On Jane Austen's 250th birthday, an OKC theater invites fans to the ball

With stone-faced awkwardness, the proud Mr. Darcy (Andrew Smith) approaches his spirited love interest, Elizabeth Bennet (Charli Henn), hoping to mend the rift between them.

When his overly stilted and stern first attempt only offends her further, the character's famed creator, Jane Austen (Emma Cox) — aided by her older sister, Cassandra Austen (Cecilia Alali) — hastily scribbles out new dialogue for Darcy to deliver. Finally, an assist from another of the literary icon's leading men, "Sense and Sensibility's" Colonel Brandon (Andrew Cohoon), provides the "Pride and Prejudice" hero with the right words to thaw Elizabeth's icy regard.

The hilarious byplay that leads into the hopefully romantic moment between Darcy and Elizabeth is one of the distinctive delights of "Jane Austen's Christmas Cracker," the original holiday show that annually closes Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park's indoor season.

As the world is celebrates Jane Austen's 250th birthday — she was born Dec. 16, 1775, in Hampshire, England — the long-running Oklahoma City professional theater is staging its annual original holiday production, "Jane Austen's Christmas Cracker."

With this year's performances continuing through Dec. 21 inside Oklahoma Shakespeare's indoor black-box theater, the unique homegrown title invites ticketholders to a Christmas ball in the Austen sisters' family home, where they can join some of the novelist's most beloved characters in partaking in a few of the amusements of the literary legend's day.

Which famous characters are invited to the OKC holiday party with 'Jane Austen's Christmas Cracker?'

Published during England's tumultuous Regency Period of 1811 to 1820, Austen's perennially popular books center on the British gentry — the educated upper middle class she and her family belonged to — but her stories focus on still-relevant themes, including social status, family, marriage, romance and the pressures and prejudices faced by women.

Designed as an interactive, all-ages theatrical experience, "Jane Austen's Christmas Cracker" immerses theatergoers in the world one of England's most enduring writers so vividly shares in her novels.

Adapted by Oklahoma director, actress and playwright Erin Woods from the celebrated author's books and family letters, the show mashes up a reenactment of a Regency Period holiday party with a traditional theatrical performance, an ice cream social and an improv production.

From left, Cecilia Alali who portays Cassandra Austen, the famed writer's sister, and Emma Cox, who plays Jane Austen, appear on stage with some of the author's most iconic characters during a performance of Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park's 2025 production of "Jane Austen's Christmas Cracker."

A favorite offering at Oklahoma Shakespeare since 2019, "Jane Austen's Christmas Cracker" is set in the winter of 1800, as the Austen sisters welcome theatergoers to attend a yuletide ball in their festively decorated home. Although ticketholders can opt to dress down, dress up or dress for the period, Lloyd Cracknell's gorgeous costume designs ensure Austen's characters are richly clad in Regency Era finery.

This guest list for the ball includes Elinor (Lindsey Newell) and Marianne (Bethany Woemmel) Dashwood and their respective suitors, Edward Ferrars (Teegin Hacker) and the aforementioned Colonel Brandon (Cohoon), from Austen's first novel, "Sense and Sensibility;" Anne Elliot (Sydney Wehmeyer) and Captain Wentworth (Nic Pizzuti) from "Persuasion;" and, of course, widely adored heroine Elizabeth Bennet (Henn), her unlikely beau, Mr. Darcy (Smith), her younger sister, Lydia (Lily Marsh) and her mother, Mrs. Bennet (although Zaneen Fletcher-Hall is a mainstay in the role, understudy Piper Stephenson did an admirable job filling in at the Dec. 7 performance), from "Pride and Prejudice."

Since the singular experience of mingling with Austen's famous characters is one of the show's main attractions, Woods, who is directing her own work for the first time this year, is to be commended for assembling a cast that possesses both the aptitude and the enthusiasm for improvisation.

Cast members dance with audience members during a performance of Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park's original holiday play "Jane Austen's Christmas Cracker" on Dec. 7 in the Paseo Arts District of Oklahoma City.

How does 'Jane Austen's Christmas Cracker' immerse OKC theatergoers into the Regency Period, with a side of ice cream?

"Jane Austen's Christmas Cracker" attendees can opt to sing along to classic Christmas carols like "The First Noel" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," play the vintage parlor games Forfeits and Squeal, Piggy, Squeal and join the characters in English country dances like Dover Pier, Ramsgate Assembly and, one of my personal favorites, Alice.

In between, ticketholders get to watch the charming cast act out key portions of the familiar storylines. The playwright skillfully distills the major character arcs from three different well-loved novels into short episodes that neatly play out as interludes at a big Christmas party.

Apart from the actual scenes, where the usual theatrical etiquette applies, audience members often get to interact with the characters in the lobby or from their seats as well as on the dance floor.

The actors choose one audience volunteer for both of the games, and Woods made the tough yet smart choice this season to scale back on props and decor to make room in the snug space so that more attendees could get in on the dancing.

For the second year, theatergoers also can try to get all the cast members to sign their souvenir dance card, a ballroom accessory of the Regency Period that has been featured on the hit Netflix series "Bridgerton," during breaks in the dramatic action.

Partaking in the interactive parts of the show is voluntary.

From left, Zaneen Fletcher-Hall, who plays Mrs. Bennet, and Bethany Woemmel, who plays Marianne Dashwood, play the Regency Era game Squeal, Piggy, Squeal with an audience member during Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park's 2025 production of "Jane Austen's Christmas Cracker."

The play's title comes from the traditional tube-shaped pull-apart party props that typically contain a small gift, paper crown and a joke. Not only are the crackers are part of the story, but each attendee also receives one as a party favor after the show.

Although ice cream wasn't a common refreshment in the Regency Period, Braum's Ice Cream and Dairy Store is a longtime sponsor of "Jane Austen's Christmas Cracker," and the company annually supplies a freezer full of complimentary frozen treats, which is a favorite part of the show for my children. Other complimentary sweets like cookies and brownies are offered in the lobby, too.

Plus, the bar is open for each performance and serves up seasonal alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, including Braum's famous eggnog, which can be ordered plain or liberally spiked.

With her memorable characters, clever wit and breathlessly romantic storylines, Austen's novels have been adapted countless times for the stage and screen and remain hot commodities 250 years after her birth. With a new Netflix adaptation of "Pride and Prejudice" and a new big-screen version of "Sense and Sensibility" both due out in 2026, Oklahoma City is fortunate to have its own uniquely original, interactive theatrical experience where casual fans and diehard "Janeites" alike can go to the ball.