Tag Archives: Little Women

A sneak peek at Little Women

24 Apr

Holy cow, does Webster Schroeder High School have some amazingly talented actors.

I’ve long known that was the case, and have remarked on that before here in my blog. But Wednesday evening I was reminded of that again when I was invited to sit in on the final dress rehearsal for Schroeder Drama Club’s presentation of Little Women, which will take the stage this weekend, April 24 to 27.

Set in the years following the Civil War, Little Women is Louisa May Alcott’s American classic, a story about family and love, success and heartache which draws heavily from Alcott’s actual life story. It opened on Broadway in 2005 as a musical and ran for 137 performances before heading out on a national tour.

The 22-student cast, led by Veronica Sanberg as Jo, does an exceptional job telling the story of the Marches, a not-too-poor-but-definitely-not-wealthy family, how they find joy in simply being together, and how they appreciate the things they have rather than long for the things they can’t afford. Our hearts are lifted when the sisters get married, and are saddened when a life is taken. (I’m not sniffling, you are.) There was even a point in the dialogue where I LOL’d. And this is a drama.

The performance was captivating, and I can say that because I was … well … captivated throughout the entire production. This coming from someone who has never read Little Women, and had no idea what it was about. I was a little afraid that, as a period piece, it might be kind of dull. But when intermission rolled around, I found myself hoping against hope it wasn’t the end of the show so I could find out what happened to these young women.

I was especially impressed by the four sisters — portrayed by Veronica Sanberg, Emily Schiffhauer, Kathryn Sullo and JimmaLy Ortega — who did an exceptional job instilling each character with an individual personality. And it’s always a joy to see Schroeder’s other amazing lead and supporting actors return to the stage. (How do they have the time to participate in back-to-back productions?) And they’re all supported by seven equally talented tech crew members, who did a great job making the dress rehearsal go seamlessly.

The set design is charming, the costumes beautiful. Schroeder’s Little Women is a must-see event.

Check out these photos (including the slideshow above) then check out one of the performances for yourself. Little Women will take the stage Thursday, Friday and Saturday April 24 to 27 at 7 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday April 27. Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased in advance here.

Webster Schroeder High School is located at 875 Ridge RD.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

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(posted 4/24/2024)

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Webster Schroeder Theater Company will present Little Women

17 Apr

Little Women, the classic tale of love, loss, heartbreak and growing up, will come to the Webster Schroeder stage in four shows April 25 to 27.

Adapted by Thomas Hischak based on the book by Louisa May Alcott, Little Women follows the adventures of Jo (Veronica Sanberg), Meg (Emily Schiffhauer), Beth (Kathryn Sullo), and Amy March (JimmaLy Ortega) as they grow up in Civil War America. The beloved story of the March sisters is timeless and deals with issues as relevant today as when they were written. Click here to see the whole cast list.

The Webster Schroeder Theater Company will present Little Women on Thursday, Friday and Saturday April 25, 26 and 27 at 7 p.m., plus a matinee performance on Saturday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 each and may be purchased on the Schroeder Theater Company website.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 4/17/2024)

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Live theater is back, courtesy the Webster Theatre Guild!

10 Oct

After a two-year pause due to the pandemic, the Webster Theatre Guild will return to the stage for five performances of Little Women: The Musical this coming weekend, October 15-17.

Yes, this is the charming story we have all come to know and love. Based on Louisa May Alcott’s life, Little Women: The Musical follows the adventures of sisters Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March. Jo is trying to sell her stories for publication, but the publishers are not interested. Her friend, Professor Bhaer, tells her that she must do better and write more from herself. Begrudgingly taking this advice, Jo weaves the story of herself and her sisters and their experience growing up in Civil War America.

The original production starred Sutton Foster, who received Tony, Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk nominations for her performance. When the Webster Theatre Guild brings their production to the stage, you can expect some equally outstanding performances.

The Webster Theatre Guild’s cast (pictured above) is led by Lyndsey Lord as Jo, Erynn Hill as Meg, Hadley Strelau as Beth, Jennie Gilardoni as Amy and Kate Bond as Marmee. Guild president James Pringle is calling it an “all-star cast.” He wrote,

the actors’ experience runs very deep, having portrayed characters in shows produced by many other community theater groups, including Blackfriars, JCC Centerstage, Pittsford Musicals, RAPA, and, of course, the Webster Theatre Guild. But their acting and vocal training is very impressive, and it’s immediately apparent soon after they take the stage.

Two significant adjustments had to be made for this return performance, thanks to COVID-19. For starters, the ensemble has had to move the production from their normal home at Webster Thomas High School to the JCC’s Hart Theater. In addition, to make sure everyone is safe, all audience members 12 and older will be required to show proof of full Covid-19 vaccination (completed at least 14 days prior to the date of the event) upon arrival. Masks will also be required.

Performances of Little Women will be held on Friday Oct. 15 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday Oct. 16 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday Oct. 17 at 2 and 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $18 to $20 and can be purchased in advance by visiting the Webster Theatre Guild website. The JCC Hart Theater is located at 1200 Edgewood Ave., Rochester.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and Instagram.

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