Hays Community Theatre celebrates 150 years of ‘Little Women’

Shawna Koehn portrays the narrator of “Little Women,” the adult Josephine March.

The March sisters prepare for Christmas.

Beth March (Ainsley Harbaugh) plays piano as Meg March (Cassie Hickel) and young Amy March (Avery Koehn) listen.

The March family with Marme (Lisa Harbaugh) gets ready to listen to a letter from their father who is away serving in the Union Army.

Jo March kisses her Aunt March (Tammy Freeman) on the cheek.

The March girls stand at attention as they listen to their stern Aunt March.

Neighbor children watch a play presented by the March sisters.

Jo March performs a play she has written.

Jo March talks with neighbor Theodore Laurence (Dylan Werth).

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

The Hays Community Theatre will present “Little Women” Friday through Sunday at 12th Street Auditorium in honor of the 150th anniversary of the Louisa May Alcott classic.

The HCT’s production of “Little Women” is one of only many stage adaptations of the Alcott’s book by the same name.

The story is set in New England during the American Civil War. Jo March, an aspiring young writer, tells the story of her sisters, Meg, Beth and Amy, and her mother through hard times as their father is away serving as a chaplain in the Union Army.

The story depicts what was expected of women at the time, including domestic duty and work, but also a quest for true love.

Meg, the oldest daughter is played by Cassie Hickel. Jo is played by Claire Nickerson. The shy Beth, a music lover, is played by Ainsley Harbaugh, and the youngest March sister, Amy, is played by Avery Koehn as a child and Rebecca Grizzell as an adult. Mother Marmee is played by Lisa Harbaugh.

The story starts on Christmas Eve, and the second act ends a year later on Christmas.

Director Meredith Cory said “Little Women” is a timeless tale about family that is still relevant today.

Louisa May Alcott said she saw herself as Jo and based her story on her own family. Many young readers over the last century and a half have identified with one or more of the March sisters.

“I find myself delved in just as a family member,” Cory said, “but I can’t see myself as any one particular. I just see myself as part of the family.”

You may have read the classic or seen another stage or screen adaptation of the novel, but Cory said the HCT cast makes the characters their own.

Cory’s directing credits for HCT also include “On Golden Pond” and “Shrek.” She began her acting career as a third-grader when she appeared in a Thomas More Prep-Marian production of “Carousel.”

The cast has 21 members from 11 years old and older. The show is appropriate for audience members of all ages.

Shows will be at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the 12th Street Auditorium. Ticket cost is $10 each.

Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.hctks.com or at the door.

As of Tuesday, tickets were still available for all three shows.

A complete cast list is below.

Sherry Dryden – Mrs. Tomlinson and Mrs. Kirke
Shawna Koehn – Josephine March
Everett Robert – Mr. March
Lisa Harbaugh – Marmee
Cassie Hickel – Meg March
Claire Nickerson – Jo March
Ainsley Harbaugh – Beth March
Avery Koehn – Young Amy March
Rebecca Grizzell – Adult Amy March
Abigail Staab – Hannah
Tammy Freeman – Aunt March
Gene Stramel – Mr. Laurence
Dylan Werth – Theodore Laurence
David Koshiol – John Brooke
Amy Hudson – Mrs. Moffett
Jessica Leiker – Clara Moffett
Maycie Holdeman – Jenny
Emmalyn Harbaugh – Mary
Addy Brull – Sarah and Kitty Kirke
Sophie Miller – Katy and Minnie Kirke
Jerrett Leiker – Professor Bhaer