YMCA Moshannon Valley youth theater program presents ‘Little Women’

PHILIPSBURG — “Little Women,” a musical based on the classic novel by Louisa May Alcott, will take the stage at Philipsburg-Osceola Middle School at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7.

Tickets are $6 and are available at the door.

The production is part of the YMCA of Centre County Moshannon Valley Branch Student Youth Theatre Intensive Program, under the direction of SYT director Drew M. Baker, with musical direction by SYT alumna Natalie Conte and accompaniment by Jane Pilch.
“Little Women” follows the adventures of Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March as they grow up in Civil War-era America. Jo longs to publish a novel, Meg longs for a fiancé, Beth longs for a piano and Amy longs to be admired.

This timeless tale has been given new life as a musical. It celebrates personal discovery and coming of age in a time of challenge and transformation.

“After producing this show three times before, Miss Conte and I decided it was a great fit for the Intensive Program,” Baker said in a release from the YMCA.

“It thrills me to be able to bring this lovely musical adaptation of this literary classic to MoValley audiences. It’s so full and rich with Louisa May Alcott’s tremendous writings that bring life to this new musical.

‘Come hear the story of the March girls and their family journey through travail and triumph. It is a perfect ending for the holiday season.”
The cast is made up of mostly college-aged students from the Moshannon Valley area, and several high school students also were selected to be a part of the ensemble.

Playing the lead role of Josephine March is Emily Kazina. Bringing to life the March family are Conte as Marmee, Kim Tubbs as Meg, Sarah Bainey as Beth, Lara Sharpless as Amy and Reilly Brown as Aunt March. In addition to the family, the next door neighbor Mr. Laurence is played by Zach Coudriet, while his grandson, Laurie Laurence, is played by Brandon Gunter. The young tutor who has taken a liking to Meg, Mr. Brooks, is played by Zac Slate. 

Several key supporting roles are portrayed by Laura Thompson, Joshua Balum and Talia Romano. The ensemble is made up of high school students Kassandra Albizu, Samantha Batty, Bethany Coudriet, Aneesa Karimushan, Mollie Maguire and Liz Scalzo.
Alcott was a prolific writer of more than 200 stories, sketches, poems and serials. According to the New York Public Library, “Little Women” was first published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869. It was later published in one combined novel in 1880, and has never been out of print. Alcott followed up the popular story with two sequels, “Little Men” and “Jo’s Boys.” ‘Little Women” has been adapted numerous times for TV, film and the stage and an operatic version was recorded in 2000.