Emily Klingensmith, left, and Matt Logan, both Master of Fine Arts students in SIU Carbondale’s theater program, work on the set ahead of the School of Theater and Dance’s presentation of “Little Women, the Broadway Musical.” Logan is technical director, and the production is his thesis show. (Photo provided)
November 22, 2022
“Little Women” takes to SIU’s McLeod Theater stage Dec. 8-11
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Singing, dancing and merriment will burst onto the McLeod Theater stage in early December as Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s School of Theater and Dance present “Little Women, the Broadway Musical,” Dec. 8-11.
Performances for the musical adaptation of the classic American novel featuring the March sisters and the young men in their lives will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 8-10, with a matinee at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11.
H.D. Motyl, interim director in the School of Theater and Dance, said Little Women is the thesis production for three Master of Fine Arts degrees in theater candidates — Jorrey Calvo, the lighting designer; Danielle Silfies, the costume designer, and Matt Logan, the technical director.
“If you’ve seen a show in McLeod Theater or Christian H. Moe Theater in the past three years, you’ve likely seen some of their work,” Motyl said. “This show is the culmination of their studies and creative research in our MFA program, and likely to be their best work so far.”
Notable performance features
Motyl said the opening night (Dec. 8) show will include an interpretive performance for the deaf. Prior to the Dec. 11 matinee, Jane Elizabeth Dougherty, associate professor and writing studies director in the School of Literature, Writing, and Digital Humanities, who teaches “Little Women” in one of her classes, will discuss the book and American femininities.
SIU theater alumnus and former faculty member Bill Kincaid, an emeritus faculty member at Western Illinois University, is directing the performance. Angela Shultz, assistant professor of practice, SIU School of Music, is the music director, and the show’s choreographer is Darryl Clark, assistant professor, School of Theater and Dance. Matthew Crane, who is based in Denver, Colorado, is a guest artist set designer. Crane has done work for the Colorado Shakespeare Company, Vintage Theater, and The New School, Motyl said.
Ticket information
The production is part of the School of Theater and Dance’s 2022-23 season. All performances will be in McLeod Theater, located in the Communications Building. Individual tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for senior citizens and $8 for students.
Tickets for all the productions are available by contacting the McLeod Theater Box Office or the SIU Arena Box Office at theateranddance.siu.edu or 618-453-6000.