Beliefnet has put together a photo gallery of the Top 10 Spiritual Jane Austen Places in the UK, based on Lori Smith’s Book A Walk With Jane Austen. The places are spiritual in the religious sense and in the Janeite sense as well.

Baja Janeite let us know that the Victorian Trading Company (we love their stuff!) has a Jane Austen hat for sale. Why it’s a Jane Austen hat we’re really not sure, though it is quite cute. Unfortunately this isn’t really the season for it anymore, but if you want something to put away for next year, or you’re in the southern hemisphere, there you go.

Alert Janeite Maria L. sent us a column from Carla Carlisle musing on the juxtaposition of the publication of Sunday Times’ “Rich List” and the broadcast of Miss Austen Regrets.

In fact, it was fitting that the Rich List and Miss Austen Regrets appeared on the same day. Jane Austen would have been fascinated by such a list. The opening paragraphs of all her novels begin with money, including Emma, the novel she’s writing as the BBC drama begins—’Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich’ —with Mr Knightley especially desirable because his great wealth isn’t encumbered, not dependent on the death of a parent or distant cousin. He has no unmarried sisters to support, no complications of title, just a small problem of cashflow, a common predicament of the conscientious working farmer. Marriage to Emma will soften his bank manager’s heart.

My ability to size up fortunes may not be as precise as Miss Austen’s, but I think that Mr Darcy, with his vast estate and his income of £10,000 a year, would have made the Rich List of his day. In 2008, it takes £80 million to be on the Rich List Top 1,000.

She goes on to compare No. 144 and Friend of Jane, J.K. Rowling, to Jane Austen.

In many ways, J. K. Rowling is the Jane Austen of our day. A born writer whose need for money pushed her on. If only our beloved Jane had had the good luck to find a publisher like Bloomsbury, she would have known the delirium and freedom of self-made security.

If she had lived a little longer, we think she would have had all the success she could have wanted (and all the fame she didn’t).

Alert Janeite Lisa sent us an article from Playbill about the upcoming Geva Theatre production of Pride and Prejudice, which starts on May 21 and runs through June 22.

This world premiere features a cast of 24 “and incorporates innovative scenic concepts using some of the most technological advances available for the theatre today.”

Cuddy said in a statement, “The entire Geva staff and creative team have embraced this project for the past year. What we hope to achieve is a fresh telling of Pride and Prejudice through dialogue, music and imagery. I think that the contemporary audience is looking for a way into this period that is more like the experience of reading a novel or watching a film. Our cinematic approach is a true expression of Jane Austen’s language and locations. I’m hopeful that both Austen devotees and novices will find a seductive entrance to her work.”

We hope someone will send us a report!

Emporia State University’s Summer Theatre season will include I Love You Because, a modern-set, gender-switched musical version of Pride and Prejudice.

The final production, presented July 23-26, is a modern musical romance, “I Love You Because” by Joshua Salzman and Ryan Cunningham. A new take on Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” it is about Austin Bennet, a young greeting card writer, whose longtime girlfriend has left. On a blind date, he meets a flighty photographer, Marcy Fitzwilliams, with relationship dilemmas of her own. Encouraged by their friends Jeff and Diana, the two seem destined for one another. Or do they?

The New York Times says “I Love You Because” is “infectiously entertaining and filled with wit and zest!” Jim Bartruff is directing. Lindy Bartruff is the show’s choreographer and Speedie is the music director. Nancy Pontius designs the settings. ESU alum Jamie Urban designs costumes and the lighting design is by Michael Wilke. Schultz is the stage manager. The show will mark the debut of ESU Theatre’s new technical director, Craig Moxon.

All performances are in the Karl C. Bruder Theatre in King Hall. Show time is 7:30 pm. Tickets are $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, and $5 for students. Tickets can be reserved at the box office at 341-6378 or 877-341-6378 (toll free).

Milwaukee Repertory Theater has announced its 2008-2009 season, which will include a production of Pride and Prejudice from March 3-29, 2009. Mark your calendars!

Master Arts Theatre in Grand Rapids, Michigan, will be holding auditions for Sense and Sensibility on May 31 at 10 a.m. and June 2 at 7 p.m. They need 7 men and 7 women. The minimum age is 17. Good luck and let us know if you make the cast!

And for the non-thespian Janeites in the area: The play will be staged from September 11-27, 2008. Mark your calendars!