Morris County Residents To Take Center Stage In Little Women Musical

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Fans of the classic book Little Women, its play and movie adaptations, as well as newcomers to the story, are in for a treat as a group of actors from Morris County grace the stage in Pixie Dust Players' upcoming performance of Little Women.

The production of the Broadway musical opens Feb. 8 at the JCC Metrowest, at 760 Northfield Ave., West Orange.

"When Pixie Dust Players decided to expand its season to produce a show for an all-adult cast, we knew that it had to be a beloved, family-friendly, and well-known story that would excite the surrounding community of adult theatre performers as well as local audience members," said director Matt Dranzik. "Little Women is not only the story of Jo March and her dreams of becoming a famous writer, it is a story about the connections between family, friends, and loved ones, which I believe we are all still finding again after the various isolations of the pandemic."

Based on Louisa May Alcott's 1868–69 semi-autobiographical two-volume novel, the story centers on the four March sisters—traditional Meg, wild, aspiring writer Jo, timid Beth and romantic Amy—and their beloved Marmee, at home in Concord, Massachusetts, while their father is away serving as a Union Army chaplain during the Civil War.

The story is woven together as vignettes in which their lives unfold and exciting recreations of the melodramatic short stories Jo writes in her attic studio.

For his part, Dranzik calls the show "holistic," having comedy, conflict, romance and tragedy. This show has a little bit of everything and the flexibility to be produced in a way that is accessible to any audience and theatre.

Dranzik has leveraged this flexibility to infuse the piece with his unique style. With an MFA in physical theater, he brings a wealth of experience from productions across the US and Europe. Settling in NJ, he has spent nearly five years managing and teaching at a circus school in Hillsborough, finding a fulfilling home in the community.

And how has he incorporated those physical elements into the show? Russ Crespolini, a Randolph resident who plays Professor Bhaer in the New York cast, says it in ways you wouldn't expect.

"Matt has a very specific vision of this show and has emphasized the physicality of our performances in order to move the story forward," Crespolini said. "But his emphasis on visual storytelling comes into play in not only the melodrama reenactments but in the way we stand, sit and navigate this world."

Sally O'Sullivan, the Oak Ridge resident who plays Marmee, said she is a huge fan of the source material and the role really speaks to her.

"I think the character speaks to me in part because she is the kind of person I aspire to be as a teacher," O'Sullivan said. "She is strong, though sometimes vulnerable, and she gives her daughters what all children need most: a foundation of love and acceptance they can always depend on."

Playing the ill-fated Beth is Dover resident Pamela Welsch, who said she is excited to tell this "beautiful story."

"Expect to both laugh and cry!" Welsch said.

Morristown resident Jake Gluckman noted that anyone who attends the show has something to look forward to.

"For those who know the source material well but don't know the musical adaptation, I believe they will get to see a fresh and reimagined take on this beloved story. I believe that music heightens characters and emotions in a way that no other medium can, and I hope they will learn something new about these iconic characters. For those who have never encountered the story of Little Women, I am excited for them to fall in love with these characters and to feel the broad range of emotions that this story evokes," Gluckman said. "For those who have both read the original story and seen the musical, I am excited for them to see Matt's vision for the show, and to see this incredible company of actors bring their unique voices and approaches to the characters."

Based in the JCC Metrowest in West Orange, Pixie Dust Players recently commemorated their 15th anniversary. Throughout this time, they have curated numerous productions catering to casts of all ages, collaborating on pilot productions with notable figures like Stephen Schwartz and prominent entertainment entities such as Disney and DreamWorks.

Little Women represents their first adult production since 2019, a deliberate decision by the group.

"Our goal is to tell the story of every character in the Little Women family and have our audience laughing, crying and leaving more excited than when they arrived," Dranzik said. "With two casts of incredible actors alternating shows, every performance will be a new experience and entice audience members to come a second time."

Dranzik said any theatre can produce a good show with the right cast, crew and resources.

"But this production will be something memorable, something that every audience will take home in their hearts and minds," he said. "So come hear our story this Feb. 8–18 at the JCC MetroWest. Be part of the experience and leave with something more."

Little Women bows Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m. and runs Feb. 10, 15, 17 at 7:30 and Feb. 11, 18 at 1 p.m.

For tickets, visit: https://jccmw.booktix.com/dept/Main/e/LittleWomen