By Sunday evening, the new musical version of the classic novel by Louisa May Alcott will have played 55 previews and 137 performances and introduced a new generation to the beloved coming-of-age story — and to musical theatre.
In August, the national tour of Little Women launches in San Diego with Maureen McGovern repeating her Broadway work as sturdy matriarch Marmee, who raises her four daughters in Civil War-era New England.
Sutton Foster was nominated for a 2005 Tony Award for playing literary sister Jo March.
Casting for the tour, produced by Ken Gentry in partnership with Randall L. Wreghitt and Dani Davis, has not yet been announced.
Little Women-The Musical has a book by Allan Knee, music by Jason Howland and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein. The Broadway cast includes Amy McAlexander, Megan McGinnis, Jenny Powers, Janet Carroll, Danny Gurwin, John Hickock, Jim Weitzer and Robert Stattel. Susan H. Schulman directs. Michael Lichtefeld choreographs.
A cast album on the Ghostlight label is in stores now.
The national tour premieres at the Civic Theatre I San Diego Aug. 30-Sept. 4. A 30-city tour is planned, with San Jose, Columbus, Chicago, Atlanta, Birmingham, Ft. Lauderdale and at Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center among announced dates.
"We are thrilled that the show is going on tour so soon after its Broadway premiere," producer Gentry said in a statement. "We think the positive audience response the show generates and the well-known and recognizable title make this a must-see on the road."
Little Women-The Musical opened on Broadway Jan. 23 following previews from Dec. 7, 2004. The show had a fall 2004 test run at Theatre Previews at Duke in North Carolina.
Stage, concert and recording star McGovern has starred on Broadway in The Pirates of Penzance, Nine and 3 Penny Opera , and in the Broadway national tour of The King and I . Her regional work includes Elegies, Dear World, Letters From 'Nam, The Lion in Winter, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Of Thee I Sing, Let 'Em Eat Cake!, The Sound of Music, South Pacific, Guys and Dolls and I Do, I Do.
Sutton Foster won the Tony Award for starring in Thoroughly Modern Millie.
Visit www.maureenmcgovern.com or www.littlewomenonbroadway.com.
