SCT gets into the holiday spirit in late November and early December with the family-friendly classic “Little Women”, directed by Sara Wade.
Adapted by Kate Hamill, from the beloved novel by Louisa May Alcott, “Little Women” tells the story of Jo March, who isn’t your typical Victorian lady. She’s indecorous and headstrong, and one day she’s going to be a great American novelist. As she and her sisters grow up in the middle of the Civil War, they strive to be brave, intelligent, and imaginative young women. But as adulthood approaches, each sister must negotiate her private ambitions with society’s expectations. In a war-torn world defined by gender, class, and personal tragedy, Jo March gives us her greatest story: that of the March sisters, four dreamers destined to be imperfect little women.
The show will perform November 30 through December 2, nightly at 7 p.m.; December 3 at 2 p.m.; December 5 through 8, nightly at 7 p.m., and December 9 at 2 p.m..
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Auditions will take place Monday and Tuesday, September 25 and 26, upstairs at the Playhouse on Main, starting each night at 6 p.m..
Auditions will consist of cold readings from the show script, and a perusal copy of a script is available by request if you send an email to the show’s assistant director Gabe Smith at gabe.smith.writes@gmail.com.
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There are 9 roles available, including supporting performers who will double as multiple characters. Actors of any race, ethnicity, or gender are encouraged to audition, with great parts for people across a broad age range, younger and older.
ROLES
MARMEE MARCH and AUNT MARCH (ACTOR 1)
Marmee is the matriarch of the family. A social revolutionary, ahead of her time. Good sense of humor. A warrior; keeps the family together. Tough, strong, intelligent. The same performer will double as Aunt March, described as the most unpleasant old woman imaginable. Has lots of money; privileged. Strong political and personal opinions, which people endure. Judgmental. Has an intermittent, hacking, disgusting cough.
MEG MARCH (ACTOR 2)
The oldest daughter. Wears glasses. Acts as Marmee’s second in the house. A romantic at heart – like to dress up and have little luxuries in life.
JO MARCH (ACTOR 3)
The second-oldest sister. Does not fit comfortably within the parameters of her given gender role. A deep fire within her. Extremely ambitious and frustrated by the distance between where she is and where she wants to be. Impatient. Wants to change the world. Very smart and knows it. A mix of insecurity and aspiration. Boyish and rough-and-tumble. Sometimes antagonistic, not the most tolerant of differing viewpoints. Can be quite awkward or abrupt; bad temper when riled. A great sense of humor. Passionate. Ahead of her time. A warrior. Has a special relationship with Beth.
BETH MARCH (ACTOR 4)
The third sister. An extremely special person. Very sweet and paralytically shy; had to be removed from school because of her social anxieties. Agoraphobic. Almost incapable of going out in the world; sheltered by her family. Loves deeply and has deep empathy for everyone. Loves the simple things in life – so much that it hurts. Sees much more than anyone realizes. Brave and sensitive; quick to forgive and heal wounds. An observer.
AMY MARCH (ACTOR 5)
The youngest sister. Opinionated and spunky; popular and quite focused on style. Not the most tolerant of differing viewpoints. Socially intelligent. Sometimes puts on airs. Perhaps a bit spoiled. A perfect little lady – except for her temper, and her not-so-great command of “vocabiblary”. Grows up to be quite beautiful and elegant. Madly in love with Laurie, around whom she is never cool.
HANNAH, MRS. MINGOTT, and MESSENGER (ACTOR 6)
Hannah is the March’s longtime housekeeper, cook, and de facto babysitter. Irish. A treasure; a terror; a traditionalist. Takes no nonsense. Matter-of-fact; she’s the boss of that kitchen, for sure. Mrs. Mingott is a very rich, stylish woman. Vanderbilt-esque, condescending, not terribly pleasant; fancies herself charitable. This performer also appears briefly as a female messenger.
THEODORE “LAURIE” LAURENCE (ACTOR 7)
A sweet and handsome young man. Sensitive. Funny, charming, and caring. In his fantasies, he’s a white knight: riding in to save damsels in distress. A natural musician. Wealthy thanks to his inheritance; generous, does not have to think about money. Does not always fit comfortably within the parameters of his given gender role – he doesn’t want to be a soldier or tedious man of business. Finds a family in the Marches.
JOHN BROOKS and PARROT – ACTOR 8
Brooks is Laurie’s sometimes stiff and awkward tutor. A rule follower. A poor man, well educated. Has a very noticeable limp – probably served in the war and was sent home, although may have been disqualified from service altogether. Feels deeply. Quite madly in love with Meg. The same actor also plays Aunt March’s parrot: pure evil. A musty, disgusting bird. Probably an actual demon in parrot form.
MR. LAURENCE and ROBERT MARCH (ACTOR 9)
Mr. Laurence is Laurie’s grandfather, responsible for his upbringing. A wealthy man. A gentleman in the strictest sense. Not comfortable with emotional language; bad at expressing himself. Has a rigid sense of what is appropriate behavior, especially for a man. Tends towards gruffness or temper. Probably quite unintentionally frightening. Deeply regretful of incidents in his past, but unable to express it. Robert is father to the March girls. Never speaks, but his presence looms large. Wounded in the war; never quite recovers. A significant limp. Struggles with his injuries, both emotional and physical.
Actors 8 or 9 will also double the parts of:
DOCTOR (nonspeaking) and MR. DASHWOOD, who is a publisher of cheap newspapers and novels. A businessman, working in a man’s world. Fancies himself a realist. Not a nice guy. Fancies himself a nice guy.

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Rehearsals will begin immediately following casting in late September/early October. Though performance dates and final rehearsal dates are non-negotiable, the director is open to working around other scheduling conflicts during the rehearsal period, when possible.
For any additional questions about the production or about auditions, please email the director at sara.thompson.wade@gmail.com. If you would like to serve on the crew (as backstage help, light or sound operator, costumes and props, or more), please either reach out to the director or attend auditions and meet her in person to discuss ways you can be involved.
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“Little Women” is presented through special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service. The show was commissioned and originally produced by the Jungle Theater (Sarah Rasmussen, Artistic Director), Minneapolis, MN. New York City premiere at Primary Stages (Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Shane D. Hudson, Executive Director; Casey Childs, Founder), June 2019. Developed at the Colorado New Play Festival, Steamboat Springs, June 2018. This production is supported in part by funding from the Mississippi Arts Commission, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.