A Star Has Arrived! Actually, maybe a few…
Téa Doherty takes center stage as Jo March. March sisters pictured in the row behind from left to right: Lillian Brown as Beth, Ava Sin as Amy, and Samantha Scattini as Meg.
Photo Credit: Sarah Johnson
Back when I was actively in the audition circuit in NYC, I occasionally heard some buzz during callbacks about Lipscomb University’s rising theatre department. This past Saturday evening, I was convinced as to why. In the extremely capable hands of Director Beki Baker, Lipscomb University’s production of Little Women the Musical was a true joy to witness. It’s not often that you attend a collegiate performance with such seamless transitions from scene to scene, actors who genuinely make the characters they are portraying uniquely their own, and behold a young artist at the start of what you expect to be a huge career!
To experience Téa Doherty’s evolution of Jo March was nothing short of astonishing! Doherty took on this marathon of a role that has given even the most seasoned of professionals a run for their money and completely knocked it out of the park. She never wavered in her vocal stamina and incredible stage presence. She is truly a star and was born to play this Jo. The excitement that the audience felt during the close of act one was palpable as people almost jumped to an early standing ovation by the time she sang, “Here I go and there’s no turning back, my great adventure has begun.” Her vocal technique was honestly on par with that of Broadway veterans. I would love to see her take on other powerhouse roles like Elphaba in Wicked in the future. In addition to her incredible vocals, Doherty has impeccable comedic timing and is an extremely giving actress, always offering a “yes, and” to every choice that each of her scene partners make.
Regan Mills as Marmee surrounded by her Little Women as she reads a precious letter from Mr. March who is away at war. Just one of the many lovely tableau moments created by Director Beki Baker.
Photo Credit: Sarah Johnson
Another standout in this production was Regan Mills who portrayed Marmee. Her rendition of “Here Alone” left me feeling like nothing could top it, until she sang “Days of Plenty” in act 2. The warmth and clarity of Mills’ voice, especially throughout her lower register is a delight to listen to. That paired with her strong acting chops made the audience forget that she was a twenty-something playing mother to her peers. Also, her ability to create a completely unique character voice while portraying the Hag was impressive.
Haden Lindsey as Laurie, ecstatically joins hands with his Jo, Téa Doherty.
Photo Credit: Sarah Johnson
I have to mention that Haden Lindsey’s Laurie was unlike any other portrayal of this role that I have ever seen. He brought such a child like energy, really playing up the playfulness of his young friendship with Jo. He had the audience in chuckles when he talked about the patch on her dress starting a new fashion trend. In the end, his take on Laurie made Jo’s being oblivious to his romantic love for her, when he finally confessed it, even more believable.
The chemistry between Meg (Samantha Scattini) and John Brooke (Sh’Ahr Blackburn) was absolutely lovely. From the moment they meet, we were rooting for them! Blackburn’s refreshingly beautiful voice rang out throughout their rendition of “More Than I Am” genuinely paired with Scattini’s sweet soprano. Lillian Brown’s Beth is completely endearing. She captures the quiet strength of this beloved character with great nuance especially during her heart wrenching “Some Things Are Meant to Be.” Her duet, “Off to Massachusetts” at the piano with Mr. Laurence (Jackson Thomas-Clark) was a light breath of fresh air in act 1. Thomas-Clark’s comedic flare was a welcome addition throughout many of his scenes.
I must give a shout out to the dialect coach of this production, Nat McIntyre. I was particularly impressed with Mrs. Kirk’s (Makinley Smith) strong Irish dialect and Professor Bhaer’s (James Weir) consistent German accent. Smith’s portrayal of the judgmental Aunt March did not disappoint. Weir’s take on Bhaer was heartfelt, making his final scene with Jo a welcomed one. Ava Sin did a nice job portraying the young Amy. Her act 2 duet with Laurie had a “Love is an Open Door” from Frozen vibe to it delivering the lightheartedness of their love. There truly was not a weak link in this cast. The choreography provided by student choreographer, Emma Ramsey added to the storytelling. I particularly enjoyed the high energy of “Delighted” and “Five Forever”. I recognized a touch of a Les Miz “One Day More” approach to the group march during “The Weekly Volcano Press” that brought a smile to my face. Howland and Dickstein’s score was well honored by music director, Christopher Bailey. The lighting design by Anne Willingham was absolutely delightful making good use of Andy Bleiler’s scenic design. I appreciated the attention to detail used by costume designer, June Kingsbury, to deliver costumes accurate to the time period while also creating a stunning addition to the overall color palette of this show.
This production, based on the beloved classic novel by Louisa May Alcott, hit all the right marks while also bringing new and exciting choices to the delivery of Allen Knee’s book. Director Beki Baker and her creative team of faculty truly know how to highlight the strengths of their students and it’s clear that they made the right repertoire choice in selecting this show for their season. I left the Shamblin Theater feeling uplifted and excited to see what Lipscomb’s theatre department will do next! For more information, go to: www.lipscomb.edu/theatre