The theatre department presented Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women” musical from March 5 through 7 at the Yukon Fine Arts Center.
Rehearsal was where the production’s collaboration began to take shape: performers practiced their entrances and cues, the crew tracked props and transitions as directors adjusted the staging. While the cast of “Little Women” practiced the run-throughs and notes, the rehearsal room became the place where choices were tested and refined over time and the cast grew into a family.
For director Lindsey Duffin, this production was more than just a musical, it was a passion project. When Duffin was young, she loved the stories in ‘Little Women.’ The decision to stage this performance stemmed from Duffin’s desire to offer students a chance to work with believable narratives and resonate with realistic challenges. She also hoped the audience would recognize the significance of family.
“I wanted it to feel like we were immersed in a storybook, bringing these characters off the page and into real life,” Duffin said. “I also really wanted to emphasize the relationships within the family, make sure the audience clearly understands who these people are and what they mean to one another.”
According to lead role, senior Carolina Sikes, the show deeply affected her and created ever-lasting memories and bonds.
“This show has impacted me in so many ways,” Sikes said. “I have created so many memories and friendships. One thing about Jo that I will forever carry on with me is her passion and dedication, but also her love.”
In an effort to showcase a wide range of talent and provide more performance opportunities, the roles of the March family were double-casted and separated into two casts. Group A: Christopher and Group B: Columbus. Freshman Carys Adams played Amy March in group A, and found inspiration from Group B’s Amy March in freshman Grace Perez’s interpretation of the role which helped Adams strengthen her own portrayal of the character.
“I’ve been able to watch my double-cast and see what she does and not fully steal her idea, but I always take a little piece of that and put it in my back pocket,” Adams said. “I try to take some of that and pull the energy from Amy’s character and what we’re doing and mix it together.”
The cast and crew exceeded Duffin’s expectations and brought the pages to life. As the curtains closed on her first year at Yukon, Duffin valued those involved in the musical.
“I have always been excited to direct at the high school level,” Duffin said. “I was definitely nervous before the process began, but those nerves turned to excitement the moment the first auditioner walked into the room. I truly cannot express how grateful I am to every person who has been part of this show in any way and I could not have asked for a better first musical experience at YHS.”
