DANBURY, CONN. — In pre-Civil War America, the predominant philosophy was that women should be seen and not heard. That will not be the case in Western Connecticut State University’s fall 2014 theatre arts production, where several female musical theatre majors will give voice this month to Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women” in the MainStage Theatre in the Visual and Performing Arts Center on the university’s Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury.

“Little Women” features the adventures of the lively quartet of sisters — Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy March — and their passage into adulthood before and during the Civil War. Alcott’s 1868 novel was adapted and brought to Broadway’s Virginia Theater as “Little Women, the Broadway Musical” in 2005, for which actresses Sutton Foster and Maureen McGovern earned Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Tony Award nominations for Outstanding Actress in a Musical and Outstanding Featured Actress in a musical.

WCSU performances will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014; 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 14, 15, 21 and 22; with 2 p.m. matinees on Saturday, Nov. 15; Sunday, Nov. 16; and Saturday, Nov. 22. There also will be 10:30 a.m. performances (abbreviated for school field trips) on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 4 and 5. Tickets will be $25 for the public, $15 for seniors and non-WCSU students, and $10 for WCSU students, plus fees. To purchase tickets, call (203) 837-TIXX or visit www.wcsu.edu/tickets.

On Friday, Nov. 14, “Little Women” composer Jason Howland will be at a pre-show reception at 6:30 p.m. and a post-show “talk-back” as part of the MainStage Theatre’s Gala Opening.

WCSU Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts Julio Agustin Matos Jr. will direct and choreograph, and he’s excited to helm the first musical theatre production to premiere at Western’s MainStage Theatre. The coordinator of the university’s musical theatre program, he’s also eager to welcome Howland, with whom he previously worked off-Broadway, to campus.

“To be honest, ‘Little Women’ is my favorite novel,” Matos said. “I probably read it at least 10 times as a kid, and the sequels, too. It’s the perfect play for us to perform right now because we have seven graduating musical theatre majors who are females, but no senior males.”

Western’s student talent is so deep, Matos added, that several roles have been double-cast, including that of the lead, Jo March; the matriarch, Marmee March; and the judgmental Aunt March. Two seasoned Broadway actresses will make guest appearances during the show’s run: Janelle Robinson and Jan Neuberger, who both will portray Aunt March. Robinson’s credits include the role of Mrs. Corry in the original Broadway production of “Mary Poppins.” Neuberger played Grandma Who in the original Broadway production and revival of “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

“What’s exciting is to be able to bring in these guest artists,” Matos said. “We are educators first. By performing alongside Janelle and Jan, our students will experience first-hand Equity artists at work. They will be able to see what the expectations of a professional are, so they can aspire to something. There is no doubt in my mind that several of our students will graduate and work professionally because they are so talented.

“The students at Western receive a Bachelor of Arts degree, but they really are getting conservatory training, especially with what the new Visual and Performing Arts Center has to offer,” Matos said. “And the audience — they are paying college ticket prices to enjoy a professional-level performance. It’s really a benefit for everyone.”

WCSU senior musical theatre major Audrey Twitchell, one of the students cast as Jo March, is no stranger to Broadway. In 2006, she originated the role of Lee Bouvier in the acclaimed musical “Grey Gardens.”

The cast will include WCSU students Twitchell, of Milford, and Katrina Sebastian, of Sterling, as Jo; Hannah Bellows, of Waterbury, as Meg; Carly Hodosi, of Shelton, as Beth; Melanie Capparelli, of Lagrangeville, New York, as Amy; Colleen Gunning, of Southbury, and Katelyn Leveille, of Great Barrington, Massachusetts, as Marmee; Valarie Sue Henry, of Waterbury, as Aunt March; Victoria Rojas, of Danbury, as Mrs. Kirk; Matt Grasso, of Bethel, as Professor Bhaer; Jared Starkey, of Columbia, as Laurie; Michael Battista, of North Haven, as Mr. Laurence; and Willie Marte, of Danbury, as John Brooke.

Among the features of the new theatre space that will be employed in this production are 70 feet of fly space, allowing for seamless transitions between scenes of the sets designed by Emmy Award-winning Professor of Theatre Arts Elizabeth Popiel. A 16-piece orchestra, featuring WCSU Department of Music students and several professional musicians, will be guided by a three-person musical direction team with Adjunct Theatre Arts Instructor Howard Kilik at the helm as it performs from the state-of-the-art orchestra pit that can be lowered below stage level or raised above the stage. A professional costume designer will outfit the cast. Professor of Theatre Arts Frank Herbert is technical director and Professor of Theatre Arts Pamela McDaniel is the producer.

“‘Little Women’ is an uplifting, inspiring production that does relate to the holiday season,” Matos said. “It’s perfect for families, and the theatre is so intimate that there is not a bad seat in the house.”

For tickets or information, call the Box Office at (203) 837-TIXX or go to www.wcsu.edu/tickets.

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics
of New England’s best small private universities.