Little Women

by Heather Chrisler

In this adaptation four actors in an attic retell Louisa May Alcott's classic novel. Using found objects from across time (balloons, hula hoops, ribbon dancers, and more), the players create scenes of love, loss, and the ever glowing warmth of the March family hearth. Jo goes on a journey of artistic self-discovery and coming of age as she struggles to become the writer she longs to be amid the classic triumphs...

In this adaptation four actors in an attic retell Louisa May Alcott's classic novel. Using found objects from across time (balloons, hula hoops, ribbon dancers, and more), the players create scenes of love, loss, and the ever glowing warmth of the March family hearth. Jo goes on a journey of artistic self-discovery and coming of age as she struggles to become the writer she longs to be amid the classic triumphs and troubles of Meg, Beth, Amy, and even Laurie. It is through a sense of play that Jo and her sisters find themselves, spending time in the attic making fairy stories with witches and heroes, or spending an evening reciting the articles written for their beloved imaginary newspaper. It is, however, through the tragedy of losing her sister Beth that Jo finally finds her voice as an artist, and moves into adulthood with the knowledge that while families change and grow apart, the ones we love are always close at heart.

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Little Women

Recommended by

  • Shaun Leisher: Little Women

    I went into this play expecting to be intrigued by the idea of how it would be performed with so little scenery and only 4 actors. After reading this I came to the realization that this might be the best Little Women adaptation I've ever come across both on stage and screen. By cutting out characters and scenes, Chrisler is able to really focus on the states of mind of the March sisters. We are able to hear conversations that we miss when the story is bogged down with period aesthetic. This is the Little Women I hope becomes canon.

    I went into this play expecting to be intrigued by the idea of how it would be performed with so little scenery and only 4 actors. After reading this I came to the realization that this might be the best Little Women adaptation I've ever come across both on stage and screen. By cutting out characters and scenes, Chrisler is able to really focus on the states of mind of the March sisters. We are able to hear conversations that we miss when the story is bogged down with period aesthetic. This is the Little Women I hope becomes canon.

Character Information

There are four actors. Here is how they are doubled:

Jo
Meg/Bhaer
Beth/Laurie
Amy/John

Ideally I hope this play will be cast with as much inclusion as possible. I believe artists may be cast in this piece regardless of gender, size, age, ability/disability, or race.
  • Amy/Brooke
    Amy is the youngest sister. She might come off a little spoiled but only because trying to make herself known and seen amidst all her sisters is difficult. She is precocious and temperamental. She is in love with Laurie.

    Brooke is shy and soft spoken. He values simplicity and education. He is in love with Meg.
    Character Age
    Any Age
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any Race
    Character Gender Identity
    Any femme identifying person
  • Beth/Laurie
    Beth is a middle sister along with Jo. She values home and family more than any of the others. She believes in Jo implicitly. She is a healing spirit for everyone around her.

    Laurie is cocky, spoiled, and utterly charming. He is jocular and smooth with the ladies, but of course, he only really has eyes for Jo.
    Character Age
    Any Age
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any Race
    Character Gender Identity
    Any femme identifying person
  • Jo
    Jo is on an artistic journey to see if she can achieve her dream of becoming a writer. She wants nothing else, even if it means taking the wonder of her childhood and family for granted. She is vivacious, stubborn, headstrong, boyish, and confident.
    Character Age
    Any Age
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any Race
    Character Gender Identity
    Any femme identifying person
  • Meg/Bhaer
    Meg is the oldest sister. She is invested in being perfect and it is very dysregulating for her when she cannot achieve that. She is a stand-in for Marmee in many ways, and is often the voice of groundedness and reason.

    Bhaer is smart, charming, gentle, and German. He is deeply invested in Jo being the best person she can be.
    Character Age
    Any Age
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any Race
    Character Gender Identity
    Any femme identifying person

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization PennySeats Theatre, Year 2021
  • Type Workshop, Organization First Folio Theatre, Year 2020
  • Type Reading, Organization One-Off Theatrical Productions , Year 2020
  • Type Workshop, Organization Ohio University, Year 2020
  • Type Reading, Organization First Folio Theatre, Year 2019

Production History

  • Type Community Theater, Organization Red Magnolia Theatre Company, Year 2025
  • Type Professional, Organization Geva Theatre, Year 2025
  • Type Community Theater, Organization Acrosstown Repertory Theatre, Year 2024
  • Type Professional, Organization Tipping Point Theatre, Year 2024
  • Type Professional, Organization Dobama Theatre, Year 2023
  • Type Professional, Organization First Folio Theatre, Year 2022
  • Type Community Theater, Organization Theatre of Cedar Rapids, Year 2021

Awards

  • Best Performer in a Non-Musical
    Cleveland Critics Circle Awards
    Winner
    2023
  • Best Director for a Non-Musical
    Cleveland Critics Circle Awards
    Winner
    2023
  • Best Non-Musical Production
    Cleveland Critics Circle Awards
    Winner
    2023
  • Kilroys List
    The Kilroys
    Selection
    2020