'Little Women' opens 55th Putnam County Playhouse season

Putnam County Playhouse will open its 55th season with a production of the musical version of "Little Women."

Based on the famous novel by Louisa May Alcott, it will be presented Thursday, Friday and Saturday, June 2-4 and again Wednesday-Saturday, June 8-11 at the Hazel Day Longden Theatre off Round Barn Road in Greencastle.

Imagining one of Jo's blood-curdling stories, the girls of "Little Women" act out the tale in their attic in a scene from the Putnam County Playhouse season-opening production. Raising swords (back, from left ) are Young Amy (played by Samantha Shelton), Beth (Michaela Semak), Meg (Meghan Armitage) and (front) Jo (Samantha Flannelly). "Little Women" opens its seven-show run at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and again June 8-11 at the Hazel Day Longden Theatre on Round Barn Road in Greencastle. Banner Graphic/ERIC BERNSEE

All tickets are $10 and can be reserved by calling the box office at 653-5880 after 5 p.m. beginning Monday, May 29. The box office is open Monday-Saturday.

All shows begin at 8 p.m. Tim Good is the director.

The production is being sponsored by Shuee's Furniture and Mattress.

The show features Samantha Flannelly in the role of Jo and Debby Lambert as Marmee.

The other March sisters are Meghan Armitage as Meg, Michaela Semak as Beth, and Samantha Grace Shelton and Sarah Arnold who share the role of Amy -- portraying the character at different ages.

Eleanor Howard enacts Aunt March and Mrs. Kirk, a Brooklyn landlady.

The male side of the story is represented by Alan Skillern as Laurie, David Maginity as John Brooke, Dustin Bond as Professor Bhaer, and Jack Randall Earles as Mr. Laurence.

The lively ensemble, each of whom plays three parts, includes Lindsey Bridgewater, JenJe Stouder, Anna Harris, Haleigh Rowls, Arianna Pershing, Gwen Mazur, Rachel Lubinski and Arnold.

Musical and vocal direction is by Erik Foster. Playing in the pit are Amy Tharp, pianist; Morgan Asher, keyboard; Michael McClaine, percussion; and Ethan Williamson, bass.

Assisting Good are Jim Green and Caroline Good. Caroline is also costumer for the show.

Working on the technical side are Brandon and Cameron Wunderlich. Linda Gjesvold did set painting and construction.

"Little Women" is the curtain raiser on the 55th Putnam County Playhouse season.

"On Golden Pond" will hit the Playhouse stage for a July 14-16 and 20-23 run, followed by the musical "1776" to be staged Aug. 11-13 and 17-20.

The season finale, "The Odd Couple," featuring a female cast, is scheduled for Sept. 8-10 and 14-17.