The Theatre department is bringing a modernized version of “Little Women” to the Kevin Yale Vernon Auditorium stage in February, offering audiences a fresh take on the beloved classic. 

While Kate Hamill’s 2019 stage adaptation remains faithful to the novel, Community theatre director Ms. Cassie Adelman said it also offers a contemporary commentary on gender and class. 

The story follows Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March as they grow from teenagers during the Civil War into young adulthood, navigating marriage and life’s challenges.

The show’s central conflict, Adelman said, lies in “growing up and seeing [the] reality of the world,” highlighting how growth looks different for each sister. 

“From act one to act two, you see a different Amy, you see Beth grow and change,” Adelman said. “The only character that doesn’t really change is Jo.”

Amy, played by Lindi Rardin, matures into a thoughtful and self-aware young woman; Beth, portrayed by Cate Fela, discovers quiet strength despite her fragility; and Meg, brought to life by Ella Drake, transforms from a girl fixated on appearances to a woman who embraces inner contentment. 

In contrast, Jo, depicted by Josie Hinch, clings to her childhood ideals, resisting change and struggling to adapt to her family’s evolving dynamics.

The play’s expansive time frame, spanning more than a decade, presented unique challenges in staging. 

The production, Adelman said, moves quickly through the sisters’ lives, requiring careful transitions between scenes to orient the audience. 

“Trying to make it all organized and understandable for the audience has been a little bit of a challenge,” Adelman said.

Creative solutions in set design, costuming and music helped meet these challenges. 

One example is the incorporation of live music, spearheaded by senior Kiley Borst, who arranged a string section to play during scene transitions, adding continuity and enhancing the emotional tone.

To aid in orienting the audience is the set design, which blends realism with imagination, shifting from the March family’s living room to other locations wh

ile maintaining a sense of home. 

“There’s a lot of, like, imaginative ‘we’re here now’ kind of things,” Adelman said, “trying to bring in that illusion of telling the story.” 

One standout feature is a wall of storybook pages suspended in the air, visually representing the narrative and reinforcing the production’s storytelling themes.

Costumes also play a vital role in navigating the time shifts and reflecting the characters’ growth. Jo’s wardrobe, in particular, serves as a subtle narrative device. 

“Jo, throughout, will switch between wearing a skirt or wearing pants,” Adelman said, noting how the changes signal her state of mind and her relationship with gender roles in society.

The production’s technical crew has been instrumental in coordinating these complex elements, Adelman said, praising stage managers Charis Luginbuhl and Caroline Wegman for their work behind the scenes, ensuring the fast-paced production flows seamlessly. 

“They’ve really fallen into their roles so well,” Adelman said, emphasizing the importance of their contributions to the show’s success.

Catch “Little Women” at Normal Community’s Kevin Yale Vernon Auditorium on Feb. 7-8 and 14-15. 

Tickets, priced at $5 for students and $10 for adults, will be available at the door.