With a book by Allan Knee, music by Jason Howland, and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein, Little Women brings Louisa May Alcott’s beloved novel to life. Mount Saint Joseph University Theatre Arts presents this heart warming production now through March 28.
There is something undeniably charming about watching a group of young performers take the stage, and the Mount Saint Joseph production showcases a passionate and committed cast. Led by director Lauren Carr and musical director Erin McCamley, the company brings genuine energy to a familiar classic.
The Story We Know and Love
Set against the backdrop of the Civil War, the story follows the March sisters, Meg (Jocelyn Snider), Jo (Marisa Larson), Beth (Sarah Barton), and Amy (Christine Biggins), as they navigate adolescence, love, and loss while searching for their place in a changing world. With their father away at war, their mother, Marmee (Sarah Haverbusch), works to hold the family together as each sister explores her own path in life.
Little Women is a story about the tension between who we are, who we’re expected to be, and who we want to become. What feels particularly resonant in the stage production, even more distilled than in the novel, is how clearly each sister’s unique desires come into focus. Each is driven by something deeply human: stability, love, health, independence, recognition, and acceptance. While the musical condenses the rich inner lives explored more fully in the book, that brevity allows these core motivations to emerge with clarity, offering the audience an immediate and relatable lens into each character’s journey and motivations.
The cast also includes: Zachary Young, Eva Mullens, Connor Curtin, Flynn Delaney, Zoe Neinaber, Brennin Sanders and Bree Cornelius.
The Production
Standout numbers include Jo’s “Astonishing” and “The Fire Within Me,” both of which showcase Larson’s impressive vocal range and capture Jo’s strong-willed, restless spirit. Marmee’s “Here Alone” is another strong number. These moments offer a glimpse of the emotional and musical heights the production reaches when performance and both stage and musical direction align.
At times, pacing and vocal balance wavered, but these are the kinds of challenges that come with a production of this scale. What remains clear is the commitment from the cast and creative team, who approach the material with care and enthusiasm. The set and costume designs by Tatum Mann and Caroline Stine are both timely and visually engaging, adding richness and texture to the overall production.
College theatre offers a rare and important space for artists to stretch, experiment, and evolve. In taking on a classic as beloved and demanding as Little Women, this company brings both ambition and sincerity to the stage. The result is a thoughtful and heart warming production, one that reminds us the magic of live theatre is not found in perfection, but in the courage to tell stories that continue to resonate across generations.
Ticket Link
You can see Little Women at the Mount Saint Joseph Theatre now through March 28:
https://www.msj.edu/news/2026/02/theatre-arts-presents-little-women.html
