Little Women
at The Sagemont School

Reviewed on October 24, 2013

Carlo Feliciani
University School of Nova Southeastern University
Submitted for publication to

A writer can receive inspiration from anywhere and anyone, but it seems like the ones who affect them the most are those closest to them. Throw in a classic novel, soaring melodies, and relatable relationships, and you have The Sagemont School's production of Little Women, a musical based on the semi-autobiographical novel of the same name by Louisa May Alcott.

With a book by Allan Knee, lyrics by Mindi Dickstein, and music by Jason Howland, Little Women opened on Broadway in 2005 starring Sutton Foster and Maureen McGovern. It follows the story of Jo, the tomboy and aspiring writer of the March family, through her life as a writer and as a sister in her family home in Concord, Massachusetts. The show flips between Jo in New York and her childhood home, and we see Jo grow with her three sisters, Meg, Amy, and Beth, and their mother, Marmee, while their father is away fighting in the Civil War. Throughout the musical, we get a glimpse of how love, loss, happiness, rebellion, and "etiquette," affect Jo and her writings. We see that, above all, the fire within all of us is fueled by the ones we love.

As the driving force of the show, Angel Martinez as Jo presented to the audience a brave and powerful girl and, later, woman that showed through her energy the importance of dreaming and family. Her vocals soared over the theatre, powerfully showing the brassy side of Jo in songs like "Astonishing" and "The Fire Within Me." Martinez also showcased the tender side of Jo, portraying the emotions of love and loss whenever alone with her sisters or, perhaps, loved one.

Martinez was supported by Amanda Jimenez as Marmee, whose beautiful performance of "Days of Plenty," showed how to move foward when all seems lost. Also, Jessica Elalouf as Beth created an optimistic yet tragic perspective on life in her duet with Martinez, "Some Things Are Meant To Be." Although sometimes the cast in general fell short on energy, songs like, "The Weekly Volcano Press," by the use of whimsical characters such as trolls and knights, demonstrated the power of visual storytelling as an ensemble.

On a technical standpoint, the props used in the show were both accurate to the time period and visually pleasing. Also, although at times unchanging, the lighting of the show enhanced moments of revelation and remembrance by using lights that looked like windows or showcasing a part of a song when a character made a decision. The stage management and crew executed scene changes commendably due to limited space backstage, even if some of them were missed.

Through the rousing vocals, tender acting, and Jo's very words, The Sagemont School presented a good rendition of Little Women, and truly showed us all that love, both of family and heart, can make anyone's deepest dreams obtainable. The belief in our dreams themselves can make our lives truly "astonishing."

Diego Zozaya
St. Thomas Aquinas High School
Submitted for publication to

Jo March, a young girl living in America during the Civil War, must learn various lessons in order to become the successful writer she wishes to be, but along the way to becoming successful, she learns the most important lesson, that her sisters will always be there for her. Sagemont School's production of Little Women takes us on the journey with Jo as she figures out what she wants to be and who will always be there for her.

Little Women was originally a novel written by Louisa May Alcott, who wrote this novel as a semi-autobiographical piece relating to her own coming of age, and in 2005, was adapted into a musical with the book written by Allan Knee, music by Jason Howland, and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein. The original production of Little Women opened on Broadway on January 2005 and closed on May 2005. The production only lasted 5 months but was a launching pad for the career of Sutton Foster, who originated the role of Jo. Since then, it has gone on tour in the US and Australia.

Angel Martinez played the role of Jo in this production and did so proficiently. Her characterization of Jo as she grows up was established very well through her acting abilities. Martinez also had high energy throughout that kept the show moving along even in parts where the show was not moving quickly enough. Adding another additional element, Martinez' voice fit exactly with the role of Jo portraying the vibrant young girl to the matured compassionate woman. She brought the audience with her on the journey of Jo's coming of age and truly created a three-dimensional character the audience could believe in.

The supporting cast was just as important in creating the ambiance of this show. Jessica Jordan, who played Amy March, added another high energy character and used every bit of her comedic timing to make the audience laugh whenever she was on stage. Rebecca Jordan played Meg March, the eldest sister of the March family, with control and grace to bring the caring older sister character to life and helped progress the show dramatically as well comically. Amanda Jimenez played the matriarch of the house, Marmee March, and truly brought another element of drama into the show. She created a completely different viewpoint of the story through the eyes of a mother who has to raise her children by herself. Jimenez helped create some wonderful moments in the show through her melodic singing abilities, especially through her powerful and moving rendition of "Days of Plenty." Although some of the characters did not suit the vocal talents needed for their parts, most of the characters brought melody and harmony to the score.

The technical aspects of the show were satisfactory. The lighting helped create tender and caring moments in the show. The special effects used during the show added another layer on top of the show such as the kite flying which did not distract the audience but added realism to the scene.

From the innocence of youth to the maturity of adulthood, Sagemont School's production of Little Women truly brought the intended message of the importance of family and sisterhood through this exceptional cast, crew, and show.

Evan Haubner
North Broward Preparatory School
Submitted for publication to

Christopher Columbus! Hot off "The Weekly Volcano Press" is a story of dreams, family, and finding true love. It's not "An Operatic Tragedy," it's The Sagemont School's high-spirited production of "Little Women"!

"Little Women", based on Louisa May Alcott's novel of the same name, opened on Broadway in 2005 with a book by Allan Knee, lyrics by Mindi Dickstein, and music by Jason Howland. The musical, set in 1866, centers around a young woman named Jo March, a tomboy who yearns to one day become a famous writer. However, Jo's journey to accomplish her dreams conflicts with the thing that is most important to her- her family. After rejection, long travel, and the passing of a loved one, Jo discovers that it is the fire within her that will ultimately empower her to succeed.

Angel Martinez carried the show as the headstrong sister Jo March with great energy and strong vocal talent. Martinez was consistently engaged with good comedic timing and character development, performing her challenging solos admirably with determination and power. Supporting her was Rebecca Jordan, who portrayed the eldest sister, Meg March. Jordan maintained convincing relationships with the other characters, showing commendable believability and characterization.

Both Jessica Jordan and Amanda Jimenez, playing Amy and Marmee March, respectively, strongly supported Martinez with exceptional vocal talent. Jordan's portrayal as the bratty sister Amy added realism to the March family, for her character's development as the story progressed was truly evident. Jimenez's powerful voice and genuine characterization were especially noteworthy, making her solos, such as "Days of Plenty", highlights of the show. Bruno Paes-Leme also showed great believability as Mr. Brooke, Meg's charming suitor and eventual husband, having consistently strong characterization throughout the entire performance.

As a whole, the ensemble added to the story during group numbers and reenactments of Jo's stories. Though energy was low at points, overall, the cast did a commendable job of bringing the show to life, not only overcoming the challenge of performing in a black box theater, but doing it quite well.

Technically, the show had a few errors, such as several mic issues and a broken lighting board. Despite this, the cast and crew powered through commendably, utilizing the black box space well. The props, done by Bailey Jones, Tyler Jones, and Daniel Entenberg, were time period appropriate and extremely admirable.

With powerful solo numbers and a compelling, timeless story, The Sagemont School's production of "Little Women" is sure to leave the audience feeling utterly "Delighted."

Melody Zapata
Western High School
Submitted for publication to

Family squabbles, sisterly moments and a young girl's thirst for adventure filled the stage at Nova Southeastern University in The Sagemont School's solid production of Little Women.

Adapted from Louisa May Alcott's classic novel, which was first published in 1869, Little Women focuses on the lives of women and their societal role during the Civil War. The musical, which first opened on Broadway in 2005, follows the lives of the four March sisters, Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy, and their transition from childhood to womanhood. Much of the story, however, is centered on Jo and her dreams of becoming a famous writer to provide for her family.

Angel Martinez, who played Jo March, did a splendid job of carrying the show as the lead actress. She wove together the tender moments of the piece with her endearing facial expressions, especially in the scenes shared with the other sisters, and her movements and posture correctly characterized the tomboy-like nature of Jo. She added energy and charisma that other members of the cast lacked in.

Rebecca Jordan made a memorable addition to the cast in her part as Meg, the eldest and most romantic of the March sisters. Her commitment to the character was shown in the way she delivered her lines and carried herself on stage. She also made strong connections to the other characters, especially Mr. John Brooke (Bruno Paes-Leme). The audience witnessed a heartwarming moment when they beautifully executed the song "More Than I Am," in which Mr. Brooke proposed to Meg.

Amanda Jimenez's part of Marmee March, the backbone of the family, was carefully developed from the beginning to the end of the show. Jimenez's tone and voice quality tessellated well with the wise words that Marmee often gave to her daughters, particularly in "Days of Plenty," when she encouraged Jo to keep following her dreams and not let the death of her sister Beth hold her back.

Many of the most emotional and heightened moments of the show seemed to be deficient in energy and character commitment which affected the overall mood of the show, but the cast did a great job in remaining focused, which is easier said than done when performing in a black box theatre.

The carefully constructed props used by actors in various scenes added to the creative set and stayed true to the time period. The music cues were consistent throughout the show and contributed to the flow of the show.

The Sagemont School's production of Little Women was touching and an overall entertaining experience that reminded us to never lose hope in what we wish to accomplish.

Michael Shelfer
St. Thomas Aquinas High School
Submitted for publication to

The ideals of unity and closeness in the family, especially those in families whose fathers and/or mothers are away at war, have always been relevant in American society, even to this day. The families of America's soldiers are given the task of holding down the fort at home. Sagemont School's production of Little Women explores this situation.

Based on Louisa May Alcott's 1869 novel of the same name, Little Women: The Musical tells the story of the four young sisters of the March family - Jo, Meg, Amy, and Beth - whose father is currently serving as a Union army chaplain in the Civil War. Each of these four sisters go through their own phases of self-discovery during their young lives, but attempt to stay connected through the bond of sisterhood they hold.

The chemistry of the four sisters was virtually flawless throughout the production. The characters of Jo (Angel Martinez), Meg (Rebecca Jordan), Amy (Jessica Jordan), and Beth (Jessica Elalouf) were brought to life so naturally by these actresses, it was as if they had grown up together in the real world (Rebecca and Jessica are sisters in real life).

Tasked with anchoring the production with her performance as Jo March, Angel Martinez succeeded with flying colors, capturing the independent and adventurous spirit of Jo March in every word she said. Martinez stood out in every scene she was in, speaking strongly and fearlessly as she moved from childhood into adulthood. Her vocals were also excellent, as she sang with a hearty and passionate voice that perfectly fit her character.

A number of supporting characters stuck out as well. Amanda Jimenez did a wonderful job in the motherly role of Marmee, maintaining the emotional stability needed among the March sisters during their times of strife. Additionally, Bruno Paes-Leme brought an engaging presence onto the stage as Meg's love interest, Mr. Brooke, that led to him being not only one of the funniest characters in the show, but also one of the most likable.

The make-up crew did a fair job of creating life-like 19th century characters, despite having issues with the fake facial hair of a number of characters. The lighting was effective throughout, including in the second act, when the automated lighting system went out and the lighting had to be done manually for an entire act. The lighting crew showed great poise under pressure in this situation. Also, each character with a speaking part had his or her own microphone, which made it all the more frustrating that there were moments where I could hear only Jo's character and no one else. There was at least one booming microphone in every scene, which took me out of the moment many times throughout the production.

The Sagemont School's production of Little Women: The Musical proved to be an entertaining exhibition carried by a tenacious and fearless leading performance.

Rhiannon Karp
Suncoast Community High School
Submitted for publication to

A peculiar combination of contemporary music, the civil war and high school was created at The Sagemont School's production of Little Women. Extreme vocals, catchy one liners and sweet chemistry really held this show together. With the help of a few keen actors, this show had its successful elements sprinkled in.

Not only is Little Women a difficult show to relate to, it is also accompanied by outrageous harmonies, and a rough score. Little Women follows the life of Jo March, who is an aspiring writer that is trying to make her big break in the modern world. It takes you on a journey that travels through death and life, love and despair, and the unbreakable bond between sisters.

Angel Martinez (Jo March) was able to steal the show with her strong vocals. The entire stage seemed to light up whenever she stepped foot on it. Creating a character that was different from all of the others was quite tough, but Martinez took that as a challenge and defeated it. She seemed to bring a sensitive yet determined character. She stuck to one life goal and developed it throughout the show. Martinez's vocals had a few pitch issues, but were surely covered up by her ability to act her way out of things. Taking a different and more relatable approach to Jo March truly created an intentional connection between her struggles and the struggles of any teenager who is trying to strive for something they love deeply.

Bruno Paes-Leme (Mr. John Brooke) looked at his character as a more genuine and charming guy. Paes-Leme managed to encompass both directions of the character and individualized it. His vocals were powerful in his duet ‘More Than I Am' and created the ability to connect with the audience while singing beautiful notes. The chemistry that he and Rebecca Jordan (Meg March) had was memorably noticeable and fully portrayed the ideas of love at first sight. From the moment their eyes linked to the moment their lips touched, they never lost their rendition of young, naïve love.

The props used in the show were original and creative enough to catch my eye. A few minor set change issues were easily fixed as the show went on with itself. The make-up fit the characters well enough to where they were able to be seen, but it wasn't too out of character. The hair was perfectly set in the time period.

Little Women sincerely tried their hardest to tackle a problematic show, and succeeded in some aspects. Christopher Columbus, all I can say, is that it was astonishing.