The premiere of the musical took place in Wichita, Kansas in the autumn of 1995. Minor roles and the large ensemble of schoolgirls for the scenes at Brocklehurst's school were cast locally, while the directors brought several members of the principal cast from New York. The musical was well received, and a recording of this rendition allowed the creative team and their backers to slowly move the project towards an opening on Broadway.
The musical debuted at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on November 9, 2000, with an official opening on December 10, 2000 and closed on June 10, 2001 after 36 previews and 209 performances. Marla Schaffel, who played the title character, won a Drama Desk Award for her performance. The production was directed by John Caird and Scott Schwartz, with choreography by Jayne Paterson.
A revised version is currently in the works, with an expected regional debut in the 2008 or 2009 season.[1]
Children of God — Schoolgirls, Mr. Brocklehurst, Mrs. Reed, Miss Scatcherd and Ensemble ^
Forgiveness — Helen Burns, Young Jane and Jane Eyre ^
The Death of Helen Burns — Helen Burns, Young Jane, Ensemble
The Graveyard — Jane Eyre, Young Jane and Ensemble ^
Sweet Liberty — Jane Eyre and Ensemble ^
Secrets of the House — Ensemble ^
Perfectly Nice — Mrs. Fairfax, Adele and Jane Eyre ^
The Icy Lane — Ensemble
The Master Returns — Mrs. Fairfax, Robert
Captive Bird — Edward Fairfax Rochester
As Good As You — Edward Fairfax Rochester ^
You're Word to God — Edward Fairfax Rochester
The Fire — Bertha Mason, Ensemble
After the Fire — Edward Fairfax Rochester
Secret Soul — Jane Eyre and Edward Fairfax Rochester ^
Society's Best — Mrs. Fairfax
Galloping Up to the Drive — The Guests
The Finer Things — Blanche Ingram ^
Oh How You Look In The Light — Edward Fairfax Rochester, Blanche Ingram and Ensemble
The Pledge — Jane Eyre and Edward Fairfax Rochester ^
Sirens — Edward Fairfax Rochester, Jane Eyre and Bertha ^
Act II
Things Beyond This Earth — Ensemble ^
The Scream — Richard Mason, Bertha Mason, Edward Fairfax Rochester, Ensemble
Painting Her Portrait — Jane Eyre ^
In The Light Of The Virgin Morning — Jane Eyre and Blanche Ingram^
The Gypsy — Marje Bubrosa ^
The Proposal — Jane Eyre and Edward Fairfax Rochester ^
The Chestnut Tree — Grace Poole, Servants 1 + 2
Slip of a Girl — Mrs. Fairfax, Jane Eyre, Robert and Adele ^
The Wedding — Ensemble
Wild Boy — Edward Fairfax Rochester, Jane Eyre, Bertha and Ensemble
Sirens (Reprise) — Jane Eyre and Edward Fairfax Rochester ^
Farewell Good Angel — Edward Fairfax Rochester ^
Rain — Woman, Ensemble ^
The Death of Mrs. Reed — Mrs. Reed, Jane Eyre and Ensemble
The Voice Across The Moors — St. John Rivers, Jane Eyre and Edward Fairfax Rochester ^
Poor Master — Mrs. Fairfax and Jane Eyre ^
Brave Enough For Love — Jane Eyre, Edward Fairfax Rochester and Ensemble ^
^ = songs on the soundtrack ----- Poor Master on the soundtrack is sung by Richard Mason, so it's slightly different.---- Before the song "Rain", on the CD, a cut song from the show "My Maker" is sung by Jane.
Trivia
The songs frequently touch upon blindness as a theme. Rochester is blind by the end of the story.
In the book, Jane's aunt left her nothing when she died. It was Jane's uncle, whom we never meet, that made her rich.
"Marje Bubrosa" (the Gypsy) is an anagram of James Barbour.