Elise Hardcastle 

Adrian, MI- The classic coming of age tale “Little Women” is set to be performed at Siena Heights University (SHU) Apr. 12 and 13 at 8:00 p.m. and Apr. 14 at 2:00 p.m. in Francoeur Theatre. This time the show is a little different- the classic novel turned play written by Louisa May Alcott has been made into a musical. That’s right, the story of feminist writer Jo March and her three sisters during the Civil War has finally been set to music and with a tagline like “Six generations have read this story. This one will sing it” this show is certainly not allowed to disappoint.

This show features a cast of eighteen SHU students, ranging from freshmen to seniors. This production is being directed by Associate Professor of Theatre and Speech Communication Kerry Graves.

“Rehearsals are going beautifully. I have an amazing cast.” Graves said

This is a huge show to tackle. It’s a period piece which means it’s set in a different historical time. This makes it much harder because all of the elements have to be accurate to the time period- the costumes, the properties, everything needs to look authentic which can really be a challenge. Graves really enjoys doing period pieces. The last period piece she did was “Arcadia,” in 2010 which takes place in a modern day as well as 180 years prior. “Little Women” takes place during the Civil War and after the war has ended.

This is a well known story with beloved characters. The sisters – Meg, the oldest and most romantic sister is eager to take on a woman’s traditional responsibilities of the time; Jo, the aggressive one who wants her own voice to be heard and to provide for her family; Beth, the music loving soft spoken sister who wants to help the less fortunate; Amy, the youngest, who yearns to be a young woman just like her sisters and truly experience society.

Graves chose this show for several reasons. She, like many others, absolutely adores this book. “It is one of my favorites. I’ve read it over a dozen times. I love the fact that this story is all about women.” That’s not to say that this story doesn’t appeal to men as well. Graves assured me that it isn’t just for women.

She went on to discuss the episode of “Friends” where Rachel and Joey exchange their favorite books, Rachel’s being “Little Women” and Joey’s being “The Shining.” In the episode, Joey ends up loving the book just as much as Rachel does. Moral of the story: this is a great narrative regardless of your gender. Graves just wants people to give this show a shot, especially since this is the first time it has been done in this area.

Graves was eager to discuss the meaning of this classic story, “This show is all about the bonds of family. There are so many things that can separate a family, but there are many more important things that can tie a family back together. This show is so honest, it’s not sugar coated at all. This family faces serious hardships but it only makes them stronger in the end.”

This story means the world to Graves and she was ready to do this show. “This family is so close. I didn’t have any sisters or a nurturing mother like Marmee. It all appeals to me. After watching this show, I hope people are uplifted with the incredible warmth and love within these people’s relationships. They should feel enriched emotionally.” Graves continued “This story is still relevant but it’s gotten harder with this generation. The idea of communication through letters has almost been lost. Letters needed to have greater thought put into them. It’s good to remind people of what’s really important and to appreciate what we have now. This show teaches us that family is the core that gets us through whatever life throws at us and to always remember to believe in and work for your dreams.”

Senior Kristin Kukic who plays Jo March was eager to discuss the show, “The story is relevant because not only can I relate to it, but I feel as if any woman any age can relate. It tackles some very relevant parts of life that every woman must go through: Love, loss, friendship, family, and finding the fire within you.” Kukic continued “This story means so much to me. I feel like it I can really relate it to my life and finding myself just as Jo finds herself through the entirety of the show. And, I think this is such the perfect show to end my college career at Siena!  I feel I can identify with my character so well and as Jo grows up and learns from her mistakes in life, I relate it to the fact that I too have grown up on this stage and learned so much here. I am truly honored to be a part of this amazing show!”

“Little Women” runs Apr. 12 and 13 at 8:00 p.m. and Apr. 14 at 2:00 p.m. The Sunday matinee, something new for the theatre program here at SHU, is specifically targeted for families and older people. Tickets are $12 adults, $8 students.

For more information and tickets visit the  Francoeur Theatre website.