This year’s WCHS spring musical is the classic Little Women, based on the original novel by Louisa May Alcott. The story focuses on the lives of the four March sisters as they grow up amidst the Civil War, discussing themes of love, loss, and personal discovery. The WCHS production features an 18-person cast, one of the smallest in recent years. The program also brought in new leaders for the project, like Director Esther Neel, Choreographer Lauren Holt, and Stage Manager Sarah Dorrell.
With new staff, a smaller cast, and an emotional show, the production is expected to be heartfelt and people-driven, with some strong performances by countless leads. Director Esther Neel explained, “While it is set during the Civil War, the themes of family, growing up, following your dreams, and making difficult choices are universal. Audiences will see parts of themselves in the characters and the struggles they face. This production showcases an incredibly dedicated group of students who have worked hard to bring this story to life. Their energy, heart, and commitment make the story feel immediate and meaningful for a modern audience.”
The cast is equally excited by the progress of the show, with cast member Harper Brady stating, “I am so excited to see my family and friends’ reactions to the content and emotional depth of the show. Little Women is one of my family’s favorite books, so it means a lot to me to portray such a personal and meaningful story on stage for them.” Brady has had a named role in each yearly production at the high school, including: Josephine Bloom (Big Fish), Mrs. George (Mean Girls High School Version), and Ursula (The Little Mermaid). For her final production, Brady plays Beth March, who she describes as “grounded and genuine”, and her unexpected character arc is a driving force in the progression of Act Two.
The student body is also eagerly anticipating the show. The English department has again stuck with their tradition of offering extra credit for attending the show, along with a few scattered teachers across the school. Senior Kate Hays reflected on her time with the original text, saying, “I disliked the pacing of the book, so I’m looking forward to the story speeding up with the time constraints of it being a show.”
Hays isn’t the only student excited for opening night. “This is very inspiring so far” was the comment of senior Jack Shelton, in relation to the musical’s premiere. Shelton, when told the basic plot of the story, was enthusiastic about purchasing his tickets and supporting the incredible cast of performers, even exclaiming “I can’t wait to see all the dancing! I wish I could be up there with them.”
With tech week’s busy schedule, the ensemble was in a hurry to finalize the details of their performances. This included a Saturday rehearsal at Woodford Theatre, where castmates tried on costume pieces, finalized props, and even brainstormed about items like a knight’s helmet, swords, and more (whose purposes will be revealed during the shows!) Stage Manager Sarah Dorrell explained “I honestly think a misconception about tech workers and stage management for the average person is that they have no idea what we even do. Part of that is the magic of theatre, but I would encourage people to look into all of the different tasks required from tech. For this show, there are several times Jo walks offstage and less than one minute later is back onstage in a different costume: the magic of theatre.” Clearly there’s more going on behind the scenes than most of us realize!
Tickets for Little Women have officially gone on sale, alongside the reveal of the official show poster, designed by KarleeKaptures (WCHS Alumna Karlee Blanton). Buy your tickets before seats fill up, in order to see the 2026 WCHS Spring Musical: Little Women!
