On January 26, 27, and 28, Drama Club took to the stage and performed their winter musical: Little Women. This show, which was based off of the beloved book and movies, told the heartfelt story of the four March sisters and the different lives they led.
Junior Hailey Hoy, who starred in this production says that she loved “watching everyone grow and get better with the things they struggled with.” While this may be Hoy’s first show here at Ripon High, she has been involved in shows at a community church since she was 12. In Little Women, Hoy played Jo March, the musical’s lively lead.
“When I first got the role,” Hoy says, “I was a little nervous, because it was definitely out of my comfort zone. Playing Jo has been kind of a challenge, but definitely a good one.” Playing the lead in an already challenging musical is nothing short of difficult, but nevertheless, Hoy pulled off the role of Jo in an astonishing way.
Of course, Hoy wasn’t the only one in the cast who shined in their role. Senior Alizeh Ali, who played Amy March, junior Emma O’Laughlin, who played Meg March, and junior Baley (Amora) Gardette, who played Beth March, all amazed the crowd in their roles as the March sisters. Besides the four sisters, the March family was portrayed by senior Alana Jones as the role of Marmee and freshman Evangaline Christensen as the role of Aunt March. The remaining characters in the production were as follows: sophomore Kaylee Randall as Laurie, the family friend turned lover; senior Mansoor Sarwar as Professor Fritz Bhaer, Jo’s lover; junior James Wilkins as both the role of Mr. Laurence and Mr. Brooke, sophomore Molly Berger as Mrs. Kirk, and sophomore Autumn Mortimer as The Knight.
Besides the amazing cast, the show would not have been possible without all of the help behind the scenes. Little Women’s stage crew included juniors Ella Parsons, Silas Morris, Angelina Rivara, Hannah Lehr, and Giolanna Loretelli. Little Women also received the much appreciated help of Mr. Felver, who assisted everyone with his musical guidance.
Drama Club was the one who put on the production, so naturally, it was directed by its co-presidents, seniors, Alizeh Ali and Alana Jones. The directors were the ones in charge of the entire production: from getting costumes to blocking scenes, even generating publicity for the show, the co-presidents were behind everything that happened, up to the first decision made that determined the show would be Little Women.
“I chose Little Women because it really tells the story of family,” Alana Jones says, “And I think that in this community, that is valued a lot.”
