28 | GREENVILLE JOURNAL | 07.06.2018 GREENVILLEJOURNAL.COM
FAMILY MATTERS A R T S C A LE N DA R JUL . 6 -12
Various galleries and studios First Friday Jul. 6 ~ 467-3132 Main Street Friday Fisticuffs Jul. 6 ~ 232-2273 Greenville County Museum of Art Drama at the GCMA Jul. 8 ~ 271-7570 Carolina Music Museum Swannanoa Chamber Music Festival Jul. 9 ~ 520-8807 Downtown Alive Muddy Kings Jul. 12 ~ 232-2273 Furman Music by the Lake Bluegrass Night: The Andy Carlson Band Ju1. 12 ~ 294-2086 Greenville Chamber of Commerce Works by Louisa Pyle Kirk & Sarah Teal Through Jul. 13 ~ 242-1050 Metropolitan Arts Council Flat Out Under Pressure Exhibit Through Jul. 13 ~ 467-3132 Metro. Arts Council @ Centre Stage Works by Cindy Hammond Through Jul. 15 ~ 233-6733 Greenville Center for Creative Arts The Persistence of the Figure Through Jul. 25 ~ 735-3948 Upstate Shakespeare Festival The Taming of the Shrew Through Jul. 29 ~ 235-6948 Greenville County Museum of Art Highlights from the Bob Jones Museum Through Dec. 30 ~ 271-7570
Keeping our ARTbeat strong w w w.greenvillearts.com
16 Augusta Street
864. 467.3132
Timeless classic ‘Little Women’ elicits smiles and songs at Logos Theatre MELODY WRIGHT | CONTRIBUTOR
mwrightl@communityjournals.com
The March sisters — Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy — quickly earned a special place in hearts and homes when Louisa May Alcott wrote them into existence in 1869 with the publication of “Little Women.” Over the years, the beloved coming-of-age tale has been adapted for films, television series, and a musical version that premiered on Broadway in 2005. Now, nearly 150 years later, the March family continues to captivate audiences with life lessons in sacrificial love, heartache, forgiveness, and hope. The Logos Theatre brings “Little Women: The Broadway Musical” to the Upstate beginning July 6. “This musical with its dynamic songs, elaborate costumes, beautiful set pieces, real-life moments portrayed by the characters, and depictions of true, self-sacrificing love will leave parents and grandparents hugging their families a little more tightly, and children entertained and challenged to think more of others,” says director Nicole Stratton. The overarching theme in “Little Women” is the gift of family, with all the joys and pains it brings. “This is a timeless story, told in an exciting new way, where anyone of any age will go away with a smile on their face and a song in their heart,” Stratton adds. “Little Women” is set during the beginning of the Civil War with the four sisters and their mother, known as Marmee, living in Concord, Mass., while their father serves as chaplain for the Union army. Jo, the predominant character, aspires to become a famous writer and support her family — an uncommon but brave dream for a girl in the 19th century. Stratton feels a special connection to the story as the third of four daughters herself. “The honesty of this script has been so beautiful, as well as heart-wrenching, for me, and I believe it gives the audience a wonderful look into this tight-knit family and what it truly looks like to love and let go,” she says. Each girl’s personal journey folds into the narrative intertwining with characters
John Green as Theodore “Laurie” Laurence
Theodore Laurence III — “Laurie” — the new young neighbor and nephew of old Mr. Laurence, and Laurie’s tutor, John Brooke. “With each new person that enters their life, they fight to stay connected as a family, while still giving each other the freedom they need to ‘grow up’ as it were, find love, and eventually change into young women with their own individual lives,” Stratton explains.
Zac Johnson, who plays John Brooke and assists with directing the production, recalls fond family memories of his own. Johnson’s mother would read great works of literature to her 11 children, including her favorite — “Little Women.” “Even though we had a house full of little boys, we all loved ‘Little Women,’ and that makes this musical all the more special,” Johnson says. “The book is an American classic that has meant so much to so many, and this musical has the same kind of personal impact.” For Johnson, playing John Brooke presents the same challenges as any role — getting to the place where the emotions are real, not acting. “That doesn’t mean you fall in love offstage just because your character does onstage, but it does mean you allow yourself, in the moment, to temporarily act and react with emotional honesty as your character,” Johnson says. The musical will show audiences the iconic settings of the March’s parlor and attic, where the girls act out Jo’s wild tales. With a 20-foot-diameter turntable, the Logos Theatre smoothly transitions through the story’s many scene changes. And the impact of the music itself shouldn’t be ignored, says music director John Green. All music interpretation stems from the personalities of the characters. “The music score is strong for ‘Little Women.’ It is full of wonderful melodies, lush orchestration, and variety,” Green says. “Audiences will absolutely fall in love with this adaptation because of the timeless story and magnificent music.”
“LITTLE WOMEN: THE BROADWAY MUSICAL” WHERE The Logos Theatre 80 School St., Taylors WHEN July 6-Aug. 4; times vary TICKETS $28-$37 INFO 864-268-9342 www.thelogostheatre.com
Nicole Stratton as Jo March Photos by Will Crooks/Greenville Journal