‘Little Women’ plays on David Douglas High’s theater stage

Find out why the DDHS Theater Department chose to bring this a play, based on the famous novel to life, and the unique setting in which it’s being presented …

During this presentation of Little Women – now playing in the David Douglas High School Theater – Amy March (played by student actor Aniyah Barrett) and Meg March (played by Josephine Pair) listen, as Jo March (played by Leslie Juarez-Diaz) stands on a chair to proclaim her dreams of future greatness – a notion that that amuses the third of her three sisters, Beth March (played by Lucy Stokes).

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

This year’s winter theatrical production at David Douglas High School (DDHS) – it opened on March 6th and runs through the 16th – is Kate Hamill’s adaptation of Little Women; the beloved two-volume novel by Louisa May Alcott, published in the 1860s.

Over the many years, the story conveyed in the two books has been made into stage plays, motion pictures, and television programs.

The director of the play, David Rosenbaum – DDHS Theater Instructor – suggests stage movement to the actors, during the rehearsal of a scene.

“You’re right; this story is not new,” agreed DDHS Theater Instructor and the play’s Director David Rosenbaum, before a dress rehearsal began. “We’re doing Little Women this season because our drama students have been clamoring for us to produce this show for years!

Looking in from the hallway, Jo and neighbor Theodore “Laurie” Laurence (played by Cole Althen) discover the budding romance between Laurie’s tutor, John Brooks (played by Griffin Bloomquist-Hulbert) and sister Meg.

“We wanted to do a drama, do something different,” Rosenbaum continued. “And, we found an adaptation of this play that’s a little different, because it brings out all the best parts of the original story.

“Additionally, this script is crafted to focus on what makes this story still relevant today,” pointed out Rosenbaum. “It’s about how people may wonder how they fit in a world where they might not meet everyone’s expectations – in terms of ‘hard work’, gender, class, and community. These things still resonate today.”

In this scene, Beth March is in bed, struck down with a fever, she’s attended to by her sisters Jo and Meg, the March family’s loyal and beloved Irish servant Hannah (played by Salvadore Vergara, and their family physician (played by Jesus Barajas Anguiano).

Produced in the ‘Black Box’ format
While this production of Little Women is presented in the “Black Box” style – that is, before a small audience, close to the actors – it’s being produced on the main stage of the Horner Auditorium.

Instead of typical audience seating, some 90 chairs on sturdy risers are placed on the front of the main stage, facing into the stage area.

“We made this choice because intense, domestic drama is best viewed close-up – not from 150 feet away,” explained Rosenbaum. “The audience is here, close to the actors, so they see all of the details of the acting choices our students have made. We want them to see the nuances of all the great acting taking place.

“Additionally, we can still utilize all of the technical aspects of our stage, including backgrounds, lighting and special effects,” he added.

The March family celebrates Christmas morning: Amy – and Margaret “Marmee” March (played by Ruby Wilson) the girls’ mother, and the head of household while her husband is away at war – observe the holiday with Beth, Jo, and Meg.

About the story
Little Women is a “coming-of-age” novel which Alcott originally published in two volumes, in 1868 and 1869. The story line tracks through the lives of the four March sisters – Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy – starting when they are children and following them as they grow into womanhood.

Set during the Civil War, central to the story is sister Jo March, who’s undignified and obstinate, and strives to become a novelist – as the other sisters work through trying to make their private aspirations conform to society’s expectations.

Two casts alternate performances
“There were so many strong student actors who auditioned for parts, we assembled two different casts which alternately perform throughout the run,” Rosenbaum said. “Members of the two casts, while performing from the same script, have made different choices about how they act out the scenes – so, you might actually want to take in both versions!”

The two casts – named the ‘Gray Cast’ and ‘Scarlet Cast’ – involve a total of 18 actors. The play is produced by one student assistant director, with the mostly-unseen expertise of 24 student stage technicians, who make the show run smoothly.

Seeing double? No! It’s both casts of Little Women taking a bow after a dress rehearsal.

Get tickets now, online
On March 8, Little Women continues its run at 7:30 p.m. The show also plays on March 13 through 15 at 7:30 pm.

Or, see one of the Sunday Family Matinee shows on March 9 or March 16 at 2:30 pm.

TICKETS: $12 adults | $8 Seniors or Students. Because there is limited seating, buy your tickets now, securely online, CLICK HERE.

All performances are in the Horner Performing Arts Center, located at 1400 SE 130th Avenue, between SE Stark and Division streets.

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