Overview
Synopsis
Louisa May Alcott’s beloved story of the adventures of the four March sisters is brought to vivid musical life in Little Women. The Civil War is in full swing, and the March sisters -- Meg, the oldest, a romantic, the spirited and tomboyish Jo, sweet and loving Beth, and irascible, playful Amy -- live in Concord, Massachusetts with their Marmee while their father is on the battlefield. Filled with adventure (both lived and imagined), heartbreak, and a deep sense of hope, the struggle of these “Little Women” to find their own voices mirrors the growing pains of a young America. With buoyant, joyful melodies, memorable characters, and a big-hearted message, Little Women reminds us that “sometimes when you dream, your dreams come true.”
Show Information
- Book
- Allan Knee
- Music
- Jason Howland
- Lyrics
- Mindi Dickstein
- Conceived By
- Louisa May Alcott
- Based On Book By
- Louisa May Alcott
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- 1868 novel Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 2005
- Genres
- Drama, Romance
- Settings
- Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- concord, and new york city, 1860s, massachusetts
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- Optional
- Licensor
- Music Theatre International
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Ensemble Cast, High School, Mostly Female Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Religious Groups, Star Vehicle Female, Includes Late Teen, Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Large Cast
Context
Little Women is based on the novel of the same name by Louisa May Alcott, written in 1868. Though the show opened on Broadway in 2005, its very first workshop took place five years prior, in 2000. Soon after, two more workshops were put on at Duke University, first in 2001 and again in 2004. Director Susan H. Schulman joined the production for the last workshop and ushered it to the August Wilson Theatre a year later, where it ran from January 23, 2005, to May 22, 2005. The Broadway cast
to read the context for Little Women and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
The show begins in 1865 at Mrs. Kirk’s Boarding House, where Jo March receives yet another rejection from a publisher for her short story. When Jo asks Professor Bhaer, a fellow boarder, his opinion (“An Operatic Tragedy”), he admits that he doesn’t care for the gore and blood in her story. Jo is angered by his reaction and dismisses him as old. She wonders how she could possibly improve her story and admits that her writing was better when she was home in Concord, Massachusetts
to read the plot for Little Women and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Tenor |
Songs
Act One
- Overture
- An Operatic Tragedy- Jo, Clarissa, Braxton, Rodrigo
- Better - Jo
- Our Finest Dreams - Jo, Beth, Amy, and Meg
- Here Alone - Marmee
- Could You? - Aunt March and Jo
- Delighted - Marmee, Meg, Beth, and Jo
- Take a Chance on Me - Laurie
- Off to Massachusetts - Beth and Mr. Laurence
- Five Forever - Jo, Beth, Meg, Amy, and Laurie
- More Than I Am - Mr. Brooke and Meg
- Take A Chance on Me (Reprise) - Laurie
- Astonishing - Jo
Act Two
- The Weekly Volcano Press- Jo, Professor Bhaer, Mrs. Kirk, Clarissa, Braxton, Rodrigo, Hag, Troll, Knight, Rodrigo II, and Company
- Off To Massachusetts (Reprise)- Mr. Laurence, Beth, Laurie, Marmee, Meg, Mr. Brooke
- How I Am- Professor Bhaer
- Some Things Are Meant to Be- Beth and Jo
- The Most Amazing Thing- Amy and Laurie
- Days of Plenty- Marmee
- The Fire Within Me- Jo
- Small Umbrella in the Rain- Jo and Professor Bhaer
- The Weekly Volcano Press (Reprise) - Jo
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A play, musical, or opera that has been adapted from a written work.
A song that uses short stanzas to tell a story about love.
A civil war in the United States fought between the Union and the Confederacy from 1861 to 1865.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Mychele Lebrun
Canadian music theatre artist currently based in London, England.
