Laconia Christian Academy producing musical version of "Little Women"

LACONIA — Laconia Christian Academy will present the Broadway musical "Little Women" at The Winnipesaukee Playhouse on May 20 and 21 at 7 p.m., and May 22 at 2 p.m. The musical will be directed by LCA teacher, Jennifer Blieler, who helmed last year's production of "Fiddler on the Roof," and is based on Louisa May Alcott's classic 1869 semi-autobiographical novel.

The story follows the lives of the four March sisters: Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy, and their mother, Marmee, in their Concord, Massachusetts, home while their father serves in the Union Army as a chaplain. The musical appeared on Broadway in 2005, and won a Tony award for actress Sutton Foster as Jo. Laconia Christian's cast includes Rachel Dadian as "Jo," whose heart is set on being a successful writer, Anna Collins as "Meg," the romantic, Ryann Hendricks as kind-hearted "Beth" and Abigail Dadian as the artistic, youngest sister, "Amy." Also featured in the cast are Lynn Dadian as the girl's mother, "Marmee," Dan McKinney as neighbor, "Laurie," Bob McKinney as Laurie's stern grandfather, Jennifer Manning as "Aunt March," Stephen Watson as "Professor Bhaer" and Andrew Burke as "John Brookes." Additional players include Grace Shoemaker, Hannah Watson, Ian Manning, Deborah Umwiza, Elyssa Manning, Jael Karabuka, Autumn Hendricks, Becca Boisvert, Derek Wirth, Toby McKinney, Meg Glines and Abby McKinney. Behind the scenes are assistant director, Hannah Watson, stage manger Autumn Hendricks, rehearsal musical director Carrie Larrabee and production accompanist John Berst.

Drama was always a mainstay at Laconia Christian Academy but, until Godspell three years ago, musicals hadn't been part of their schedule for close to 15 years. The first production was a success and Blieler decided to try something larger the following year. "Fiddler" invited parents, past alumni, older siblings and grandparents of students to be involved along with current teachers and students. Some of those same faces will be again seen on The Winnipesaukee Playhouse stage in "Little Women."

Tickets for the production are available by calling the Winnipesaukee Playhouse at 279-0333, online at www.winniplayhouse.org, or at the box office on show days. Ticket prices are $12 for adults and $9 for students and seniors. "Little Women" is produced through special arrangement with MTI International.

Anna Collins, Rachel Dadian, Ryann Hendricks and Abigail Dadian portray the four March sisters in Laconia Christian Academy's production of "Little Women" at The Winnipesaukee Playhouse, May 20-22.