Ouachita’s Department of Theatre Arts to present “Little Women: The Musical” April 15-18

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April 09, 2021 - Abby Burlison

Ouachita Baptist University’s Department of Theatre Arts will present its spring production of Little Women: The Musical with the opening performance to be held on Thursday, April 15, at 7:30 p.m. in Jones Performing Arts Center. Performances will continue April 16-17 at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee performance on Sunday, April 18, at 2:30 p.m. The production is open to Ouachita faculty, staff and students with limited seating to allow for social distancing, and streaming tickets are available to purchase for the general public at obu.edu/boxoffice.

Based on the classic novel by Louisa May Alcott, Little Women: The Musical follows the four March sisters – Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy. Jo, an aspiring writer, endeavors to publish her stories but is met with the challenge to create a story about herself and her sisters’ experiences in the midst of Civil War America. Little Women: The Musical is written by Allan Knee, with lyrics by Mindi Dickstein and music by Jason Howland.

“A lesson that I really hope to learn and take away is what Jo learns throughout the show, which is to be content in where she is and with what she has,” said Payton Mixon, a junior musical theatre major from New Caney, Texas, who is cast as Jo March in the Friday and Sunday cast.

Ouachita’s production of Little Women will utilize a double cast, with each cast performing two out of the total four shows.

Stephanie Murry, assistant professor of theatre arts at Ouachita and director of Little Women, explained “in a double cast production, everybody is equally important.”

“We wanted to find a way to create ample opportunities for the students while still keeping the cast a smaller, more COVID-friendly size,” Murry said.

Dr. Jon Secrest, Addie Mae Maddox Professor of Music, serves as music director. Kelsey Looney, visiting assistant professor of theatre, serves as costume designer. Meagan Woodard, fine arts administrator and box office manager, serves as assistant director and choreographer. Eric Phillips, professor of theatre arts, serves as scenic and lighting designer.

Hannah Adair, a senior musical theatre major from Alexander, Ark., serves as stage manager; she is assisted by Abigail Gaddis, a sophomore communications & media/film studies major from Cabot, Ark., and Savannah Staggs, a freshman speech/theatre arts and education double major from Little Rock, Ark.

In-person tickets are available to current Ouachita students, faculty and staff for purchase through the OBU Box Office and www.obu.edu/boxoffice. Streaming tickets are also available to the general public for purchase on the Box Office website. Current Ouachita students may receive one free ticket upon presentation of their student ID. For more information, contact the OBU Box Office at (870) 245-5555 weekdays from 1-5 p.m. or via email at [email protected].

CAST

Thursday and Saturday:

Paige Price, a senior musical theatre major from Plano, Texas, as Jo March.
Elizabeth Dawson, a senior musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark, as Meg March.
Erin Bagley, a junior musical theatre major from White Oak, Texas, as Clarissa.
Hannah Gothard, a senior musical theatre major from Cleveland, Texas, as Beth March/Rodrigo 2.
Melodie DuBose, a senior musical theatre major from Laurel, Miss., as Marmee March.
Madeline Martin, a senior musical theatre and communications & media/strategic communications double major from Sheridan, Ark., as Amy March.
Julia Letcher, a sophomore musical theatre major from Plano, Texas, as Aunt March.
Ashlynn Lockhart, a junior musical theatre major from Holiday Island, Ark., as The Hag.
Eli Butler, a freshman musical theatre major from Greenwood, Ark., as Mr. Brooke/Braxton.
Makenna Schaeffer, a junior musical theatre major from Texarkana, Ark., as Mrs. Kirk.
Sara Kate Cole, a sophomore musical theatre major from Fort Smith, Ark., as The Troll.
Sammy Campione, a senior musical theatre major from Waxahachie, Texas, as Laurie Laurence.
Landon Denman, a sophomore theatre arts and history double major from Fort Worth, Texas, as Mr. Laurence/Knight.
Carlin Campbell, a senior musical theatre major from Rose Hill, Kan., as Professor Bhaer.

Friday and Sunday:

Payton Mixon, a junior musical theatre major from New Caney, Texas, as Jo March.
Isabella Owen, a junior musical theatre major from Jonesboro, Ark., as Meg March.
Sarah Franklin, a freshman musical theatre major from Grand Cane, La., as Clarissa.
Elizabeth Ring, a senior musical theatre major from Cabot, Ark., as Beth March/Rodrigo 2.
Emma Lawyer, a senior musical theatre major from Wynne, Ark., as Marmee March.
Molly Kennedy, a senior musical theatre major from Melissa, Texas, as Amy March.
Hannah Anderson, a senior musical theatre major from Austin, Texas, as Aunt March.
Kinsey Potts, a junior musical theatre major from Wylie, Texas, as The Hag.
Brennon Humphry, a freshman musical theatre major from Benton, Ark., as Mr. Brooke/Braxton.
Danielle Hall, a senior musical theatre major from Prairie Grove, Ark., as Mrs. Kirk.
Shelby Tripcony, a freshman musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark., as The Troll.
Sammy Campione, a junior musical theatre major from Waxahachie, Texas, as Laurie Laurence.
Wyatt Ashlock, a junior theatre arts and communications & media/film studies double major from Royse City, Texas, as Mr. Laurence/Knight.
Ryan Lynch, a senior musical theatre major from Bryant, Ark., as Professor Bhaer.

CREW

Crew leaders:

Abby Burlison, a sophomore musical theatre major from Beebe, Ark., as publicity crew head.
Dani Frick, a senior theatre arts major from Benton, Ark., as assistant costume designer and costume crew head.
Nathan Frick, a senior theatre arts major from Benton, Ark., as lobby display crew head, lighting crew and camera/streaming crew.
Kinder Hinrichs, a freshman theatre arts major from Harrison, Ark., as sound designer.
Hayley Johnson, a sophomore musical theatre major from Hot Springs, Ark., as house manager.
Kristi Roshto, a senior English major from Alexandria, La., as makeup and hair crew head.
Marion Webb, a sophomore theatre arts major from Austin, Texas, as prop and shifting crew head and assistant choreographer.

Costume:

Brittney Bedlington, a sophomore theatre arts and secondary education double major from Bedford, Texas.
Bailey Ellison, a senior theatre arts major from Walnut Ridge, Ark.
Sierra Hoss, a freshman musical theatre major from Fouke, Ark.

Hair & makeup:

Kenzie Burks, a freshman theatre arts and education double major from Beebe, Ark.
LilyKay Feimster, a junior theatre arts and Christian studies/Christian theology double major from Atlanta, Texas.

Props/set build:

Brynlee Beams, a freshman theatre arts major from Cabot, Ark.
Kenzie Burks, a freshman theatre arts and education double major from Beebe, Ark.
Carlin Campbell, a senior musical theatre major from Rose Hill, Kan.
LilyKay Feimster, a junior theatre arts and Christian studies/Christian theology double major from Atlanta, Texas.
Faith Lymburner, a senior communications & media/multimedia journalism major from Rogers, Ark., and Grace Woodward, a freshman musical theatre major from Plano, Texas, on props and shifting.

Publicity

Sarah Franklin, a freshman musical theatre major from Grand Cane, La.

Technical (lighting/sound):

Wyatt Ashlock, a junior theatre arts and communications & media/film studies double major from Royse City, Texas, on camera and livestreaming.
Brynlee Beams, a freshman theatre arts major from Cabot, Ark., on sound.
Sammy Campione, a senior musical theatre major from Waxahachie, Texas, on lighting.
LilyKay Feimster, a junior theatre arts and Christian studies/Christian theology double major from Atlanta, Texas, on lighting.
Olivia Hibbard, a sophomore church media/production arts major from Little Rock, Ark., on lighting.
Kinder Hinrichs, a freshman theatre arts major from Harrison, Ark., as sound board operator.
Amy Jackson, a senior theatre arts and communications & media/film studies double major from Cypress, Texas, on lighting.
Kailee Morehart, a senior music and nursing double major from Alexander, Ark., as lighting board operator.
Mat Snook, a junior theatre arts major from Cedar Hill, Texas, as lighting board operator and follow spot operator.