On April 25 and 26, Pleasant Valley’s theater department brought to life an ambitious production based on the timeless novel, Little Women.
Originally written by Louise May Alcott in 1868, “Little Women” follows the lives of four sisters as they navigate life growing up in a conservative time period. The version performed at PV was adapted by playwright Kate Hamill, whose modern interpretation explored the prevailing themes of sisterhood, identity and societal conformity for women.
According to the show’s director, Lisa Pense, preparation began months prior to opening night. Auditions were originally held Feb. 10, followed by the first read-through two days later. From there, the cast and crew entered an intense rehearsal process that lasted over eight weeks.
Pense explained that large-scale productions, like PV’s, take hard work and dedication from everyone involved. “As you may already know, any large project takes many hands and minds. I was the driving force to complete this project, but many dedicated students and adults made this happen,” said Pense.
From student actors learning their lines to set designers building backdrops for each scene, the final result was made possible by each behind-the-scenes session.
Senior Brenna France, who played Jo March in the performance, described the experience as both exciting and emotionally meaningful to her. The role marked her first lead performance after years of involvement in PV drama.
“Getting to perform a dream role and play this character that I relate to and love so much for my senior year, for my last time performing in that building, is something really special,” France said. “It felt like I was having my movie moment.”
To prepare for her role, France spent countless hours developing personal routines to stay focused during the long practices and eventual performance. Alongside this, she made an effort to create music playlists that connected her to Jo March’s character.
Yet, most of all, France believed that the most important part of putting on an effective performance is developing close bonds and familiarity with her classmates. “It’s important to develop the intricacies of the relationships between the characters and knowing how they would interact with one another.”
Despite the excitement surrounding the show, the cast faced obstacles during the final weeks before opening night. Rehearsal locations frequently changed due to scheduling conflicts with choir and band events, leaving limited time for full technical rehearsals.
“It felt like we were scrambling to get the set finished,” France admitted. “When there are things that happen outside of your control, the only thing you can really do is just have faith in yourself and those around you.”
Even with these challenges, Pense and all of the students worked tirelessly to make the production a success. “Publish a schedule and try to stick to it as closely as possible. After making the schedule, surround yourself with passionate people who are driven to make your show as good as it can be,” Pense advised.
After the show’s final night came to a close, PV Drama can confidently say that ‘Little Women’ was a brilliantly produced performance that anyone who had the pleasure of watching will admire for the outcome.
“There’s a million things that could go wrong in any live performance, and I think we all just kind of understood that it was a really talented group of people who were all dedicated to doing everything that they could to make it go right,” France concluded.
