LITTLE WOMEN at Seacoast Rep this August

The Seacoast Repertory Theatre's coming production of the musical Little Women is in one sense a family-friendly counterpoint to the ribald rebellion of its just-concluded Reefer Madness: The Musical. But in another sense, it is the story of a spirited rebel in her own time - a young woman who wanted more than life and society appeared to offer her.

The musical, which opens August 5, is an adaptation of the classic autobiographical novel by Louisa May Alcott. Alcott grew up amid economic struggle and intellectual ferment to become a successful writer and early feminist. Her story of the fictional March family depicts the passionate ambition of the youthful Jo March and the emotional journey she takes with her three sisters.

"Jo March was very much an unconventional character, certainly in her day," director Danielle Howard said. "It was kind of new to have a young female character who was independent, who had her own determination to go against the expected conventions of society."

The play, she said, "is about a family. It's about growing up; it's about becoming your own person. The characters, they're not just storybook. They're real people, confronting real day-to-day problems, their own flaws. The adaptation has captured the real spirit of that, both Jo's triumph and the heartbreak that the family encounters."

It also tracks Jo's growth as a writer, of early "blood and guts" tales considerEd Salacious for their era to more sophisticated and refined work.

The story is set in the March family home, including an attic, where Jo and her sisters act out the fanciful stories of Jo's early writing efforts. "You get to see the stories come to life," said Miles Burns, artistic director of the Seacoast Rep.

Much of the thematic progress and character development of the play is told in the music. "The music is fun and exciting, but drives the story too," Howard said. The musical version of Little Women debuted on Broadway in 2005, with a story by Allan Knee, music by Jason Howland and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein.

Little Women features four actresses making their debuts at the Seacoast Rep as the March sisters, including recent Boston Conservatory graduate starring Liz Erardi as Jo. Several cast members are products of the annual convention of the New England Theater Conference, a talent-scouting event that draws actors from across the country.

The Seacoast Rep began recruiting there last year, and Burns credits Howard for making the trips a success. "The amount of talent that Danielle has helped bring Seacoast Rep is unreal," Burns said. "They don't want to do just one show with Danielle; they want to do all the shows with Danielle."

The show also reunites Howard with a production team behind Seacoast Rep hits South Pacific and Titanic. The set was designed by Szu-Feng Chen, with lighting by Kelly Gibson. In a new addition, the costumes were designed by James Weeden, who drew on 20 years of experience building costumes on in New York for shows including Lion King and Phantom of the Opera.

Howard and the actors took time to familiarize themselves with Alcott's work and life, to better understand their characters. They even toured Alcott's childhood home in Concord, Mass, where her neighbors and social companions included the intellectual giants Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Nathanial Hawthorne.

The musical bookends the broad range of theater at Seacoast Rep this season, after the successful run of the edgy Reefer Madness. Little Women was chosen by a vote of Seacoast Rep Audience members, edging out Carousel and Secret Garden.

"I think the contrast is going to be really lovely and surprising," said Miles Burns, artistic director of the Seacoast Rep.

Burns described the uplifting appeal of the show after seeing an early run-through of it. "I felt at the end that I could go out and do anything I wanted to do. People are going to be leaving there smiling."

Little Women runs August 5 through 28. Show times are Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.

Tickets are available through the Seacoast Rep box office at 603-433-4472, or online at www.seacoastrep.org/tickets. For student discounts, call the box office The 2016 Seacoast Repertory Theatre's Season is sponsored in part by Bondgarden Farms, New Hampshire Public Television, Portsmouth Public Media, MacEdge and Mesh Agency. Little Women is proudly sponsored by Nextera Energy, SIS Bank, and Heinemann Publishing.

Photo credit: Ben Bagley

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