We’ve had a hard time letting go of our amazing production of Little Women, the Musical. We had an incredible time bringing this story to life inside the beautiful All Saints’ Memorial Church, our much-loved home venue. After a long hiatus due to the pandemic, installing the stage and building the set gave us so much joy. Before we close the books on this production, we’ve asked the cast to reflect on their journey by sharing a favorite performance picture (thank you Jason Lange!) and talking a bit more about their experience. Read on to hear their wonderful insights and stay tuned for more information about our Christmas show coming soon!
Bonus: Our Past Productions photo galleries have been updated to include Little Women - check it out!
Lindsay Abbot: Jo March
Q: What was a favorite directing moment and a favorite organic moment the cast created without direction?
A: It’s hard to pick just one directing moment because there were so many, but I actually have one that is both a great directing moment and a great organic moment. In the second act, right after the big musical number “Weekly Volcano Press”, Jo celebrates her success with Professor Bhaer and Mrs. Kirk. Professor Bhaer asks her if she has ever been to the Broadway Gardens and she responds, “Are you asking me to dinner, Professor?” During rehearsals I had been asking that question in a teasing manner, making light of the moment. But Christine gave me a note to try to be more genuine with it and act as if I was taken aback by his proposition. I was immediately on board and when at the next rehearsal I changed the delivery, something great happened organically between me and Gavin. The Professor’s next line is, “No…yes!” And Jo responds, “I should like that.” Again before, I was delivering that last line as if I was patting the professor on the back, like his pal. But since we changed the previous line’s delivery, that line became much more meaningful and it moved Gavin and myself to stare lovingly into each other’s eyes. So that one small change completely shifted the feeling of that little scene and foreshadowed what happens during the proposal in the final moments of the show. The whole process was just so magical and it is in these little moments that you come to appreciate your fellow actors and how giving they are towards one another. What a fabulous time I had and here’s to more incredible journeys in the future!
Q: If you could play any other character, who would it be and why?
A: There are so many great characters but I think I would want to play Marmee. Being a mother myself I can relate to her and she gets to sing two absolutely beautiful songs!
Caitlin Martin: Meg March
Q: Who did your character have the most meaningful relationships with in the show?
A: Meg’s most meaningful relationships are the two halves of her heart, her sisters and John Brooke. Jo is her confidante and fire - the one who pushes her outside of herself, Beth is her essence and gentle melody - the one she shares the tender moments with, and Amy is her protégée and storm - the one she relates to and tries to guide the most. Then there’s John, who she falls in love with so easily and deeply, that everything she ever envisioned for herself goes out the window. He truly is her other half. I’m very grateful for the actors who played these characters because they truly helped me embody Meg, and bring her and these relationships to life.
Q: If you could play any other character, who would it be and why?
A: Laurie! He’s such a complex character but so charming, and “Take A Chance on Me” would be so fun to sing!
Felicia Russell: Beth March
Q: What was your favorite character embodiment that you created?
A: What was important to me was being true to Beth. After all, she was based on a real woman. I loved adding in moments that weren’t in the script to bring her to life. In my research I learned how the real Beth was known to be sweet and caring yet experienced depression and anxiety. Some ways that I showed this was with eye contact (or lack thereof). In an early scene with Mr. Laurence, I kept a grip on the piano for comfort and hardly looked up at him at all. I also see Beth as being a very wise observer. There was one moment in particular that I enjoyed playing with. After Jo and Amy’s fight, Jo’s manuscript is on the couch. Before exiting I would slowly look at Amy, knowing she was furious and knowing there was no way she’d just let this go that easily. I would quickly then look at the manuscript, entertaining the idea that she might do something to it before exiting.
Q: If you could play any other character, who would it be and why?
A: This is a very difficult question, but if I had to play another role, it’d be Laurie. He’s such a beloved character and his solo is one of my favorite songs in the show (Willie brought the house down every night). I am also a big fan of his range as a character. He gets lots of laughs in the beginning, and he also gets such an emotional scene with pure devastation when he proposes to Jo. Then at the end he’s found a sort of middle ground. No longer a mischievous boy, but learning who he is and has proven that love is out there in unexpected places (with Amy)!
Tori Dillon: Amy March
Q: What was the biggest challenge with taking on your character?
A: I’d have to say the biggest challenge in taking on the role of Amy was having the balance between her being the bratty youngest sibling at the beginning of the show, throwing tantrums and destroying her sister’s possessions, to having her being a mature, worldly young woman by the end. I absolutely love the dichotomy of this character and it was such a fun experience finding moments in the beginning where Amy was obviously trying to appear more grown up than she actually was, while also finding moments towards the end where Amy allows herself to slip back into her usual, inner self with her sisters. One of scene’s that I believe embodies this the most is Amy’s final scene, the day of her wedding. She storms in, ready to complain to her sister about how everything about today is wrong but at the drop of a hat, it’s as though a curtain is dropped and Amy regains her composure, yet again becoming a woman who has travelled the world and is getting married in just a few hours. It took me a while to be able to get that quick transition just right but once I got it down, it really brought Amy to life in such a different way than I had seen before.
Q: If you could play any other character, who would it be and why?
A: Hands down, if I could play a different character, I’d love to play Jo. Despite being the youngest sibling in my own family, there were times in the show were I found myself relating more to Jo than to Amy (which also made playing Amy all the more fun). I, myself, am a writer and like to consider myself rather spontaneous so I feel that explore that side of myself through Jo would be an amazing experience. Not to mention, her absolutely gorgeous, show-stopping number at the end of Act 1, aptly named “Astonishing”. It’s been one of my favorite Broadway songs long before this show and will absolutely remain one of my favorites for a very long time.
Willie Naess: Laurie Laurence
Q: How did this cast bring something new to the story?
A: I don’t necessarily know if this the *~correct~* answer to the question being asked: “How did the cast bring something new to the story?”; but I feel that performing in unconventional locations in a grassroots setting and far from a proscenium stage is very authentic to the Little Women experience. Jo March is famous for putting on theatre for her town starring her and her three sisters. We, too, were just 10 actors (with a fire in us to be bigger and better than we are) performing in a, while very beautiful, small and intimate church. Therein lies a home-like quality for this space. Many audience members sitting in the pews for our Saturday night production were there the next morning for Sunday services. It is community that Stone Church provides for Atlantic Highlands and the surrounding area. It’s not that we brought something new, but we brought something old to this production and therein, found a lot of heart in our honest storytelling.
Q: If you could play any other character, who would it be and why?
A: Marmee! Her songs are so beautiful.
Vincent DeMeo: Mr. John Brooke
Q: What are your favorite songs from the show?
A: My favorite songs in the show are “The Most Amazing Thing”, “Five Forever”, and “More Than I Am”. “The Most Amazing Thing” just has such a fun, vivid story and the sporadic harmonies are fun to sing, and great to listen to. “Five Forever” is a very fun, high energy number, and watching the way my cast mates performed it on stage was a true pleasure. Between the actions, the harmonies, and Willie’s beautiful step dancing, it was truly a show stopper. As for “More Than I Am”, singing it was one of my favorite moments I’ve ever had on stage, especially because I was lucky enough to sing it with such a talented partner. It felt like one of the most emotional moments of the whole show and I was honored to be a part of it.
Q: If you could play any other character, who would it be and why?
A: If I could play any other character in the show, I’d choose Amy. I have always resonated with the immaturity of the character. I’m a very immature and fun loving person, so the bratty youngest child is just something I’d love to try my hand at, and I would absolutely love to sing “The Most Amazing Thing”. Also, genderbending seems like a lot of fun.
Marcy Zieve: Marmee March
Q: What was your proudest moment from the run?
A: One of my proudest moments of Little Women was when the cast came together to sing for the first and only time at the end of “The Weekly Volcano Press”. It was such an honor to be standing on that stage amongst such beautiful, kind and talented people. Our voices soared, our harmonies were impeccable - truly a moment that will always stay in my heart!
Q: If you could play any other character, who would it be and why?
A: If I could play any other character, it would be Laurie. I would love to sing “Take a Chance on Me”!
Lizzy Stefanic: Aunt March
Q: How did you prepare for your audition and what was it like to read the email saying you got in?
A: As soon as I heard about the show, I selected my audition song based on the character I wanted to play, and started rehearsing right away. When I received the e-mail offering me the role, I was ecstatic because I love working with this company and these people so much!
Q: If you could play any other character, who would it be and why?
A: Laurie!
Darren DeAngelo: Mr. Laurence
Q: What was the toughest song or scene to learn and why?
A: “The Weekly Volcano Press”, just due to the multiple characters involved and timing.
Q: If you could play any other character, who would it be and why?
A: John Brooke!
Gavin Kenny: Professor Bhaer
Q: Any feedback from the audience about your performance &/or the show that you would like to share?
A: Members of the audience remarked about the beauty of Jo and Bhaer’s relationship. That they both supported each other and made each other better. Through the relationship, they became better than they were. That’s love!
Q: If you could play any other character, who would it be and why?
A: Beth, because she is so generous and kind. She brings out the best in others, even grouchy Mr. Lawrence. It’s beautiful to see her loving impact on the other characters.