The SVSU Theater Department is putting on a production of “Little Women… Now,” which is a modern-day take on the classic story. The show will take place from April 15-19 in the Malcolm Field Theater.
“Little Women… Now” will follow the March family in a new light: instead of being set in an older time, the play is a 2010s-esque adaptation that includes technological aspects and themes that weren’t previously explored in older adaptations of the media.
“It’s completely contemporized. It takes place in current day,” Director Dave Rzeszutek said. “It’s a completely different take.”
Additionally, the writer of the play, Donna Hoke, allowed productions to have creative freedom rather than keeping within strict boundaries. The script leaves room for directors and actors to insert their own locales to personalize the play.
“The playwright leaves it open to interpretation,” Rzeszutec said. “We’ve got some local [references to Saginaw] that people might hear.”
Both the actors and the director believe that the progress made so far in putting the show together has been great.
“I’m really impressed,” Rzesztuek said. “Everybody has been really bought in and really invested.”
Some of the actors involved in the production also weighed in on the progress.
“I feel great about our progress,” fourth-year theater major Stephanie Crachiolo, who plays Jo March, said. “I’ve been enjoying getting to tell the March story in a new way … and it’s been really fun getting to blend in the modern themes.”
Addi Williams, a fourth-year CMB major playing Meg March, had similar regards. “I feel really good about the progress we’ve made, and the rehearsal process has been amazing,” she said. “We really are able to set our minds to whatever we’re working on that day and collaborate together as a cast and production team.”
Rzeszutek talked about how he was able to create a learning opportunity within the production. “Ann Russell-Lutenske is a local actress, and she’s an SVSU theater alum, and she’s playing the mom,” he said. “It’s great because [the students] can learn from her and she can learn from our students.”
Working on the show together has fostered a sense of community between the crew and actors. “We have all worked together and become great friends,” first-year secondary education major Ella Koenigsknecht, who plays Amy March, said. “Everyone has been very focused, and we have worked together to make an amazing show.”
First-year theater major Jaiden Gardner, who plays Laurie, also weighed in on this. “I’ve loved getting to work with all the amazing people on the team,” she said. “The cast and crew make the whole process fun, and it’s been great getting to build the show together.”
The show retains its plot while utilizing modern technology. In addition to the characters interacting with technology, the crew is also working on projections to accompany the story.
“[The projection] is going to have title cards,” Rzeszutek said, “to tell you where we are, and then it will be supported through the different projections of the time of year and daytime-nighttime because there are a bunch of different locations, too, which is kind of a challenge.”
Rzeszutek feels confident about how the show will turn out. “Everything is moving along great … I’m excited because people are familiar with the story, so I think people will get a kick out of a modern spin on it.”
More information about this production can be found on the theater department’s Instagram, @svsu_theatre_department.
