Little Women: ASU's Theater Department Shows the Importance of Family

SAN ANGELO, TX – Yesterday, Angelo State University’s Theatre Department wrapped up the opening week of its Holiday Dinner Theatre production of an adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s famous novel Little Women. With a cast of just over 10, Little Women takes the viewers on the adventures of the March family as they celebrate Christmas, find love, and learn that above all, family is what is most important.

Dr. William Doll, Director of University Theatre, said his decision to produce Little Women as this year’s Christmas play was motivated by his desire to “try to do something different.” As the play is set in the Christmas season, having also some Christmas carols sprinkled in, “it fits with the themes of family and generosity, ” Doll added, themes that are evident in the holiday season, but also in the cast and crew of ASUs Theatre Department.

The audience quickly noticed the strong bond that exists between the actors on and off stage. In the first act, the March sisters, Amy, Beth, Jo, and Meg discussed an issue in the parlor, when Marmee, their mother, told the two younger siblings to go upstairs where they would find a sweet surprise: their favorite cookies. Jaslyn Davis, who played Marmee, remembered making sure “to know what [the cast’s] favorite cookies were” as a way to connect with her character as a mother, and also with the cast at large.

Freshman theatre major Kellie McLaurin chimed in, “One birthday in particular, [Jaslyn] had brought cookies again, and once everyone found out, everyone sprinted to the green room.” McLaurin underscored how important that experience was for her. 

“Watching that, it really reminded me of family, and as I am pretty far away from my family, it just made me very happy, and it kept a smile on my face,” she said.

The Christmas carols were studied under the guidance of Dr. Doll. Like a pater familias, Dr. Doll guided his cast. However, like the March sisters, the students also studied by themselves, learning their musical scripts by “listening to some tracks and singing with them,” said Davis.

ASU’s Theatre Department fosters strong bonds between its young actors and crew members. McLaurin described the department as small, and because of this, “it’s easy to create good relations with all the cast, crew, and directors.” This small creative space has helped these theater students immensely.

“We’re honestly a family. So no matter what, you can go to anyone and they’ll help,” McLaurin emphatically added.

The play has been in production since the end of October, giving the cast and crew just over five weeks to finalize the scenic and lighting design, the costume and make-up, and of course, the staging of the play.

Kyle Newman, a freshman theatre education major, took Dr. Dolls favorite quote,  “Amateurs practice until they get it right; experts practice until they can’t get it wrong,” to heart and practiced his lines “over and over again.” Dr. Doll and the cast spent long hours in ASU’s Modular Theater disclosing that some of their “rehearsals have even gone on for 5 hours,” but Dr. Doll is very pleased with his cast and is thankful that everyone worked so hard on this play.

December 8-10 is the closing week for Little Women. The play will be shown Thursday, Friday, and Saturday with doors opening at 6:45 p.m. (with a tasty meal, as it is a dinner theatre performance) and curtains at 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale now for Little Women and can be purchased at the ASU box office in the EFA Building on ASU’s campus. The box office is open from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. on weekdays. For reservations and/or ticket information, call 325-942-2000.