Little Women Show Blog

Greetings from San Diego

Hello!  Andrew Varela blogging from sunny southern California here!  Just let me say, if you're going to tech a show, why not tech it in one of the most beautiful places on our little blue planet?
Fire, blah, blah, blah, sets damaged, blah, blah, show must go on, blah.
We're fine and we're going to do our show however we must.  You would not believe how upbeat the mood is here.  Before rehearsal today, Ken Gentry and Dani Davis gathered everyone and just let us know where everything stood and how "herculean" efforts from the scene shops in Vegas to our own road crew are going to get us up and running in record time.  Everyone is pulling this cart and its simply gonna get done.  We're actually looking forward to it, in an A-team/Macgyver kinda way.
I realized we were going to be ok when, back in NYC, after hearing the news and wondering what was going to happen, our own little General Patton, Susan Schulman, strode into rehearsal and proclaimed, "I will put this show on with whatever set we darn well have left!"  She was such a comfort as well as an inspiration that we all were soon feeling the same defiant spirit.  Soon the jokes came and I mentioned to Dani that this is going to make a fine chapter for the "Little Women, the musical" coffee-table book that's sure to come out.
There's a line in the show, "We March women are invincible!".  Well, it appears they're fireproof as well.

Picts from B'way.com!!!

Hi Everyone!

Yes, I was lucky enough to sneak in a see some of the rehearsal for the LITTLE WOMEN tour, and may have even taken a picture or two- But the better photographer is Bruce from Broadway.com!

Here's the link to his set of shots that day:

http://www.broadway.com/Gen/pop_photo_op.aspx?ci=516791

ENJOY!!!

BLOGGER TOM

ASTONISHING! The show will go on!

Hi All-

BLOGGER TOM here-

Some of you may have heard about a fire in San Diego, at the theatre that LITTLE WOMEN is headed to. Here is the official press release from the tour:

Little Women – The Broadway Musical Will Open as Scheduled at the San Diego Civic Theatre on Tuesday August 30th, 2005

August 18 – San Diego, CA. During the night, a two-alarm fire broke out at the downtown Civic Theatre in San Diego where the set for Little Women - The Broadway Musical, starring Maureen McGovern, was in the process of being loaded into the theater. No one was injured.

The fire was reported around 3:30 A.M. While the fire did some damage to several set pieces, water damage from the sprinklers is a bigger concern. The full extent of the damage is being assessed now. “Little Women is all about spirit, perseverance, and strength in the face of adversity. I think this has only made the production stronger,” said Pete Sanders, spokesperson for the show. “Our extraordinary company of actors feel even more in touch with the soul of the show, and we believe it will render a more poignant experience for everyone involved on stage and in the audience.”

The show will open as scheduled in San Diego on Tuesday, August 30th. For further information on the show visit www.littlewomenonbroadway.com.

Time to vote again- EVERY DAY!!!

Hi kids-

BLOGGER TOM here-

Rehearsals continue to go well with the tour, but in the meantime, this just came in from Jan Turnquist, director of Orchard House:

Smithsonian Magazine and Tourism Cares for Tomorrow have named Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House, the "Home of Little Women," as one of only three finalists for the 2005 Sustainable Tourism Award, honoring our commitment to historic preservation and responsible tourism!

Orchard House was selected from nearly 150 well-qualified nominees from across the country.  The winner will be chosen by public on-line voting between August 15th and October 31st.  You may vote once per day per e-mail address. Click here to vote

Winning would mean international recognition and a $20,000 cash prize, both invaluable aids to completing the rescue of Orchard House!

Opened in 1911, Orchard House (ca. 1690) is one of America's oldest and most authentic historic sites.  In addition to being the Alcott family home, the property sheltered Native Americans in the 1600s, witnessed the start of the American Revolution in the 1700s, and in the 1800s was a meeting place for notables of New England's Renaissance and the venue for Bronson Alcott's School of Philosophy, one of the first adult education programs in the country.

Resting on bare earth, however, Orchard House was sinking unevenly into the ground, with walls near collapse just five years ago.  In a year of heroic effort, it was lifted onto steel beams and a foundation was dug -- largely by hand, rescuing Orchard House from certain destruction.  Remarkably, the House remained open to not disappoint its global audience. Orchard House now awaits further structural work, conservation of artifacts and historic finishes, updating of safety and security systems, and restoration of The School of Philosophy and the historic landscape.

Orchard House brings the Alcott legacy in literature, art, education, philosophy, and social justice to life through acclaimed tours, living history events, curriculum-based educational programs, and original family furnishings and archives.  Countless visitors from all walks of life and every corner of the globe experience Orchard House and discover what it means to be "home" -- the rescue of Orchard House will afford future generations the same opportunity.

The massive Phase One Preservation Project of Orchard House is complete and has been recognized by this nomination.  In this contest, the highest number of votes wins, so every vote counts.  Your help is needed to spread the word to vote for Orchard House.  Forward this e-mail to your friends, and ask them to do the same.

You may vote once per day per e-mail address between August 15th and October 31st.

Each vote counts and is appreciated.

Click here to vote  

For more information, visit the Orchard House website:  www.louisamayalcott.org

You may contact Orchard House Executive Director Jan Turnquist

at [email protected]