DIRECTOR’S NOTE I think I read Little Women approximately 762 times when I was a girl. Well, at least that’s what it feels like. And as I picked it up again this past summer to begin preparing to direct this production, I found myself immediately pulled back into my own childhood and girlishness, with my own hopes, dreams, and struggles so closely aligned with those of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. But this time, a new alignment came to life for me with the sisters’ anchor in the home, Marmee. There is a reason that stories like Little Women continue to stand the test of time. The March sisters, their mother and father, and their friends and companions whom we meet in Alcott’s novel are not so different from us, are they? The challenges with which they wrestle—managing sibling rivalry, sharing of resources, loss of resources, contending with that one extended family member who never ceases to cause contention, completing chores, meeting expectations, wanting to grow up so badly, wishing they’d stop growing up so quickly, adding family members, losing family members— continue to ring true. Yet there is one common, unifying condition that seems to ebb and flow consistently throughout the March’s lives that stands out amongst the rest, and it is this that playwright Kate Hamill brings to light so beautifully: the pursuit for identity. We cannot help but be identified by the people and places around us. They have unseen influence, whether we like it or not; yet the desire to identify ourselves as separate from those people and places is rooted deeply in our core. We all want to be seen for who WE are, not for who others hope/ want/need/compel us to be. The March sisters are no different as they engage in each encounter on their way to forging their own paths. It is their mother, Marmee, ever-present, always loving, never judging, who encourages them to see themselves as distinct and different, but most imperatively, to recognize, welcome, and rejoice in each other’s differences. When her presence is removed, chaos appears to ensue; and it is when she returns that order is restored. What a metaphor for our faith! Tonight you will watch Meg, Jo, Amy, Beth, and Laurie figure out and come to love who they are. Most importantly, however, you will watch them truly see, accept, embrace, and indeed love each other for who they are, with grace and without fear, condemnation, or judgement. For as Marmee wisely says, “...love casts out fear, and gratitude can conquer pride.” Yours in humility,
Myra Kaelin, Producer & Director 1 John 4:18-21 2
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Little W OMEN
ADAPTED FROM THE NOVEL BY LOUISA MAY ALCOTT BY KATE HAMILL
October 15-17, 22-24 - 7:00pm ASL interpreted show on October 22
LIGHTING DESIGN
COSTUME DESIGN
SCENIC DESIGN & TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
KATHY RISK
JUSTIN McPHERSON (’07)
LUCAS WARD
STAGE MANAGER
ASSISTANT TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
ASSISTANT/BACKSTAGE MANAGER
SOPHIA MORAIS*
AVA DELKE (’24)
JAMES HAYWARD
CHOREOGRAPHER
SOUND DESIGN
HAIR, WIGS & MAKEUP ARTIST
NIGEL SHUM
GINGER KAELIN*
LISA KESTER
LIGHTING BOARD OPERATOR
SOUND BOARD OPERATORS
LIGHTING PROGRAMMER
JOSIAH WILLSON
AUSTIN TAYLOR & SOPHIA NAMEK
JOEY GIAMMONA
DECK CREW LEAD
COSTUME CREW
PROPERTIES MANAGER
JACOB THOMAS*
MIA DOURSOUNIAN & EMMA HANNA
TAMARA ADKINSON
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT/HOUSE MANAGER
STUDENT HOUSE MANAGER
CRISTINA ZEPEDA GRAPHIC DESIGN
XYLA SANKUS CONCEPT ART
JILL CARLSON
CRISTINA ZEPEDA
RUNNING CREW
ELLE QUACH, ESHA DHARNE, MADISYN CRUZ, JOEY GIAMMONA ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AND DRAMATURG
NICCOLE CARNER PRODUCER AND DIRECTOR
MYRA KAELIN (’94) *Conservatory Honors Fellow LITTLE WOMEN is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Dramatists Play Service. www.concordtheatricals.com NOTE TO AUDIENCE: THE VIDEOTAPING OR MAKING OF ELECTRONIC OR OTHER AUDIO AND/OR VISUAL RECORDINGS OF THIS PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTING RECORDINGS OR STREAMS IN ANY MEDIUM, INCLUDING THE INTERNET, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, A VIOLATION OF THE AUTHOR(S)’S RIGHTS AND ACTIONABLE UNDER UNITED STATES COPYRIGHT LAW. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: https://concordtheatricals.com/resources/protecting-artists 3
CAST Marmee March.............................................................................................................................. Kara Day Aunt March....................................................................................................................Ariana Schneider Meg March............................................................................................................................Ashley Pham* Jo March.............................................................................................................................. Ginger Kaelin* Beth March............................................................................................................................ Chloe Cheng Amy March.........................................................................................................................Euodia Paschal Hannah............................................................................................................................... Aashna Mahato Mrs. Mingott...........................................................................................................................Emma Tseng Theodore “Laurie” Laurence...................................................................... Logan Abreau Campen John Brooks.........................................................................................................................Ayden Babish Mr. Laurence.....................................................................................................................Nathan McCann Robert March / Ensemble................................................................................................. Max Thomas Mr. Dashwood / Ensemble.................................................................................................... Josiah Lee Doctor / Ensemble...........................................................................................................Michael Lynch Messenger / Ensemble...........................................................................................................Meg Irmler Dance Ensemble...................................................Audrey Borders, Meg Irmler, Amanda Kalns, Aryaa Mehta, Emily Rank, Haley Sue, Emma Tseng, Allison Zhong
*Conservatory Honors Fellow
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BIoGRAPHIES
Myra Kaelin Director
Niccole Carner Dramaturg
A founding member of Valley Christian Theatre, Myra holds a Master of Arts in Theatre Education (University of Northern Colorado) and a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Dance (Santa Clara University). Throughout her twenty-five plus years as a director, educator, and administrator, she has also worked extensively with various local community theatre companies both on and off the stage, including serving as President of the Board of Directors for South Valley Civic Theatre. Favorite directing credits include Rock of Ages, Clue, Into the Woods, Twelfth Night, The Play That Goes Wrong, The Crucible, Mary Poppins, Hello, Dolly!, Steel Magnolias, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, and, The Producers, among others. During the 2020-2021 school year, she spearheaded and directed two fully produced and filmed online productions for VCS: Godspell, and Check Please. She would not be where she is today without the unflinching support of her husband, Michael, and her three beautiful children, Lucia, Oliver, and Ginger. Glory to God in all things!
Niccole Carner holds her PhD in Theatre & Drama from the University of Wisconsin-Madison; her dissertation explored concepts of national identity within the plays of the National Theatre of Scotland. She’s previously served as dramaturg for Radium Girls (VCT), Clue (VCT), Twelfth Night (VCT), The Merchant of Venice, Two Gentlemen of Verona, An Evening of Beckett Short Plays, and Eurydice. She appeared on the VCHS stage as Mrs. Merkle in Bye Bye Birdie (2022); other favorite productions include Hamlet (Gertrude), Woyzeck (Marie), The Mousetrap (Mollie Ralston), Miss Julie (Julie), The Birthday Party (Meg), 1940’s Radio Christmas Carol (Judy), and Richard II (Duchess of Gloucester).
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DRAMATURG’S NOTE The novel, Little Women, was published in two parts between 1868 and 1869 during the Reconstruction period as America strove to rebuild itself post-Civil War. The tensions of the war were still palpable to the initial readers, and the strife across the nation shaped the novel at its core. Its author, Louisa May Alcott, was a staunch transcendentalist, who was personally mentored by and a contemporary of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau and was playmates with the children of Nathaniel and Sophia Hawthorne. For those of us who have not sat through an American literature class in a while, transcendentalism was a 19th century literary (and lifestyle) movement that promoted self-reliance, non-conformity, free-thought, the inherent value of all humanity, and the divinity of nature. Many transcendentalists were avid abolitionists, altruists, and (eventually) suffragettes. Alcott’s story paints a picture of a singular family living in a natural world fractured by war. To our modern eyes, the March family appears average, but at the time of publication, the family was borderline transgressive, since the girls are given full-permission to follow their passions and grow into the woman that each one wants to be. There is no prescriptive set of expectations that the girls must meet; instead each one is encouraged to follow her own path and to be true to her values and herself. Kate Hamill’s adaptation of the novel pushes boundaries even further and allows the story to exist in a contemporary, inclusive space that seeks to represent our America in the same way that the novel represented the post-war mindset of a nation yearning for a better tomorrow. If Alcott’s original text challenged her contemporary audience by championing girls who shattered social norms, so should Hamill’s adaptation push us toward contemplation and a full appreciation of the complexity of humanity. The beloved characters of the page and screen, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, are presented here in their rawest forms: bad decisions are made, feelings are hurt, selfishness overshadows generosity, and ambition supersedes contemplation. On the surface, stories like Little Women can feel overly nostalgic or twee since they focus on family dynamics and values that no longer seem to align with the vision of home that most of us have. However, sentimental treatments of history do not often stand the test of time, so we must dig deeper to see what it is about this story that rings as true to us today as it did 150 years ago. At its core, the novel, and for our purposes, the play, reminds us how young people will always observe, remix, and broaden the cultures they inhabit–pushing humanity to embrace radical hospitality and, ideally, God’s all-embracing love. Even a silly living-room play put on by four sisters and their neighbor can lead to grand social change.
Dr. Niccole Carner, Dramaturg
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VALLEY CHRISTIAN THEATRE STATEMENT Here at Valley Christian Theatre (VCT), we believe it is vital for our students to know they can be unapologetically Christian in the Arts; their artistic gifts are God-given, after all. Further, it is equally important to us that our students leave our program well-prepared to think and live like followers of Jesus in a complex world. This includes learning to use their own Christian perspective to address worldly themes and the fallen nature of humanity, much like they do in their other academic studies. Often, it is when we confront these very themes that we turn towards Christ, humbling ourselves as we examine our own convictions, and seek wisdom; this is the gritty work that allows us to strengthen our faith (James 1:5-7). Every VCT production, K-12, goes through a vetting process with several sets of theatrically experienced eyes on scripts before they are decided upon. We examine the scripts closely and decide as a team whether a show is a good choice for the Valley Christian Schools (VCS) stage. It is an extensive and time-consuming process, and one we do not take lightly. Invariably, we come across characters and situations that challenge our very human (and Christian) sensibilities. Please keep in mind that VCS does not condone these situations, characters, or lifestyles; rather, what you see on stage is a reflection of the reality of our modern world and culture. It is in these moments that we pause, humble ourselves, and begin to look for clues of justice and redemption within the story. While not always overt, they nearly always exist. And sometimes, bringing a smile to your face or a moment of joy to your heart is the redemptive moment (Isaiah 61:3). As you enjoy tonight’s performance, if at any moment you find yourself triggered, we encourage you to pause, reflect, seek wisdom, and look for justice and redemption. If you have questions, strong thoughts, or feelings you wish to express, please, reach out to us—we want to engage in a healthy, respectful, and godly dialogue with you. It is our true desire to give your students artistic opportunities that allow the light of Christ to shine through them so that they may ultimately glorify God through their art “at home and in their communities”—to “Do it heartily unto the Lord.” We strive to ensure that the Valley Christian Theatre program embodies the VCS mission in all that we do.
Myra Kaelin K-12 Director of Theatre Arts
Justin McPherson, K-12 Director of Technical Theatre
VCS PRODUCTION COMMITTEE Brian Clemons (’87), President Dr. Steve Dang (’02), Senior Vice President, Chief Ministry Officer, & Director of Alumni Troy Gunter, VP/Director of K-12 Conservatory of the Arts Dr. Jennifer Silva (’94), High School Principal Sophia McCann (’15), Junior High Theatre Director Anne (Bagley ’94) Delke, Department Head, High School Bible Department Dr. Niccole Carner, High School AP English Teacher 7
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SOUNDS OF AUTUMN
BAND
10.21.26 JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOL BANDS, PERCUSSION, JAZZ BANDS, AND COMBOS 5PM - JH Jazz and HS Jazz Combos
5:30PM - JH Bands and Drums II
6:30PM - HS Jazz Ensemble and HS Jazz Combos
7:30PM - HS Bands and Percussion II
Student Life Center
Conservatory Hall
FREE ADMISSION 10
2026-27 Season
ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE
BORIS
SLUTSKY PIANO
Scan QR code or visit vcs.net/summitseries for more information and to RSVP!
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FA L L C H O R A L C O N C E R T
CHOIR
10.29.26 JUNIOR HIGH CHOIR, CONSERVATORY CHORUS, AND ADVANCED VOCAL ENSEMBLE
6PM | Conservatory Hall boxoffice.vcs.net 12
2026-27 Season
ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE
MICHELLE
CANN PIANO
Scan QR code or visit vcs.net/summitseries for more information and to RSVP!
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EMERGE
The Twelve Days
of Christmas
November 19 | 6pm November 20 | 4:30pm & 7:30pm November 21 | 2pm Main Theatre
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boxoffice.vcs.net
2026-27 Season
Christmas at the
California 2026
December 7 | 6pm December 8 | 7pm December 9 | 6pm December 10 | 7pm vcs.net/conservatorychristmas
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AFFIRMING THE ARTS Fall 2026 Oct 15-17............................. Little Women - HS Theatre 22-24 Oct 21.................................. Sounds of Autumn - JH/HS Bands Oct 27................................. Fall Strings Concert - JH/HS Strings Oct 29................................. Fall Choral Concert - JH/HS Choirs Nov 4.................................. Fall Chamber Recital - JH/HS Chambers Nov 5-7............................... The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - JH Theatre Nov 19-21............................. Emerge: The Twelve Days of Christmas - HS Dance Dec 3.................................. Holiday Chamber Recital - JH/HS Chambers Dec 3-4.............................. ‘Twas the Week After Christmas - EL Theatre Dec 7-10............................. Christmas at the California - K-12 Conservatory Monday, December 7 - K-3 EL Choirs Tuesday, December 8 - JH Music Wednesday, December 9 - 4-5 EL Music, HS Band and Percussion
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Thursday, December 10 - A Conservatory Christmas Finale
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WARRIOR FUND
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UPCOMING EVENTS WARRIOR CELEBRATION VA L L E Y
CHRISTIAN
SC HOOLS
SAVE the DATE WA R R I O R C E L E BR AT I O N
January 30, 2027 Join us for an inspiring evening celebrating all God is calling our students to become and the Christ-centered community in which we all belong. Together, we will invest in the next generation of Warriors and the future of Valley Christian Schools. vcs.net/warriorcelebration
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PURCHASE A BRICK
Thank you for partnering with us in creating Warriors: Tomorrow’s leaders properly equipped to serve God and family while positively impacting their community and the world.
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PLANNED Giving The Shechem Oak Society honors alumni, parents, and friends who have included Valley Christian Schools in their estate plans, empowering future generations just as the oak at Shechem symbolized God’s faithfulness throughout biblical history. Your gift ensures our faithful witness to God’s kingdom mission through VCS to all generations. We invite you to join the Shechem Oak Society. Visit plannedgiving.vcs.net or contact advancement@vcs.net to explore the variety of ways you can make a lasting impact at VCS. 19
MISSION STATEMENT Valley Christian Schools’ mission is to provide a nurturing environment offering quality education supported by a strong foundation of Christian values in partnership with parents, equipping students to become leaders to serve God, to serve their families, and to positively impact their communities and the world.
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VISION STATEMENT A world where every student pursues their personal Quest for Excellence™. FOUNDING STATEMENT Valley Christian Schools supports the homes and churches of students in providing an education that is grounded in the Judeo-Christian values of the Bible, as reflected in the life and teaching of Jesus Christ. Valley Christian Schools is committed to a Quest for Excellence™ in all of its educational programs, and provides a comprehensive kindergarten through twelfth-grade curriculum with a rigorous college preparatory program. Firmly founded on Christian values, Valley Christian Schools challenges youth to aspire toward lives of character, service, and influence while pursuing their individual Quests for Excellence. valleychristian Valley Christian Schools (San Jose)
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