Coming of age: 'Little Women' at Musical Theatre Southwest tells a story of self-discovery

Louisa May Alcott’s beloved novel, “Little Women” comes to life at Musical Theatre Southwest this December.

The performance intertwines touching songs with dynamic storytelling that follows the lives of the March sisters: Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy. It is a story of love, loss and hope during Civil War-era America.

“It’s such a classic, iconic story, and it’s a beloved story,” said Theresa Carson, director. “As a director, you can do so many different concepts, but we are just telling the story. The play is about these women that are showing up for themselves, and they’re trying to find and embrace that agency of choosing how they want to live their life, what their life will look like.”

What is expected of them from society and their family during the Civil War in 1865 also comes into play.

“I think they’re all trying to find their place in that and realizing that they do have the agency to choose, whatever it may be,” Carson explained. “So, that’s kind of where I’m headed.”

The direction Carson took with the production revolves around what she calls the “Three Fs.”

“I like alliteration, but it’s freedom and flight, and that word flight is a big concept we’re using,” she said. “When I am directing the play, I am thinking that freedom to fly is like, how do each of them fly? How do they take off? And then there is also the framing or reframing of their stories, their own story of how to live their life.”

The words framing, freedom and flight are dear to Carson, as well as the metaphors and images that can be connected with the words.

“The whole idea of Jo wanting to be a writer, that’s what I mean by finding our agency or feeling the freedom to make our own choices, whatever is expected of us,” Carson added. “I think that’s about framing our own story or reframing it, because at that time, there were certain things definitely expected of women. And we have these four women that are kind of reframing those stories in their own way, and it’s beautiful, and it’s a message that’s important today.”

“Little Women” is timeless and has resonated with generations of audiences since the novel was written in 1868.

“I think we all have to be reminded that whatever gender we are, whatever we do in our life, whatever our roles are, I think it’s a nice reminder that we can write our own story,” Carson said. “That idea of freedom, today, is super important for anyone.”

The music sets the tone for this performance. Music director, Greg Gallagher, is a newcomer to the Albuquerque area and Carson considers him a “fantastic” addition to the local theater community.

“The music is beautiful,” she said. “I think the script is a good, sweet script, but I do believe the music really carries the story. I do like that about ‘Little Women,’ is that the music plays a huge role in telling the story and in moving the story forward, and the music also helps in the character development. I would say we learn the most about the characters through the songs they sing.”

There is a lot of dialog that is part of the production and the music is “integral” and “beautiful,” according to Carson.

“I was a bit taken aback by it,” she said. “I was familiar with the story, of course, and I knew there was a musical, but the first time I listened to the music, it literally took my breath away. It plays a huge role in moving the story and really in understanding who these characters are. Besides the brilliant acting my actors are doing, we learn so much about them through the songs. It’s quite lovely.”