SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The Evangel University Theatre Program presents Little Women, the Musical — the story you LOVE with song and dance! Opening night is set for Thursday, March 26, at 7 p.m. and there will be six performances over two weekends in the Barnett Fine Arts Center Theatre.
Nominated for Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Awards, and featuring a stunning musical score, Little Women, the Musical, is a heartwarming story of perseverance, love, family and friendship.
The production will run at Evangel University March 26-28, with showtimes at 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and at 2 p.m. for a Saturday matinee on March 28. There is no night performance on the 28th.
The show continues at Evangel on April 2-4, with evening shows at 7 p.m.
The entrance to the Barnett Fine Arts Center is just south of the Spence Chapel, at 1111 N. Glenstone Ave. in Springfield.
General admission tickets are $15. Tickets for seniors (60+), military and groups of 10 or more is $12. Admission for ALL students is $10.
Reserved tickets may be purchased online at: https://gofan.co/app/school/MO72623_1. Seating is limited so we encourage everyone to purchase tickets online early in order to secure a seat for the production!
Ticketing assistance is available at: 678-679-7676 or email at service@gofan.co
The box office will open an hour before each production for cash purchases.
Production and performers
“Based on the classic novel penned by Louisa May Alcott, Little Women, the Musical, is a coming-of-age tale filled with drama, romance, humor and music,” said Dr. Vickie Wisdom, professor of theatre at Evangel.
The story follows the unconventional life of the four headstrong March sisters — Jo, Meg, Amy and Beth — and their beloved Marmee, in Concord, Mass. It unfolds while their father serves in the Union Army at the crux of the Civil War.
This high-energy production of Little Women, the Musical, is directed by Dr. Wisdom and Lori Lawley, choreographed by Lyra Sprenger and enjoys technical direction by Pat Bogle.
The cast features:
- Jo — played by Lisa Earlenbaugh, a junior from Shawnee Kan.;
- Meg — played by Ella Little, a junior from Lincoln, Neb.;
- Amy — played by Erin Payne, a senior from Ottumwa, Iowa;
- Beth — played by Bethany Crandall, a junior from Milton, Wisc.;
- Marmee — played by Kellsey Bradley, a graduate student from Branson, Mo.;
- Laurie — played by Cole Stoecker, a senior from Wilmington, Pa.;
- Aunt March — played by Natalie Slater, a sophomore from Springfield, Mo.;
- Professor Bhaer — played by David Farmer, a sophomore from Sapulpa, Okla.;
- Mr. Brooke — played by Adam Gillen, a senior from Morenci, Mich.; and
- Mr. Laurence — played by Nathaniel Parrales, a junior from Dallas, Texas.
The principal characters are backed by a small ensemble of 12 singers and dancers.
The theatre program at Evangel University is a vibrant, growing program under the Humanities Department and is housed in the Barnett Fine Arts Center.
“Our graduates are successful across the country as teachers, managers, actors, playwrights, directors, pastors, programmers, administrators, community builders, MFA graduate students and the list goes on,” said Dr. Wisdom.
Evangel University, with the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (AGTS), is a comprehensive Christian university committed to excellence in educating and equipping students to serve the church and society globally. Evangel and AGTS serve more than 2,300 students from all 50 states and numerous foreign countries, offering 70 undergraduate majors and 19 master’s and doctoral degrees.
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SIDEBAR:
Three majors in Theatre Program at Evangel
There are three majors offered to students interested in this area of study at Evangel University.
- The theatre major provides instruction in theatre history, literary appreciation of dramatic literature, dramatic interpretation, and the performance skills demanded of a theatre artist. Theatre majors gain practical experiences in acting, directing, set design and costume design.
- The theatre/speech education degree program brings the stage to life for those passionate about educating students in effective interpretation. The program provides a broad track with exposure to multiple disciplines of informative, dramatic, persuasive and improvisational communication styles. Students may also get practical experience in speech and debate by participating with Evangel’s forensics team.
- The Humanities Department and the Music Department have collaborated to offer a major, combining elements of both theatre and music instruction. Evangel developed the theatre/music program to meet a clear need in professional-theatre and church sectors for well-trained college graduates with a hybrid theatre-and-music background.
“If you have a passion for integrating live theatre with your faith, please contact me at wisdomv@evangel.edu,” said Dr. Vickie Wisdom, director of theatre at Evangel, “Our leadership team is ready to welcome you!”
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