LITTLE WOMEN AUDITIONS

Thank you for your interest in Arena Fair Theatre’s Little Women auditions!

Instead of signing up for audition times, you should plan to arrive at 6:00. Come down the stairs to the basement of the church, and small groups will be brought up to the sanctuary for readings one at a time. Choose one of the readings for the character you believe suits your personality and age.  After everyone has read, some may be asked to read again.  At this point, everyone will do a short vocal audition and some cold readings from the script (which I will provide) in groups.  The vocal audition is comprised of singing one verse of a Christmas hymn A cappella.  We will have a few songs and dances in the show, although it is a straight play. Please wear comfortable clothing and come prepared to have fun! 

Auditions will be run the same on night two, and callbacks will also be Monday evening after the regular auditions are done.  Please only come to one audition unless asked to return.

AUDITION LOCATION

Zion United Church of Christ
51 W. Central Ave., Delaware, Ohio

PERFORMANCES:

• Friday, December 3, 2026, 7:00pm

• Saturday, December 4, 2026, 2pm Matinee

• Saturday December 4, 2026, 7:00pm

• Sunday, December 5, 2026, 2pm Matinee

Director: Cheryl Showalter

READINGS BY CHARACTER

MARMEE--(Marmee is the mother of the LITTLE WOMEN. Her husband is off to war, and she is managing the best she can to hold the family together.  Marmee is wise and kind, full of wisdom and advice. She is very beloved by her daughters)

1)Now dry your eyes. It's not so bad as you think. Pass me that comb, Amy, please.  There now, if we comb theses strands forward into a fringe it will look quite neat and tidy, and when you get to the Gardener's refasten your bow a little further forward onto the forehead and nothing will seem amiss.  

2)  I shall mind it very much, Beth, but it is only the natural order of things dear.  Nothing would give me greater pleasure to see you all well and wisely married, leading useful pleasant lives with as little care and sorrow to try you as God sees fit to send.  To be loved and chosen by a good man, is the best and sweetest thing which can happen to a woman, and I sincerely hope that my daughters may know that beautiful experience. I am ambitious for you, of course, but not to have you make a dash in the world--to marry rich men merely because they are rich. I'd rather see you poor men's wives if you were happy, beloved and contented, than queens on thrones without self-respect or peace of mind. 

MEG MARCH--(Meg is the eldest sister--18 years of age or so. She is motherly, slightly bossy, kind and knowledgeable. She is mature enough to be interested in romance and immature enough to care what others think about her)

1) Jo! Amy!! Don't peck at one another! Josephine, you are old enough to leave off boyish tricks and behave better.  It didn't matter so much when you were a little girl, but now you are older and turn up your hair you should remember that you are a young lady!

2) I shall do nothing of the sort.  Winking is not at all ladylike. I shall lift my eyebrows if anything is wrong, and nod if you're alright. Now, when we get there Jo, do hold your shoulders strait, and take short steps, and don't shake hands if you are introduced. (suddenly she sniffs anxiously) Ought they to smoke like that?

JO MARCH--(Jo is the second eldest sister--age 16 or so.  She is maturing whether she likes it or not.  Jo doesn't relish getting older and she wants everything to always stay as it is.  Jo is stubborn, headstrong and very smart.  She wants to be a famous writer some day and thinks of herself as a tomboy.)

1) I'm not, and if turning up my hair makes me one, I'll wear it in two tails until I'm thirty! I hate to think I've got to grow up and be "Miss March". It's bad enough to be a girl anyway! I can't get over my disappointment in not being a boy, and it's worse than ever now.  I'm dying to go fight with father, but I can only stay at home and knit like a poky, old woman!

2) But Laurie's rich and generous and good, and loves us all: and I say it's a great pity my plan is spoiled. Oh dear, I wish wearing flat irons on our heads would keep us from growing up. But buds bloom into roses, I suppose, and kittens grow into cats.  More's the pity!

BETH MARCH--(Beth is the third child, around age 14.  Beth is kind hearted, sweet and the least ambitious of the March daughters.  She enjoys being at home with her sisters and pets. Beth plays the piano and takes care of domestic chores. She is the most beloved by all her sisters)

1) I don't know how you cope with her, Jo. She just frightens me to death. I'm glad I have only to stay at home and help. It's wrong to grumble, I know, but I do think washing dishes and keeping things clean and tidy home here is just the worst work in the world! My hands get so stiff that I can't practice well at the piano at all.

2) So much of that is due to Mr. Laurence--letting me go over and practice on his grand piano all these months. That helped me improve such a lot, but, then, to give me this! Although I've had it for a whole week now, I can hardly believe it!

AMY MARCH--(Amy is the youngest March daughter.  Around age 12.  She's self centered and conceited about her looks.  She worries more about her appearance than the other girls. She tries hard to behave, but fails many times. She is actually a good girl at heart)

1) I don't like that half as well as going with you and Laurie and Mr. Brooke in the carriage.  Please let me!  I've been shut up with this cold for ever so long, and I'm dying for some fun.  Beth's had her piano given to her and Jo's had all the excitement about the story, and now you're off to the theater, and I haven't had anything.  It just isn't fair! Do take me, Meg! I'll be ever so good.  

2) I don't wish to be sent off as if I was in the way! Besides it's always so horrid at Aunt March's with her rules and orders and "things -to-do" and lectures on "how-one-should-behave". I should have to do all the things Jo does--like feeding that awful parrot. It always screams at me when I go near it and pecks at my hair.  And I cannot endure her fat, cross, little beast of a dog either, for it snarls and yelps whenever it sees me. And the cook is so bad-tempered I dare not go near the kitchen, and the coachman is deaf, and the . . .

AUNT MARCH--(Aunt March is a wealthy old woman, who lives in a mansion fairly close to Orchard House.  She drops in now and then to show her disapproval with whatever is happening at the house.  Jo is Aunt March's helper during the day and has to deal with her bad temper constantly)

1) I've just seen your Sister, Meg. She came jumping around in front of the carriage to attract my attention like a demented dervish. Frightened the coachman out of his wits! I wonder the horses didn't bolt. Just going off for the doctor she tells me. What's all this about Beth being laid up with scarlet fever?

2) It seems to me that everything was very neatly planned long before I arrived.  So, let us not discuss, Miss, what is or is not convenient to me! ( to Jo, more quietly so that the others shall not hear) See that Beth has everything she needs--and you may tell the Doctor to send his bill to me. (turning to Amy) Well, child! Are you coming or not? We have not all day to waste, you know, and there is much to be one at home.  Sunday may be a day of rest, but we do not give ourselves over entirely to pleasure-seeking and self-indulgence!

HANNAH--(Hannah is the servant for the March family, although she's really more of a member of the family.  Hannah cooks, cleans, does laundry, etc.  She's totally devoted to the March family, and a bit lower class in her behaviors)

1) It's . . . it's over.  I  . . . I can hardly believe it's happened . . . the fever's turned.  She's sleepin' natural! Her skin's damp and she's breathin' easy. Praise be given . . . she's going to be all right! (starts to cry with relief) I must go back, but I had to tell you that she's going to be all right!

2) My! That Aunt March of yours is a tiresome old torment! I reckon you stood up to her something proud. Miss Meg! Well, my lamb, I came here to nurse you as a babby, and I've seen you grow to be a fine young woman. I'm as pleased for you now as I could possibly be . . . and if this young man don't treat you proper, then I shall be after him with my carpet beater!

LAURIE--(Laurie is the March's next door neighbor.  Age 20 or so.  He lives in wealthy world with all that entails, but he prefers the middle class comfort of the March family, and they take him in as their brother.  Laurie falls in love with Jo as the show goes along)

1)  Keep hoping for the best; that will help you, Jo. Poor girl, you're worn out.  It isn't like to to be forlorn. Stop a bit! I know just the thing to hearten you in a jiffy! (he pours wine for them both) A sip of wine will warm you up and cheer you up, and soon your mother will be here, and then everything will be all right!

2) (speaking to Amy) I'll tell you what I'll do.  If you go to Aunt March's I'll come every day and take you out driving or walking.  Now, it wouldn't be so grim, would it, with me popping in to tell you how Beth is, and take you out gallivanting? The old lady likes me, and I'll be as sweet as possible to her to make things easy for you.

JOHN BROOKE--(John is Laurie's tutor.  Age 25ish. He is dependable and gentlemanly. John begins falling for Meg as the show moves along) 

1) Miss March, I'm extremely sorry to hear the news of your father. I have come to offer myself as escort to your mother.  Mr. Laurence has some commissions for me in Washington, and it would give me real satisfaction to be of service to Mrs. March while I am there. 

2) (with a smile) Perhaps not always Miss March, for he does not always apply himself as he should, but it is very rewarding when he does, and one begins to see the fruit of one's work! 

MR. LAURENCE-- (Mr. Laurence is a wealthy older gentleman who lives next door to the March family.  He has taken his grandson in to raise. He comes off as gruff, but has a kind heart, which has been broken due to past tragedies. He watches over the March family while their father is off to war)

1) I realized, too late, just what I had lost.  Pride is a great sin, Ma'am. There was only one thing left to do.  I fetched my grandson home from Italy, and have devoted what is left of my life to giving him the same upbringing and educations that his father had.

2) My dear lady, Laurie has told me your news. I am so very distressed, and have come over to know if there is anything I can do to be of service? I have taken the liberty of arranging for the carriage to take you and your boxes to the station when you are ready, but is there any other way in which I may help?

FATHER--( Father is the March family patriarch.  Middle aged. He is at war during most of the show, and only appears at the end for Christmas.  Father serves as a chaplain for the army. He is an upstanding, God fearing man, who is dearly loved by his LITTLE WOMEN)

1) (raising a glass to make a toast) Margaret, my little women, dear friends, faithful Hannah, I give you a Christmas toast! To Peace, to the Family and this hearth and homed, to lovers, to friendship.  In most families there comes, now and then, a year full of events; this has been just such a one for us. The joys have come close upon the anxieties, but it ends well after all! Let us drink to Christmas and the future!