Heartwarming LITTLE WOMEN: THE MUSICAL Headed to Ocean State Theatre

Ocean State Theatre Company (OSTC), currently celebrating its fifth season in its comfortable stadium-style theatre in Warwick, will present the heartwarming, family-friendly musical, Little Women: The Musical, which will run at Ocean State Theatre from March 1 - 19.

Based on Louisa May Alcott's beloved 1869 semi-autobiographical novel, Little Women: The Musical, vividly brings to life the March family of Concord, Massachusetts. In a time of war and sacrifice the four March sisters - aspiring writer Jo, romantic Meg, pretentious Amy, and kind-hearted Beth, guided by their mother Marmee, grow from girls into women, while the family patriarch is away serving as a Union Army chaplain during the Civil War. Produced nationally and internationally, Little Women has been praised by critics for its ambition in adapting such a well-known story for the stage. This timeless captivating story is brought to life in this glorious musical filled with personal discovery, heartache, hope, and everlasting love. With a book by Allan Knee, music by Jason Howland and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein, this show is sure to charm young and old alike.

Ocean State Theatre Company is thrilled to welcome Ethan Paulini, who has appeared in OSTC productions of 1776 (Richard Henry Lee) and The Diary of Anne Frank (Mr. Van Daan). Mr. Paulini, whose directing and choreography credits include The Music Man, Passing Strange, Speech and Debate, The Little Mermaid, The Full Monty, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Working, will be making his Ocean State Theatre Company debut as director and choreographer of Little Women: The Musical. Esther Zabinski, who music directed previous OSTC productions of Anything Goes, 1776, The Addams Family, Into the Woods, Meet Me in St. Louis, My Fair Lady, Miracle on 34th Street and RENT, returns as music director. Ocean State Theatre Company's Producing Artistic Director and Broadway veteran, Amiee Turner of South Kingstown, who won rave reviews for her portrayal of Mama Rose in Gypsy (2015) and Carol Wyman in Laughter on the 23rd Floor (2014), returns to the stage in the role of Marmee, the matriarch of the March household. Tess Jonas of Boston, who appeared earlier this season in both Billy Elliot and Irving Berlin's White Christmas, returns in the role of Josephine "Jo" March. The other March sisters are being played by Alison Novelli (Meg) of Cumberland and Bryn Martin (Beth) of North Kingstown, who are both making their OSTC debuts and Abigail McMahon (Amy) of Warwick, who has appeared in OSTC productions of Meet Me in St. Louis and The Sound of Music. New York actor Michael Luongo, returns to OSTC, after appearing in both Irving Berlin's White Christmas and Meet Me in St. Louis, to play Laurie and Tommy Labanaris of Coventry, who has appeared previously with OSTC in Avenue Q, Into the Woods, LES MISERABLES, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, The Diary of Anne Frank, Gypsy, 1776 and Billy Elliot, returns in the role of Professor Bhaer. Cranston's Staci Morin returns for her seventh production with OSTC as Aunt March with Kevin PatRick Martin of Cumberland, who was recently seen in OSTC's 1776 and previously in 42nd Street, LES MISERABLES and Legally Blonde, in the role of John Brooke and Curt Denham of California, who appeared in OSTC's production of The Sound of Music (2012), as Mr. Laurence.

Little Women: The Musical will be presented at Ocean State Theatre from March 1 - 19. Previews are scheduled for Wednesday, March 1 at 7:30 pm and Thursday, March 2 at 2:00 and 7:30 pm. All other performances will be held Wednesday (except March 8), Thursday (except March 16), Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 pm, with matinees on Thursdays (except March 16), Saturdays at 2:00 pm (except March 4 & 11) and Sundays at 2:00 pm. Conducting Conversations Live!, a free post-show discussion hosted by WCRI's Mike Maino, will follow the 2pm performance on Sunday, March 5.

The theatre is located at 1245 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick, RI. Tickets are $39 for preview performances, $39-$59 for all other performances except Thrifty Thursday (March 9) when all tickets are priced at a $10 discount ($29-$49). $30 "Rush" tickets are available on a limited basis one hour prior to curtain on the day of the performance. Additional discounted rates may be available for groups of 10 or more by calling (401) 921-1777 x112. Tickets are on sale at the box office Monday through Friday from 12 noon - 6:00 pm, Saturdays from 12 noon - 4:00 pm, and from 12 noon until curtain time on performance days. Tickets are also available online 24 hours a day at www.OceanStateTheatre.org and via telephone during normal box office hours by calling (401) 921-6800.

Ocean State Theatre Company (OSTC) is a professional not-for-profit regional theatre whose mission is to preserve and pass on the tradition of live, professional theatre - including the American musical - and to pursue avenues of enrichment and education for the benefit of the state of Rhode Island and the surrounding region through the theatre arts. OSTC, which re-opened and ran the historic Theatre By The Sea in Matunuck, RI from 2007-2012 and began producing shows in Warwick, RI in 2012, is an IRS designated not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation.

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