Little Women the Musical

1. Little Women the Musical J. Max Gosman, Dramaturg Dramaturgical Presentation, Sept. 17th, 2009 Ball State University, Department of Theatre and Dance

2. “What the heck is a Dramaturg?…And why should I listen to you?” • Provides historical and cultural context (especially in a period piece. Hint hint) • Maintains consistency and historical accuracy • Research Performed/Research yet to come

3. The Online Dramaturgy Book • A collection of research organized in a way that is accessible to the cast and crew of a production • Your DB is a website. It can be found here: • http://www.ballstatelittlewomen.weebly.com

4. Requesting Further Research • No query is too small! I’ll take requests from actors and designers for further research until opening night, so keep the questions coming. • If there’s something else you’d like me to look into, let me know like this: • Fill out the feedback form on the “Contact Me” page • Email me directly at jmgosman@bsu.edu • Generally, I’ll post research results within 48 hours of receiving a request

5. …So What Now? • A Woman’s Life in 19th Century New England • A (very) Brief Introduction to Transcendentalism • Louisa May Alcott • The Musical

6. Women in 19th Century Society • “The modest virgin, the prudent wife, and the careful matron … who makes her husband and her children happy … is a much greater character than ladies described in romances.” • Mrs. Beeton’s Book of • Household Management New York Times Classified Ads, c. 1860

7. A Woman’s Work“If a woman does not know how the various work of a house should be done, she might as well know nothing, for that is her express vocation.” –Eliza Farrar’s The Young Lady’s Friend (1836) • 100+ magazines for women between 1840 and 1860 • Magazines consisted of • Sentimental Short Stories • “Soft” Philosophy • Household Hints and Tips • A few selected titles: • Mother’s Magazine • The Mother • The Mother’s Assistant • Mother’s Monthly Journal • Mother at Home

8. Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management • A good housewife is… • …Attentive to the needs of her husband and children • …An early riser • …Cleanly • …Frugal • …Fashionable • 53 ‘rules’ in the first chapter • 1,112 pages total First Printing, 1861

9. Mrs. Beeton’s Rules • “AS WITH THE COMMANDER OF AN ARMY, or the leader of any enterprise, so is it with the mistress of a house. Her spirit will be seen through the whole establishment; and just in proportion as she performs her duties intelligently and thoroughly, so will her domestics follow in her path.” Rule #1 • “THE GUESTS BEING SEATED AT THE DINNER-TABLE, the lady begins to help the soup, which is handed round, commencing with the gentleman on her right and on her left, and continuing in the same order till all are served. It is generally established as a rule, not to ask for soup or fish twice, as, in so doing, part of the company may be kept waiting too long for the second course, when, perhaps, a little revenge is taken by looking at the awkward consumer of a second portion. This rule, however, may, under various circumstances, not be considered as binding.” – Rule 36

10. A (very) Brief Introduction to Transcendentalism • …Redefine religion and spirituality • …Encourage people to follow natural intuitions • …Reform social and political canon "We will walk on our own feet; we will work with our own hands; we will speak our own minds ... A nation of men will for the first time exist, because each believes himself inspired by the Divine Soul which also inspires all men.” - From R.W. Emerson’s essay Nature

11. Louisa May Alcott 1832-1888

12. Alcott’s Early Life • Born November 29th, 1832 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • The second of four daughters • Raised by a transcendental philosopher father and a Boston socialite mother • Close family friend of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Henry David Thoreau The Orchard House, Concord, CT

13. Life as a Writer • Contributed “sentimental short stories” to area magazines • Worked as an editor at Merry’s Museum, a popular magazine, where she wrote short stories about four generous sisters • Earned $32 for Flower Fables, her first collection of short stories for children Flower Fables, c. 1855

14. Little Women • Wrote Part I in three months in 1868 • After it’s initial success, Alcott wrote Part II, which was published in 1869 • Some characters came from life, others from imagination • Anne as Meg • Elizabeth as Beth • May as Amy • Prof. Bhaer • Laurie

15. Further Reading… • Sequels to Little Women • Little Men: Tells the story of the children at the school Jo and Prof. Bhaer establish • Jo’s Boys: Ten years after Little Men, as the students of the school mature • Four Plays • 15+ Movies • Opera by Mark Adamo • Musical by Knee, Dickstein, Howland

16. Little Women the Musical Book by Allan KneeMusic by Jason HowlandLyrics by Mindi Dickstein

17. Little Women: The Broadway Musical • Although somewhat short-lived, the musical received generally favorable reviews • The Virginia Theatre • Carrie • City of Angels • Smoky Joe’s Café • The Wild Party (LaChiusa) • Ran January 23rd, 2005 - May 22nd, 2005 • One Tony Nomination • Sutton Foster, Jo • Three Drama Desk Nominations • Sutton Foster, Jo • Maureen McGovern, Marmee • Kim Scharnberg, Orchestrator

18. What Now? • Check out the ODB • Email me with questions • Try some independent research • Have a great rehearsal process!