John Jay High School To Present Production Of 'Little Women'

CROSS RIVER, NY — John Jay Theatre Workshop’s production of "Little Women," the musical, opens at 7 p.m Thursday, March 30. Additional evening performances are Friday, March 31, and Saturday, April 1, and there is a matinee on Saturday, April 1, at 1 p.m.

Tickets are $10 adults, and $5 students and senior citizens, and will be sold in the Theatre Lobby from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 19; Tuesday, March 21; Friday, March 24; and Tuesday, March 28. In addition, tickets will be sold one hour prior to each performance in the theatre lobby.

The musical, written by Allan Knee, with lyrics by Mindi Dickstein, and music by Jason Howland, opened on Broadway in 2005. John Jay’s show, directed by Amy M. Geiger, features a cast, crew and pit orchestra of nearly 65 students.

Little Women, the musical, is based on Louisa May Alcott's classic 1869 semi-autobiographical novel, follows the adventures of the four March sisters — brassy, tomboy-like, aspiring writer Jo, romantic Meg, pretentious Amy and kind-hearted Beth.

Jo is trying to sell her stories for publication, but the publishers are not interested. Her friend, Professor Bhaer, tells her that she has to do better and write more from her heart. Begrudgingly taking this advice, Jo weaves the story of herself, her sisters and their experience growing up in Civil War America.

“What makes our productions truly special are the alumni that continue to return year after year to work on our productions. About twelve alumni are participating in Little Women,” Geiger said. Geiger is a music teacher at JJHS.

Kathleen Hefferon, assistant director and dramaturg, is an alumni of John Jay High School, class of 2009. Hefferon majored in Shakespeare and the history of musical theater at New York University’s Gallatin School and is pursuing a career as a director in New York City.

“I’ve come back to John Jay for the last four or five years to work on shows,” said Hefferon. “It’s fantastic to work with people who were so formative for me when I was in high school.”

“I was 11 when the musical ‘Little Women’ opened on Broadway. I fell in love with it — I went to see it five times,” she said.

Photo credit: Katonah-Lewisboro School District.