Acting Out! bringing 'Little Women: The Musical' to Cape

This story has been modified from its original publication to add a cast member's name.

The March sisters -- Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy -- of the classic American novel "Little Women" will come to life next week, when the Jackson-based theater company Acting Out! will perform "Little Women: The Musical."

The production draws actors from beyond Southeast Missouri to put together a cast with theater training.

Kasey Cox, who will portray Josephine "Jo" March -- a tomboyish character who is an aspiring writer -- also serves as the production's artistic director, said she is excited about the cast because each of the performers is a past or present music major, so they know their way around a song and a stage.

March sister Beth will be played by Emily Rice, a junior musical theater major at Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis, where Cox is an adjunct professor. Rice said she had worked with Cox in the past and was pleased with the opportunity to work with her again. Rice also said she's enjoying the company of mostly women during rehearsals.

Kirbi Mason, left, runs through a scene from “Little Women: The Musical” with Kasey Cox during a rehearsal Wednesday at Fruitland Community Church. (GLENN LANDBERG)

"It's so much fun. Coming from a house full of boys, being around a bunch of women is a nice change of pace," Rice said, adding that she's learning a lot from her character, Beth, who is characterized as kind-hearted and patient.

The cast also includes Tia Spencer, portraying romantic sister Meg March. Two actors portray Amy March, considered pretentious -- Jenny Duncan has the role of young girl Amy, and Leigh Stockton portrays her as an adult. Kirbi Mason has the role of Marmee, the girls' beloved mother. Their neighbors, Mr. Laurence and his grandson Laurie, are played, respectively, by Robert Cox and Taylor Holiman; John Brooke is played by Colin Ritter; and Professor Bhaer, played by Joe Mason, instructor of musical theater at Southeast Missouri State University.

The book "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott was published in 1868 and tells of the lives of the four girls -- their loves, ambitions, hopes and more -- and their mother at home in Massachusetts as their father serves in the Civil War. It has been adapted as a movie a half-dozen times, most recently a 1994 film staring Winona Ryder as Jo and Susan Sarandon as Marmee.

So why is Acting Out! presenting "Little Women: The Musical?" According to Cox, the story is both classic and new; the musical made its debut on Broadway in 2005.

Directing the production is Elisabeth Wurm, who earned a bachelor's degree in theater and drama from Indiana University-Bloomington and leads a theatrical production company in St. Louis. She also has worked with Cox in the past, and is thrilled to be involved in the play, both because of the content and because of the readiness of the actors.

"Everyone is well-prepared. It makes for a perfect ensemble," Wurm said.

Acting Out! was organized as a not-for-profit in January 2011, with Cox at the helm. The company's first production was a modern-day version of "Romeo and Juliet" in Jackson City Park. Last fall it presented "Night of the Living Dead," which it plans to reprise in October.

Performances are 7:30 p.m. Aug. 8 and Aug. 9 and at 2 p.m. Aug. 10 at the Cape Girardeau Central Junior High School auditorium, 205 Caruthers Ave.; doors open one hour before curtain time.

Tickets are $15 or $8 for children ages 2 to 13. They are available actingoutlittlewomen.brownpapertickets.com. Tickets purchased at the door are an additional $5.

Pertinent address: 205 Caruthers St., Cape Girardeau