The Repertory Theatre class presented “Little Women,” their spring musical, from Monday, April 29 through Thursday, May 2. “Little Women” is the class’s last show of the year, marking the end of the 2023-2024 theater season.
A very well-known show, “Little Women” is a promising tale of overcoming the patriarchy through looking into the lives of women during the 1860’s. Junior Blake Gray, who plays Laurie in the show, expands on what the show is about.
“[It follows] a family of six: four sisters and then their mom Marmie,” Gray said. “Jo is the main sister and she’s very outgoing, she believes in not being ladylike and [Little Women] follows Jo’s life, her writing experience and how everyone turns her [book] down because she’s a woman. Then [by the conclusion of the story] she ends up living her dream and selling her story.”
Repertory Theatre is an audition class offered at the school that puts on smaller cast shows. Since you must audition for the class the students feel more committed to the shows that they put on. Sophomore Isabelle Simms, who plays Hag in the show, explains this more in-depth.
“[In] Rep Theatre, the kids care more about the shows,” Simms said. “With Mainstage, we definitely get kids who don’t care as much as some other kids do. With rep, you wouldn’t sign up for that class if you really didn’t care about theater. A lot of the kids in there try super hard and a lot are hard workers. I just think most of the shows turn out a lot higher quality.”
Repertory Theatre has a different structure compared to the Mainstage shows, according to senior Kaelyn Russell, who plays Beth in the show.
“[Repertory Theatre] is more student-based,” Russell said, “Most of the time students have to step forward in what they want to do. Copeland is there as the main director but students have to take [some] authority. The Mainstage is more guided, but for rep, It’s just you and your group.”
Russell notes that “Little Women’s” production was that of a student effort, with most students having to step up during rehearsal because of the difficulty of rehearsals.
“[Some students] had to put extra time into [rehearsing] when they already had a lead role themselves,” Russell said. “They didn’t have every class time to work with people because every class we had to do blocking. Some were doing two shows at the time, so half the people weren’t even [focused] on “Little Women.” It was hard to rally everybody.”
Simms assisted with the choreography of “Little Women” and expands on what that experience was like, compared to other choreographing she has done in the past.
“It’s definitely a lot different because you also have a smaller space to work with,” Simms said, “But a lot of the kids are more inclined to work a little harder for you, and they understand the dances a lot more because we usually have one class just strictly devoted to [dancing], and usually everybody’s there since it is a class period. Most people are usually at school. I have a lot of creative freedom because I have a lot more different skill sets and a higher skill set because a lot of really good dancers usually go into [Repertory Theatre]. I feel like that allows me to do more fun things, and it helps me experiment more with different styles.”
With the end of the theater season looming Russell reflects on the impact of putting on “Little Women” and why this show is special in itself and stands out from the other shows the department put on.
“It’s unlike any show we’ve ever done at Mill Valley,” Russell said. ”Speaking from being an actress at Mill Valley, it can be exhausting always putting on the same shows. They’re usually comedic but this one is a dramatic piece, and you’re seeing a different kind of talent. You’re seeing these actors in a new light than what you’ve always seen. I think it’s exciting because it’s different.”
