasion, which combines music, theatre, and dance. The performance, to be held at the Athenaeum Theatre, is staged with an 11-piece chamber orchestra and beautiful Regency costumes. It incorporates world-champion Irish dancers, as well as authentic Scottish and Irish tunes from the period. The company researched the music from Jane Austen's personal manuscripts with the help of the Jane Austen House Museum in Chawton, England, and the production has received rave reviews from all over the UK commenting on the authenticity of the adaptation.

Workshops

We will be offering workshops with masters who will you show you how to:

Cut miniature profile portraits using copies of silhouettes from Austen's time and some modern examples as guides. Participants will learn how details of hair, hats, buttons, and collars can be achieved.
Learn the penmanship of Jane Austen’s day from an acknowledged master calligrapher and teacher of historical hand lettering. Participants will turn a quotation into word art to display within a decorative border of the instructor’s design.
Produce an Austen-themed watercolor using basic painting techniques and strategies in a guided painting experience, and
Create a feather hair ornament to wear to the ball. Decorative elements (included in the workshop fee) may include ostrich plumes, ribbons, and flowers. Participants will assemble the elements and focus on the basics of feather work—shaping, curling, and more!

You also will be able to take English Country Dance classes so that you can set and turn with aplomb.

Tim Bott, Master Calligrapher (left) and Cassidy Alexander, Silhouette Artist (right)

A Selection of Tours

Courtesy of the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust. The Arthur Heurtly House is one of 25 Wright-designed buildings in Oak Park.

We plan to offer a variety of ticketed visits and tours that will help you explore our amazing city. On Thursday morning or afternoon, you can enjoy an encompassing view of spectacular architecture, outdoor sculpture, Millennium Park, and more on a Highlights of Chicago Tour. Also available Thursday morning is a Chicago Movies Tour. Our city has featured in many films from the silent era up to today, and we will explore some of those locations on this tour. On Thursday afternoon, you can learn about the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright as you visit the famous Robie House and The Rookery. Wright’s work will also be on display on Sunday afternoon during a tour in the nearby village of Oak Park. If you stay until Monday, you can join us for backstage tours of nearby historic theatres.

Schedule Notes

Based on hotel meeting space availability, program start times are slightly different than usual. On Thursday, ticketed tours and workshops will be available all day, with special-interest sessions (included in registration fee) commencing in late afternoon. The official AGM opening is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Friday.

Schedule Preview

Making preliminary plans for your trip to Chicago? This at-a-glance schedule will help you plan. The AGM proper is shown in rose-colored text, with related activities scheduled the day before and after. The schedule is preliminary and subject to change—please check back in the coming months to see additions and updates.