Dean Poling | The Valdosta Daily TimesMarmee (played by Kelly Fletcher) reads a letter from Father March to her daughters, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy (Rachel Gubow, Megan Wheeler, Emma Safon, Haley Aguero) in the Peach State Summer Theatre production of 'Little Women.' 

VALDOSTA — There’s nothing little about “Little Women.”

Sure, the Peach State Summer Theatre production has a much smaller cast than “Mamma Mia!” which opened two weeks ago, and “Crazy for You,” opening next week, but Dr. Randy Wheeler, director, said “Little Women,” opening Friday, June 21, is a big show.

“Traditionally, this would be the small show,” Wheeler said, referring to the PSST! tradition of presenting one smaller production each summer. “There are only 10 people in the cast but there’s nothing small about this show.”

For starters, Louisa May Alcott’s semi-autobiographical novel, “Little Women,” is a beloved classic with plenty of audience expectations. The first two performances are already sold out.

It is set during and immediately after the Civil War in New York City and Massachusetts. Wheeler said one scene has actors traversing five different locations and times. The production uses visual projections, designed by Jason Lee Courson, to relate time and locations.

Courson and Ruth A. Brandvik, scenic designer, synthesize his needle-point, shadow box projections with her minimalist sets to create Wheeler’s vision of a living 19th century Currier & Ives print. Martha H. Cooper’s lush and earthy costume designs add to the rich texture of the tapestry and there are plenty of costumes and costume changes, Wheeler said.

Add in fight choreography by Ian Anderson, two dance numbers by choreographer Jacque Wheeler, and a complex mix of bold and subtle light designs by Genny Wynn, Dr. Wheeler said “Little Women” should hopefully become a cinematic experience on a live stage.

He added that show creators Allan Knee, book, Jason Howland, music, and Mindi Dickstein, lyrics, developed the play to be produced and seen as a living movie — one with a contemporary Broadway soundtrack.

“The cinematic structure of the play with frequent and non-stop shifting of locales in place and time lends itself to the use of the scenic approach of projections to aid in the audience’s following the story line and the various characters’ arcs,” Wheeler noted.

Along with the play’s epic sweep add less than a handful of weeks between start of rehearsals and opening night, while cast members also rehearse and perform in other PSST! shows. The cast did its first sing-along with the live orchestra Sunday, June 16. First time singing with the orchestra on stage came Wednesday evening. First time wearing costumes and the costume changes, Wednesday evening.

The show opens Friday.

Wheeler chuckled. It may seem maddening but it’s all part of the plan.

He began blocking the stage movements months ago. He blocks scenes in his head. When he was a younger director, he used Monopoly pieces to block his shows prior to rehearsals. Developing themes with other members of the creative teams also began months ago.

When rehearsals started a few weeks ago, Wheeler had a plan.

“Organization is the key to creativity,” he said.

It may also be the key to getting everyone in to see PSST! shows this season.

The Friday and Saturday, June 21, 22, performances of “Little Women” are already sold out, said H. Duke Guthrie, PSST! managing director. The first four performances of “Mamma Mia!” also sold out the past two weekends.

 

THE CAST: Haley Aguero, Megan Wheeler, Emma Safon, Rachel Gubow, Jeremy Reasoner, Geoffrey Reynolds, Jim Ballard, Kelly Fletcher, Anne Marie Snyder, Olin Davidson.

DIRECTION, PRODUCTION: Randy Wheeler, director; Ruth A. Brandvik, scenic designer; Ben Takitch, sound designer; David Springfield, music director; Genny Wynn, lighting designer; Phillip Brulotte, technical director; Ian Andersen, fight choreographer; Martha H. Cooper, costume designer; Emma Marsico, stage manager; Jacque Wheeler, choreographer; Jason Lee Courson, projections designer; Joe Mason, vocal director.

 

ORCHESTRA: Gilmar Cavalcante da Silva, trumpet; Trent Harper, bass; Jonathan Lacey, trombone; Ethan Ray Parker, keyboard; Matthew Roehrich, reeds; Ryan M. Smith percussion; Maila Gutierrez Springfield, keyboard/rehearsal accompanist.

SHOWTIME

Peach State Summer Theatre presents “Little Women: The Broadway Musical.”

Where: Sawyer Theatre, Valdosta State University Fine Arts Building, corner of Oak and Brookwood.

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 21; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 22, Pay What You Can Performance; 3 p.m. Sunday, June 30, Interpreted for the Deaf in American Sign Language; 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 3; 2 p.m. Saturday, July 6; 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 10; 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 11; 2 p.m. Saturday, July 13; 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 18; 2 p.m. Saturday, July 20.

Tickets, reservations: Box Office open 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, call (229) 259-7770; or visit www.valdosta.edu/psst.