'Eyre' composer brings 'Emma' to stage

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PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Previews have begun in Palo Alto, Calif., for the world premiere of composer Paul Gordon’s musical version of Jane Austen’s "Emma."

Initially presented on a smaller scale as part of the TheatreWorks 2006 Spring Festival of New Works, the musical comedy is now a full-scale production, set to open Aug. 25 and expected to run through Sept. 16 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts.

Gordon -- who wrote the book, music and lyrics for “Emma” -- previously set Charlotte Bronte’s brooding romantic classic, "Jane Eyre," to music.

"I happened upon 'Jane Eyre' by chance, read the blurb on the back of the book and thought it might make a good musical," he said. "When I actually read the book, I realized it was one of the greatest novels of all time. I discovered 'Emma' through the movie, which I loved. With that said, I have a great appreciation for both works and think they are brilliantly written. But the fact that they were also both in 'public domain' really went a long way in my choosing these projects."