“Little Women” opens at Longmeadow High School on May 1 at 7 p.m.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
LONGMEADOW — A cornerstone of American literature, created in Massachusetts nearly two centuries ago, is being brought to life on-stage by the Longmeadow High School Drama Club.
The stage adaption of Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women,” presented by the LHS Drama Club, opens on May 1 at 7 p.m. with a second performance on May 2 at 5 p.m. Tickets will be available for $10 at the door of the LHS auditorium.
“Little Women” is the 1868 coming-of-age novel set in New England that follows March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy, detailing their lives from childhood to becoming adults in the wake of the American Civil War. Alcott wrote it in her family home in Concord, using the house as inspiration for the March residence.
Clara Hindley plays Meg, Sophia Rea plays Jo, Evia Valania plays Beth and Asia Mae Silvi plays Amy.
The productions at LHS are focused on being student-driven, according to Drama Club Advisor Julia Fournier. The club comes to a consensus on which students will direct based on who is interested in the position, with this production being co-directed by a senior and junior. Choosing the show is also a collaborative process, with students suggesting ideas and holding rounds of voting before coming to a pick.
She added that the student directors run auditions and then the advisors work together with the directors to decide casting. Day-to-day rehearsals are in the hands of the students from then on.
“As advisors, we’re there to guide and support and make sure everything is running safely and smoothly, but we try to step back and let students take ownership,” Fournier said. “A lot of our role ends up being behind the scenes, coordinating sets, costumes, props, parent volunteers, all of that.”
Fournier said “Little Women” stood out during the selection process because of the timeless nature of the story.
“A lot of students already had some connection to it, either through the book or a movie version, and it has such a great range of characters, many of whom are the same age as our actors,” Fournier said. “There’s really something for everyone, and even though it’s set during the Civil War, the themes — figuring out who you are, balancing family and personal goals, navigating relationships — are very relatable for high school students.”
One of the most important parts of the rehearsal process in theater is a shared sense of purpose, according to Fournier. She said when everyone involved understands the story being told and feels invested in the material, everything starts to come together.
“Our students are super talented, of course, but that sense of teamwork and ownership is what really makes a production feel cohesive,” Fournier said. “One of my favorite parts of this process has just been watching everything come together. The students have worked incredibly hard, especially with limited resources. We’ve gotten really creative with sourcing and putting together 1800’s-style costumes and props, and it’s been amazing to see their problem-solving and teamwork. It’s also been really rewarding to watch our student directors grow into their roles and lead the group.”
