by Walter M. Mayes, Artistic Director
When Little Women opened two weeks ago, the enthusiastic response from our audiences confirmed something we had felt throughout the rehearsal process: this production is being carried by a powerful sense of connection, collaboration, and shared purpose. At its heart, Little Women is a story about sisterhood—about women supporting one another through hardship, ambition, loss, and love—and it feels especially meaningful to see that theme reflected so clearly both on our stage and within the team that brought this production to life.
With only 10 characters in the musical, Little Women asks a great deal of its performers, and much of the storytelling responsibility falls to its women. Six of the ten roles are female: Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy March, their mother Marmee, and the formidable Aunt March. These characters carry the emotional arc of the show, embodying the ideals, conflicts, and growth that have made Louisa May Alcott’s novel a cornerstone of American literature for more than 150 years.
Our cast has risen to that challenge with extraordinary commitment and artistry. The March sisters come to life as individuals, portraying not just siblings but a family bound by love, principle, and a deep sense of responsibility to one another, even when their views collide. Marmee stands at the heart of the household, guiding with quiet strength, moral clarity, and profound compassion, while Aunt March offers sharp wit and worldly perspective, embodying both the humor and the real social pressures that shape the women’s lives.
Although the play centers on the inner lives and journeys of these women, it is never insular. The men of the story are treated with the same care, dignity, and narrative importance as the March family itself. Their presence deepens the play’s world, illuminating Little Women’s shared humanity—one that values empathy, growth, and connection across gender, as well as within the bonds of family.
Watching these characters interact night after night is a reminder of how rare it is to see women’s relationships portrayed with such depth and nuance on the musical theatre stage. Audiences continually remark with surprise at how well this beloved story works as a musical. One patron delightedly told me, “I’ve seen every movie, but I had no idea there was a musical version!”
The spirit of sisterhood starts with our outstanding staff. Director and choreographer Janie Scott and Music Director Amanda Ku have guided this production with a shared sensibility that emphasized trust, empathy, and collaboration. From the first read-through, their conscious effort to build a supportive environment resulted in a production that is cohesive, emotionally honest, and intensely alive. These actors listen to one another and respond honestly as they portray the travails of the March sisters.
Two members of our creative team have taken great care to ensure the audience’s experience of this world is genuine and complete. Barbara Heninger delivers a memorable performance as Aunt March while also serving as our Properties Designer. Her attention to detail deepens the sense of period authenticity and helps ground the audience in the reality of the March family’s world. Y. Sharon Peng’s costume designs capture both historical context and individual personality. Her work subtly reinforces themes of growth and self-discovery; for example, watch how the pin John Brooke wears in his first scene underscores the love between him and Meg.
Taken together, the contributions of these artists—onstage and behind the scenes—have shaped Little Women into something truly special: a production that honors the legacy of a classic American story while speaking clearly and urgently to contemporary audiences. It reminds us that women’s voices, women’s creativity, and women’s relationships are not only worthy of center stage, but essential to the stories we continue to tell.
With two more weeks left in our run, we invite you to experience this production for yourself. Come hear splendid singing, a vibrant live orchestra, and performances that are achingly human. Little Women at South Bay Musical Theatre is more than a musical; it is an invitation into a family—and a story—that stays with you long after the final curtain.
Pictured above, from left: Brenna Silva as Jo, Aishy Panwar as Meg, Leah Kennedy as Amy, Katie Worrell as Beth, Mary Melnick as Marmee, Barbara Heninger as Aunt March
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