Pittsburgh’s 2017 Jane Austen Festival
Celebrating 200 Years of Jane
Austen’s Legacy
March 24-25, 2017
Pittsburgh PA
Engaging speakers, Regency vendors, a free movie
screening & discussion, English Country Dance Ball
with live music!
Registration: January 1, 2017 to March 20 2017
or when spaces are filled. Prices rise after March 17
Schedule of Events
7:15 pm Friday, March 24, 2017: FREE screening of The Jane Austen Book Club followed by a discussion led by filmbuff Mell Steven-Cosnek. In this 2007 movie, six Californians start a club to discuss the works of Jane Austen, onloy to
find that their relationships—both old and new—begin to resemble 21st century versiohs of her novels. The screening
will take place in the Frick Fine Arts Building Auditorium in Oakland, opposite from the Carnegie Public Library.
Saturday March 25, 2015: Daylong Festival at The Twentieth Century Club in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh
with fascinating speakers, Regency vendors, a English Country Dance Assembly Ball with live music, and delicious
comestibles. Pre-registration required.
Ford’s Regency Emporium is Open 9 am – 5 pm
9 a.m. –10 a.m. Registration, shopping, complimentary tea and coffee
10:00 –10:10
Welcome and introductions
10:10 –11:00
The Many Faces of Jane: A Visual History
Mell Steven-Cosnek
11:00 –11:50
Handmade to Digital: The History of the Publication of Jane Austen’s Novels –
Margaret C. Sullivan
12:00 – 1:00
Luncheon
Pittsburgh’s 2017 Jane Austen Festival
1:00 – 1:50
Breakout Activity Sessions
A.
B.
C.
2:00 – 2:50
Learn Basics of English Country Dance – Dorolyn Smith
Hand-sew an Ombré Ribbon Pansy – Abigail Thompson
Read-aloud from Sanditon – Laura Livingstone
“She was the Sun of my Life”: Death and Mourning in Regency England
Allison Thompson
3:00 – 3:30
Tea and shopping
3:30 – 4:20
Austen After Austen
Dr. Sayre Greenfield and Dr. Linda Troost
Dinner on your own
8:00 – 11:00
Assembly Ball with Live Music by Amarillis (all dances taught).
Beginner/review session from 7:30 to 7:45
More on the Topics and Speakers
The Many Faces of Jane: A Visual History
Mell Steven-Cosnek, JASNA Pittsburgh President Emerita
Join Mell Steven-Cosnek for a presentation and discussion of various visual portrayals of Jane Austen. Ranging from
Cassandra's sketch to the controversial Rice Portrait and more recently discovered drawings, we will view images and
examine provenance, authentication, and controversy.
Mell Steven-Cosnek resides in the Pittsburgh region and is a second generation Janeite. She has been active in both the
Baltimore and Pittsburgh regions of JASNA and is a President Emerita for the local group. Mell earned a Bachelor's degree
in History from Carlow University and a Master's in Liberal Arts (film history, literature, and writing) from Loyola University
of Maryland. She reads avidly by night and by day works for a local non-profit that educates and advocates for the
advancement of social justice.
Handmade to Digital: The History of the Publication of Jane Austen's Novels
Margaret C. Sullivan
During Jane Austen's lifetime, the publication of her books was a completely manual operation: type was set by hand and
inked by hand and printed on to handmade paper, then bound by hand. Today, we can carry her novels everywhere we
go on our smartphones. We will explain the evolution of publication between the 19th and 21st centuries, illustrated with
examples of editions of Austen's novels.
Margaret C. Sullivan is the author of The Jane Austen Handbook and Jane Austen Cover to Cover. She is the founder of
AustenBlog.com and also blogs at habitofjournaling.com. Maggie is a life member of the Jane Austen Society of North
America.
Pittsburgh’s 2017 Jane Austen Festival
“She was the Sun of my Life”: Death and Mourning in Regency England
Allison Thompson, President, JASNA Pittsburgh
It’s a sad topic—but an interesting one! Burial and mourning customs were not, by and large, as elaborate as they would
become in the Victorian age, but they were still a stylized way of expressing grief and (sometimes) conspicuous
consumption. We’ll review mourning jewelry, attire and customs; discuss Austen’s own death, funeral and subsequent
memorializations; learn about one of the most famous funerals of the period; and touch on Austen’s use of death in her
novels.
Allison Thompson is the author of several articles examining how fans express their love for Austen by buying or crafting
physical goods. She is an historian, musician and dance leader and is finally about to finish writing Dances from Jane
Austen’s Assembly Rooms, using Austen’s own music.
Austen After Austen
Linda Troost and Sayre Greenfield
At the moment, Mr. Darcy is the Jane Austen character front and center in the popular imagination. Nearly every news
item foregrounds him or includes a picture of an actor who played him, whether relevant or not. It was not always thus.
We’ll be exploring the popularity of other characters as revealed in nineteenth- and twentieth-century newspapers and
magazines. Who was in? Who was out? What do favorite characters reveal about the kind of Austen people were reading
in the past? For them, was she a moralist? A satirist? A writer of romantic novels?
Sayre Greenfield, Ph.D., is a Professor of English and is currently serving as Chair of the Humanities Division at the University
of Pittsburgh-Greensburg. Currently he is writing a history of the famous lines from Hamlet, a series of articles on Jane
Austen’s sources, language, and reputation, and co-editing a collection of essays on birds in eighteenth-century literature.
Linda Troost, Ph.D., is a Professor of English on the faculty of Washington & Jefferson College. She has written on Pride and
Prejudice and Zombies, Jane Austen, giant squid, Robin Hood, and Icelandic sagas (not all at the same time).
Breakout Activity Sessions
A. Basics of English Country dancing
Dorolyn Smith, JASNA Pittsburgh
Eager to practice your steps like Fanny Price to prepare for the ball in the evening? Dance leader Dorolyn Smith will cover
the basics of English country dance so that you can even more fully enjoy yourself in the Twentieth Century Club’s amazing
ballroom. You are welcome to attend this session even if you are not attending the ball. Wear flat, comfortable shoes.
Pittsburgh’s 2017 Jane Austen Festival
B. Hand-sew an Ombré Ribbon Pansy
Abigail Thompson, JASNA Pittsburgh
In need of some heartsease (peacefulness, repose, serenity)? Heartsease is the old English word for the wild pansy. Abigail
Thompson will teach you to make your own ombré ribbon pansy by hand. All materials provided: $5.00 materials fee,
payable on the day. Extra kits available for purchase.
C. Read-aloud from Sanditon
Laura Livingstone, JASNA Pittsburgh
Coming in 2017 is the film version of Austen’s last, uncompleted novel, Sanditon. Written while Austen’s health was
beginning to decline, the work deals with a sea-side spa village and its quirky, hypochondriac inhabitants. Get a jump start
on the movie by participating in a read-aloud of some of the funniest scenes, led by Laura Livingstone.
Venues
Friday Movie Screening: 7:15 at the Frick Fine Arts Building Auditorium, Schenley Drive, University of
Pittsburgh
Saturday Festival and Regency Assembly Ball: The Twentieth Century Club, 4201 Bigelow Boulevard
Hotels
We have a small block of rooms reserved for Friday and Saturday, March 24 and 25, 2017 at the Wyndham University
Center, 100 Lytton Avenue for $169/night plus tax. The hotel is one block from The Twentieth Century Club. Call (412)
682-6200 and mention “Jane Austen Festival” when reserving. There are also many other hotels nearby.
Pittsburgh’s 2017 Jane Austen Festival
English Country Dance Assembly Ball
Saturday, March 25, 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Beginner/Review Session 7:30-7:45
The Twentieth Century Club
An evening of English Country Dancing with Live Music by
Amarillis
(piano, violin, oboe)
Allison Thompson, Mistress of the Ceremonies
All dances taught and no partner necessary. We encourage wearing Regency or other festive attire and
recommend wearing light, soft-soled shoes. Dessert included. $25/adult, $20/student (13-25).
Vendors
Ford's Regency Emporium
Proudly Presents
A Variety of Vendors!
Be sure to bring cash/checks as not all vendors accept cards.
Jane Austen Books
Books by Austen—books about Austen or the time period….Jane Austen Books has it all! Books of literary
criticism and literary history, culture and art, food and dress, Austen-inspired, children’s titles, cards and teeshirts.
Pittsburgh Historical Costume Society
Seamstresses of the Pittsburgh Historical Costume Society will offer a selection of historical clothing and
accessories for sale that are appropriate for the Regency Era, including gowns, hats, gloves, reticules, fans,
shoe ornaments, and even a pair of shoes. For our customers who purchase a gown, we can hem your gown
on site for a fee, so that you may wear it to the Ball. We can help outfit you from head to toe!
Gifts from Jane Austen’s House Museum
You’ll find gifts exclusively from the gift shop at Jane Austen’s House Museum in Chawton, England. Greeting
cards, book marks, note pads, tote bags and more.
Pittsburgh’s 2017 Jane Austen Festival
JASNA Pittsburgh
Austen scrapbooking supplies, earrings, fans, gloves, a selection of Bingley's Teas and other necessary items
for the Janeite.
Asana Soaps
Asana Soaps presents its Jane Austen line of natural, homemade soaps! Spicy scents to delight Mr. Darcy,
lemony scents for saucy Lydia, florals for romantic encounters in the countryside. Also a new line of scrubs to
smooth the skin and put a rosy glow on your cheeks before the ball at Netherfield.
SewShimi
Beautiful embroidery accessories for everyday life.
Too Many Sparkles
Up-cycled fabric notebooks, cards and art.
Extra Impressions
A stunning selection of bookbinders' and crafters' papers from around the world.
Pittsburgh’s 2017 Jane Austen Festival
JASNA Pittsburgh 2017 Festival Registration Form
Name: _____________________________________________________________________________________
Email: ________________________________________ Phone: ______________________________________
Address: ________________________________ City: ___________________State: ______ Zip: _____________
The Festival fee includes morning coffee/tea service, all speaking sessions, luncheon,
and light afternoon tea. Admission to the English Country Dance Ball is additional.
Registration fees are non-refundable after March 20, 2015.
Friday Night Movie
FREE!
Day Student (age 13-25) Festival Fee ($55 for JASNA members; $60 for non-members)
$ _________
Day Adult Festival Fee ($75 for JASNA members; $80 for non-members)
$ _________
Assembly Ball Fee ($25/Adult; $20/Student)
$ _________
To become a member of JASNA, visit www.JASNA.org
After March 17, 2017, prices for the Festival Day increase to $70 for Students; $100 for Adults.
Preregistration required.
Lunch choices
Spinach and Feta Cheese Quiche
_______
Grilled Salmon Fillet with Dill Cream Sauce
_______
Chicken Piccata (Butter, Capers and a light Lemon Sauce)
_______
All meals include Seasonal Mixed Salad, rolls and butter, tea/coffee, & Crème Brulée garnished with fruit
200 Years Strong Notions Case ($10 each)
Quantity: ______
$ _________
Total Enclosed
$ _________
Breakout Session Choice: (Your choice is non-binding, but it helps us to assign the proper size room.)
English Country Dance ___
Pansy ___
Sanditon ___
Please mail your registration form and check or money order payable to “JASNA Pittsburgh” to:
Abigail Thompson, 201 Farmington Road, Pittsburgh PA 15215
Or register and pay on-line (convenience fee charged) at www.JaneAustenPgh.org. We will confirm Festival registration
by email.
Questions? Contact [email protected]