Scheduling details between the pre-Broadway tryout engagement in North Carolina and the Broadway premiere are to blame.

The cast of Little Women is currently in rehearsal for Theatre Previews at Duke in Durham, NC, leading to a tryout run there Oct. 13-31. Tony Award-winner Sutton Foster will play Jo March, one of three siblings yearning for better days in Civil War-era New England. Maureen McGovern plays matriarch Marmee.

The Broadway opening is scheduled for Jan. 23, 2005, at the Virginia Theatre.

The cast also features Megan McGinnis as Beth, Jenny Powers as Meg, Amy McAlexander as Amy, Janet Carroll as Aunt March,  Robert Stattel, Danny Gurwin, Jim Weitzer and John Hickok, under the direction of Susan H. Schulman.

Book is by Allen Knee based on the classic Louisa May Alcott story with music by Jason Howland and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein.

The producers are Randall Wreghitt, Dani Davis, Ken Gentry, Chase Mishkin, Ruben Brache , in association with Lisa Vioni and Theatre Previews at Duke, Zannie Voss, Producing Director.

The Virginia Theatre box office (245 W. 52nd Street) opens Oct. 25. Tickets are now on sale via Tele-charge.com (212) 239-6200.