"Days of Plenty" Dwindle for Little Women Tour
By Kenneth Jones
15 Aug 2006
The national tour of Little Women, starring Maureen McGovern as Marmee, begins its scheduled final week Aug. 15 at Keller Auditorium in Portland, Oregon.
By the last performance Aug. 20, the tour will have played a total of 382 performances — longer than the Broadway run that spawned it in 2004-05. The musical inspired by the beloved Louisa May Alcott novel, adapted by librettist Allan Knee, composer Jason Howland and lyricist Mindi Dickstein, will blossom in regional theatres in the coming year. Marriott Theatre in Chicago will produce it in 2006-07, and Music Theater International is handling the licensing rights.
In addition, Windwood Theatricals is currently booking a non-union tour of Little Women for the 2007-08 touring season.
Ghostlight Records released the Broadway cast album.
The tour was produced by Randall L. Wreghitt, Dani Davis and Ken Gentry.
The creative team also includes Michael Lichtefeld (choreographer), Derek McLane (set designer), Catherine Zuber (costume designer), Kenneth Posner (lighting designer), Peter Hylenski (sound designer), Bernie Ardia (hair and wig design),
Kim Scharnberg (orchestrator), Andrew Wilder (additional arrangements), John Miller (music coordinator), Lance Horne (vocal arrangements), Douglas Coates (musical director/conductor), Matthew G. Marholin (production stage manager).
Lyricist Dickstein's other developing works include Beasts and Saints and Strange Vacation, both written with composer Dan Messé.
Composer Howland is at work on his next project, The Metal Messiah, a high-concept arena-rock concert based on Handel's oratorio, "Messiah." It features a five-piece rock band, 40 piece orchestra, 60 person choir and four soloists — two serious rock metal guys, a rock alto, and a legit soprano. A PBS special, a CD and a tour in 2007 are expected.
Librettist Knee has recently been working on a musical version of "Finding Neverland," the film that was based on his play The Man Who Was Peter Pan.
The touring company of Little Women features Kate Fisher as Jo, Renée Brna as Meg, Neva Rae Powers as Aunt March, Gwen Hollander as Amy, Autumn Hurlbert as Beth, Michael Minarik as Mr. Brooke, Andrew Varela as Professor Bhaer, Stephen Patterson as Laurie, Robert Stattel (reprising his Broadway role) as Mr. Laurence, with Cary Michele Miller, James Darrah, Kevin Duda, Anne Kanengeiser and Susan Spencer.
For more information, visit www.littlewomenonbroadway.com.
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