Photos by Ralph Freso / Slideshow
Few stories capture the value of family and strength of womanhood quite like "Little Women" does.
Grand Canyon University’s theatre program is back on Ethington Theatre’s stage tonight at 7:30 for the musical version of “Little Women,” the classic Louisa May Alcott story that follows the lives of the four March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy, and how they navigate their relationships with each other while growing into adulthood.
“This is a very beloved musical,” director Michael Kary said. “It highlights women’s stories, and we have so many talented women in the theatre and music department that it really makes sense for us to do this.”
The oldest of the four, Meg (Belle Raeburn), believes it is her responsibility to support their mother, Marmee (Joanna Heneveld), and keep the sisterly bond between the four girls peaceful and strong. She initially tries to pursue a luxurious lifestyle but becomes content with what she is given once she finds love and marries their neighbor's tutor, John Brooke (Luke Lundberg).
Jo (Ryenne Morgan) is the second oldest and most passionate of the sisters. She's a headstrong, aspiring writer who cannot be tamed when she has her mind set on something. Though daring and independent, she fears losing her family to time and change.
Soft and caring by nature, third oldest sister Beth (Emmarie Nichols) balances the sisterly bond by maintaining the happiness of others and ensuring they remain a close family. On the opposite hand, the youngest, Amy (Mikayla Cavanaugh), struggles to find her footing in the family as she navigates living in her sisters' shadows. She often feels overlooked and forgotten, which pushes her to make rash decisions.
“The show really builds when you see the real, authentic sisterhood of it all,” Morgan said. “The fighting, the singing, pushing each other up. That is all part of it, and it’s beautiful.”
Though the show is fictional, the loud themes of family, womanhood and deep sisterly love are timeless aspects of life that are valuable to every culture and generation.
The sisters each have dreams of their own in their adolescence, but as the show progresses and unveils their growth into adulthood, it reveals how they navigate through the reality of having to let go of some of those dreams and alter their needs to what is more significant and sustainable.
“We tend to do very fantastical shows here, big emphasis on spectacle, and this show is pretty much the exact opposite,” Cavanaugh said. “The story is really about ordinary people, normal family and normal life. It is showing that those stories are important, too, and those stories can still have an impact.”
The themes deeply resonated with the cast, which started the rehearsals by meeting each other for the first time. Cast in roles that required them to act as a deeply bonded family, they quickly grew closer to each other offstage.
They learned firsthand the value of caring for those around them, putting others first and working together, as any family unit should.
Kary’s hope for the audience and the cast as they fulfill their roles is that they will appreciate life and the changes that come with growth. Though change isn't always smooth, it's still important to notice the people who are around you right now.
“People are what matters most, not the big dreams,” Heneveld said. “As a family, they have their ups and downs, but how they come together and choose to love is what is important. Family is what matters most, and love is a choice, so I am excited to share that with the community.”
GCU staff writer Izabela Fogarasi can be reached at Izabela.Fogarasi@gcu.edu
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IF YOU GO
What: "Little Women"
Where: Ethington Theatre, Grand Canyon University
When: 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, as well as 7:30 p.m. March 7-8 and 2 p.m. March 9
Tickets: Click here.
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