WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., February 27, 2025 – The West Liberty University (WLU) Hilltop Players will stage Louisa May Alcott’s classic American story, Little Women, March 6-9, 2025 in the Kelly Theater.
Performances run March 6-8 at 7:30pm. A Sunday matinée takes place at 3pm on March 9. All performances will be on the campus of West Liberty University, on the Kelly Theater stage, located in the Hall of Fine Arts.
Little Women is an endearing story of family, friendship, love, and adventure that never fails to tug on the heartstrings. During the years of the Civil War, ambitious 15-year-old Jo March and her sisters must navigate hardships, heartbreak, and humility as they come of age in a world bound by class and tragedy. Tender and playful, this incredible production will help you fall in love all over again with these four young dreamers as they discover themselves in a country divided.
WLU Professor of Theatre and Little Women director, Michael Aulick, has adapted the beloved novel by Louisa May Alcott into a production that attempts to faithfully portray the characters and stay true to the tone and feel of the novel.
“We thought this was a story that wanted intimacy and immediacy with the audience, therefore we are seating everyone on our stage, with the audience sharing the same space as the performers,” explains Aulick. “It also allows us to work with a different style of acting and staging that we do not normally use when we have standard seating, so it has a wonderful educational impact for the program,” he adds.
Junior theater major Daisy Deaton explains the collaboration behind the production.
“I have loved getting to collaborate with my professor and fellow students on this project, and feeling like my artistic voice has value,” says Deaton. “We had input into the decisions we are making with the show. I love that this program allows me to contribute to the production process, and that Professor Aulick cares about our opinions in the creation of the play,” she adds.
The cast for Little Women includes Daisy Deaton, Willow Peyton, Rowland Dodd, Avery Hall, Jamie Faulkner, Kirsten Snatchko, Kelsey Riley, Liam Peklinsky, Oliver Marks, Joshua Ventanze, and Lenixx Pugh.
The creative team for Little Women is made up entirely of theatre students – under the leadership of Professor Michael Aulick – and includes Jordan Derring, Hannah Ellis, Aidan Kosol, Morgan Tusing, and Joy Deaton.
Creative team member Jordan Derring elaborates on the behind-the-scenes creative and educational experience of the production.
“The faculty of the WLU program prides itself on offering wonderful, educational projects for the students,” Derring explains. “Being allowed to be immersed in the design and creation for the production has been a fantastic educational experience,” she adds.
Due to the unique seating arrangement, there are only 75 seats available for each show.
It is recommended to purchase tickets ahead of time, online, at wluwomen.brownpapertickets.com. (Tickets purchased online are at a discounted rate.)
Tickets for Little Women will also be available at the Kelly Theater box office beginning 90 minutes before each show. General admission tickets purchased at the box office are $15. Seniors and WLU faculty & staff tickets are $10. Tickets for WLU students (ID required) are $5. Non-WLU student tickets are $8.
The West Liberty University Theater Program is nationally recognized with the mission of providing a transformative educational experience for undergraduate students of theatre where a personal approach creates a place where they can ‘find their light.’ West Liberty is West Virginia’s oldest public university, and it offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and 12 graduate programs, both online and on campus. Learn more at westliberty.edu.
