The family-friendly show remains on a Broadway track, expected to start previews Feb. 22, 2005. An official announcement of the musical's New York plan — including theatre and opening date — is expected in the coming weeks.

An announced New Haven engagement in November 2004 was cancelled several weeks ago. The Duke run remains the sole tryout booking.

Tony Award-winner Sutton Foster (Thoroughly Modern Millie) will play Jo March in the show based on the classic novel by Louisa May Alcott. Maureen McGovern is to play Marmee, the resilient mother of a brood of daughters who live in Civil War-era New England.

Little Women has a book by Allan Knee, score by Jason Howland and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein. Susan H. Schulman (The Secret Garden) will direct.

Producers are Randall L. Wreghitt, Dani Davis and Ken Gentry in association with Theatre Previews at Duke. *

Little Women is an American literary title so obvious that it's a surprise that a musical version hasn't hit big on Broadway yet. (A search of the internet reveals a number of musical versions of the property, which is in the public domain and therefore ripe for free picking by playwrights and songwriters.)

In addition to famed singer-actress McGovern (known for pop hits, concerts, musicals and studio-cast recordings of Of Thee I Sing and Let 'Em Eat Cake), the Little Women company is expected to include Janet Carroll as Aunt March, John Hickok (Aida) as Professor Bhaer, Danny Gurwin (The Thing About Men) as Laurie, Jim Weitzer as John Brooke, Robert Stattel as Mr. Laurence, Amy Rutberg as Meg, Megan McGinnis (Belle in Beauty and the Beast) as Beth, Amy McAlexander as Amy, with Christopher Gunn, Larisa Shukiss, Julie Foldesi, Andrew Varela and Anne Kanengeiser.

Michael Lichtefeld is choreographer, Andrew Wilder is musical director, orchestrations are by Kim Scharnberg. Designers are Derek McLane (set), Catherine Zuber (costume), David Lander (lighting) and Peter Hylenski (sound).

Capitalization for Little Women is $5.6 million.