Program for "Little Women"

PRESENTS

By Thomas Hischak Based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott

November 12 – 13 – 14 • 7:00 p.m.

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ittle Women is a classic tale written by the treasured authoress, Louisa May Alcott and adapted for the stage by Thomas Hischak.

This story, following the four March Sisters (Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy) is loosely based on the life, love, and learnings of Alcott, herself. Told from the perspective of Josephine March (Jo), this play displays a heartwarming tale of adventure, loss, relationship, family and Jo’s journey to becoming a writer. Jo’s adventurous and determined personality gives any audience a newfound zest for life and reminder of the passion there is to find in everyday things. From books to Broadway, Little Women has been told in many forms since the 1860s and shows great relevance to our current time. Sibling bickering, new marriages, and playing pretend in the attic are all ways we can all relate to the March sisters and Louisa May Alcott’s world.

Dock Mennonite Academy is thrilled to be able to bring together this community in a safe and unique way by presenting this timeless classic in a virtual live Zoom performances.

Thank you for joining us and keeping the arts alive!

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Director’s Note

C

reating the performance of this historic play has felt like such an honor during this historic time in our nation’s history. The theater community has been largely shut down since March.

With this virtual live performance, our cast members are making history at Dock, but also helping to keep the arts alive.

Mariana King Kurtz DIRECTOR

We understand the stakes of this performance. Imagine a time where sickness lingers in dark and hidden corners and no one knows whose life and family will be affected next. Imagine a time when a country is at war and divided, and neighbor turns against neighbor in search of what is “right.” Think of a time when women are trying to prove themselves in society while striving to find the balance between work and family.

The world in which our author, Louisa May Alcott, wrote this story is quite similar to the one we live in today. The main difference? Our means of coping has changed. Our cast and crew has been blessed to dive into this historic text to look at America in the 1860s. As we use technology to cope with our current stresses, these students have been reminded that family, adventure, dreaming, and relationships were once used to overcome trials—and they can be used again.

In the “normal days,” before COVID-19, preparing for rehearsals and a live performance meant focusing on the play itself and gathering information to help students dive into such an important story. For the team working on this “I do think that families are production, preparing for rehearsals the most beautiful things in meant many emails back and forth.

We were looking for the best and all the world!” safest way to produce this play. We — Louisa May Alcott, Little Women are so thankful to those who helped us choose the best way to make this live performance happen.

This production could not have come to such a wonderful place without the resilience of the students, who have had to adjust their knowledge of acting and performing in process. Our focus during rehearsals has been seeing the similarities between us and these characters. We have been diving into psychological realism and studying the minds and emotions of the sisters and their world. Each student has shown amazing growth in improving their voice acting, understanding the rhythm and flow of speech, and adjusting their acting from “on stage” to “on screen.”

The students in this show have proven themselves as young artists. I am so thankful for this opportunity to work with them, and for Dock Mennonite Academy prioritizing the arts and giving students a voice and opportunities to grow.

— Mariana King Kurtz, Director

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Act 1 Prologue

Josephine March, Mrs. Tomlinson

Scene 1

Jo, Meg, Beth, Amy, Marmee, Hannah, Aunt March, Mr. March

Scene 2

Jo, Meg, Beth, Amy, Marmee, Hannah

Scene 3

Joe, Meg, Beth, Amy, Marmee, Hannah, Ensemble

Scene 4

Jo, Laurie, Mr. Laurence, John

Scene 5

Jo, Meg, Beth, Amy, Marmee, Hannah

Scene 6

Mrs. Moffett, Clara, Laurie, John, Jo, Meg, Beth, Amy, Mr. Laurence

Scene 7

Jo, Marmee, Meg

Scene 8

Jenny, Mary, Amy, Sarah, Katy, Meg, Jo, Aunt March, Beth

Scene 9

Jo, Laurie, Meg, John, Amy, Marmee, Hannah, Beth, Mr. Laurence

Scene 10

Jo, Meg, Beth, Amy, Marmee, Hannah,

Scene 11

Aunt March, Jo, Mr. Laurence, Marmee, John, Amy, Beth, Hannah

Scene 12

Jo, Meg, Beth, Amy, Marmee, Hannah, John, Mr. March, Mr. Laurence, Laurie

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Act 2 Scene 1

Meg, Jo, John, Aunt March

Scene 2

Laurie, Jo, Marmee, Beth

Scene 3

Mrs. Kurk, Jo, Professor Baer, Kitty, Minnie

Scene 4

Jo, Baer

Scene 5

Jo, Kitty Minnie, Aunt March, Amy, Baer

Scene 6

Amy, Baer, Jo, Meg

Scene 7

Jo, Mr. March, Beth

Scene 8

Laurie, Amy, Jo

Scene 9

Laurie, Jo, Amy, Marmee, Meg, Hannah, John, Baer, Mr. Laurence

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The Cast

Mikaela Davis AMY

Isabel Bergin JO/JOSEPHINE MARCH

EmmaRose Thompson MARMEE

Summer Hondros MEG

Savannah Youssef HANNAH/MRS. KURK

Eliana Farmer BETH

Anna Smith AUNT MARCH/MRS. MOFFET 6

Connor Matje MR. LAURENCE

Trevor Godshall JOHN BROOKE PROFESSOR BHAER

Tim Brown LAURIE

Ben Graham (‘19) MR. MARCH

Elleigh Loux JENNY/SARAH/KITTY/CLARA

Mrs. Kathy Kennel MRS. TOMLINSON

Addison Maurer MINNIE/KATY/MARY 7

Production Staff, & Crew

Jordan Kolb PRODUCER

Kathy Kennel COORDINATOR

Darwin Zehr TECH DIRECTOR

Jason Sprunger TECH ASSISTANT

Scenic Designer Steffi Eger Set Builder/Tech Assistant Jake Kurtz Stage Manager Ellie Supplee

Stage Crew Micah Mast Eli Alderfer Maggie Dowell June Park Meagan Reed Cara DiNapoli Special Thanks Toni Brown for providing meals and snacks

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