SU Drama to present new musical version of ‘Little Women’ in workshop production Jan. 25-28

SU Drama to present new musical version of ‘Little Women’ in workshop production Jan. 25-28January 22, 2007Kyle Basskebass@syr.edu

Faculty, staff, students and an alumnus of the Department of Drama in Syracuse University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts will join forces to present a workshop production of a new musical version of “Little Women,” based on author Louisa May Alcott’s beloved novel.

The five workshop performances are free and open to the public with very limited seating Jan. 25-28. Performances will take place at 8 p.m. on Jan. 25, 26 and 27, and at 2 p.m. Jan. 27 and 28. All performances will take place in Room 243 at the Syracuse Stage/SU Drama complex, 820 E. Genesee St. For more information, call the Syracuse Stage Box Office at 443-3275.

The melodic, moving, Richard Rodgers Award-winning score is composed by Kim Oler and lyricist Alison Hubbard, with book adaptation by Sean Hartley. The workshop production will be directed by SU alumnus Alan Souza ’89, with musical supervision by Nathan Hurwitz, SU Drama staff member, and choreography by Kim Hale, assistant professor of drama.

“Little Women” tells the timeless tale of the March family during Civil War-era America. Under the guidance of their devoted mother, Marmee, and with their father away fighting in the war, Josephine (Jo), Margaret (Meg), Amy and Elizabeth (Beth) blossom from girls into women. In a time of national division, the four sisters hold on to each other and to hope as they face the joys and sorrows of courtship, romance, illness, loss, growing up and letting go.

Marie Kemp, assistant professor of drama and the driving force behind the project, will portray Marmee. Faculty members Joe Whelan and Joan Hart Willard will appear as Mr. March and Aunt March. The remaining main cast comprises SU Drama students with sophomore Catherine Charlebois as Jo, junior Nicki Calfee as Meg, sophomore Kate Bodenheimer as Beth, sophomore Lauren Nolan as Amy, and junior Ian Joseph as Theodore “Laurie” Laurence, the boy next door. Supporting cast members include sophomores Jessica Discipio, Mike Howell, Caroline Kenny, Elena Shapiro and Shannon Tyo, and juniors Arielle Cooperman, Chris LeBeau and Danny Longoria.

The show’s 18 original songs include “The Worst Christmas,” “I Will Try,” “You’re a Lady,” “One Beautiful Evening,” “The Music of Our Home,” “I Do Not Need a Man,” “For Father,” “Full of Love,” “There’s a World Out There,” “Doors Are Opening,” “Hold on to Me” and “I Have a Garden.”