Jane Austen’s hit novel “Emma” is coming to Park High Theater.  First published in 1815 and reimagined for Broadway in 2017, the stage production makes its local debut April 25 at Park High School as “Emma: a Pop Musical.”

Applying the dynamics of the English class system to American high school life, the stage drama set at a prestigious Connecticut prep school named Highbury Prep follows the life and goings on of Emma Woodhouse (Sasha McCauley), a student and matchmaker who tends to concern herself with everyone else’s life in part because she doesn’t quite know what she wants. The short plot description?

“It’s basically like ‘Clueless,’” star lead McCauley says in reference to the 1995 movie with Alicia Silverstone. The plot of “Emma: A Pop Musical” meanwhile sees Emma try to romantically set up her friend Harriet  Smith (Anna Blasy) and involve herself generally in other’s love lives, all while simultaneously trying to find her own happiness.

“In the beginning it’s Harriet and Emma and Emma catches the bouquet,” Blasy says of the plot. “Emma convinces Harriet to let Emma set her up with someone.”

This in turn, spirals into the matching of Harriet with the student council president. The match later backfires, resulting in Harriet ending up with a dishwasher/busboy she fell for initially. Thrown into the mix is Mr. Knightley or “Jeff,” a student senior and chemistry tutor who Emma likes and who it turns out likes her back, but with neither being able to initially express themselves on the matter.

“I’m the nerd,” Lex Hidlebaugh says of his basic character profile. Caught in the mix as well is Frankie Churchill (Kenji Yang), a famous pop star who attended Highbury Prep for his freshman year before getting a recording contract and leaving. Frankie returns to Highbury and flirts with Emma, his manager reportedly telling him to “flirt with everyone.” This stage persona from Frankie leads to confusion on Emma’s part before resolving in favor of her and senior Jeff Knightley. Intertwined as major plot themes in the Jane Austen inspired drama are money and education, with supporting characters for the stage drama including Ashley (Emily Cole), Jane Fairfax (Kana Thao), Miss Bates (Alexis Wolkerstorter), Mr. Weston (Nathan Kinney), Miss Taylor/Mrs. Weston (Helen Born), Philip Elton (Kellen Ott), Martin (Charlie Blumberg), the Welcoming Committee (Linnea Ross, Alivia Rovinski, and Aria Waletzko), as wellas a musical ensemble consisting of Lia Boudouris, Alyssa Cleveland, Ruth Olsen, Brody Owen, Aminah Jatta, Maria Kirsch, Mason Kraft, Keyanna Riemann, Eive Pumpza, Zella Zuckner, Griffin Tima, and Annie Wicklace.  Last but not least, Park High’s latest stage production is overseen by stage manager Sarah Glaser, a backstage pit orchestra providing the musical accompaniment.

“It’s like a pop musical,” pit orchestra member and trombonist Jason Fillmore shares. Hits songs in the pop musical include “Eye of a Tiger” by Katy Perry to Straight Up by Paula Abdul, the latter about being “caught in a hit and run.”

Showtimes for “Emma: A Pop Musical” are spread over two weekends at Park High and include Friday April 25 at 7:00 p.m., Saturday April 26 at 7:00 p.m. Sunday April 17 at 2:00 p.m., Friday May 2 at 7:00 p.m., Saturday May 3 at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday May 4 at 2:00 p.m.

The drama debuts at Park High April 25, with pre-sale tickets available online at https://park-theater.com, or by link at www.parkwolfpack.org. Adult tickets are $10 while students and seniors are $8. Get yours today!