‘Little Women’ debuts Friday

PARKERSBURG -- An ageless story written by a 19th century author will be presented by the Actors Guild of Parkersburg.

"Little Women" opens at 8 p.m. Friday at the Guild Playhouse on Market Street where Betty Dotson directs the play based on the Civil War-era novel written in 1868 by Louisa May Alcott. The stage play, based on the book, was written by Kate Hamill. Curtain times for "Little Women" are 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday, March 8 and March 9 and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Friday is nearly sold out, but tickets are available for the remaining shows.

Tickets, which are $20, except for the Friday show which are two-for-one. Ticket information is available at www.actors-guild.com.

"I'm very excited," Dotson said.

"Little Women" will be Dotson's first drama as a director. Her last show was the musical, "Shout" produced by the Guild.

Dotson cited the quality of the cast and the directorial staff. They will take the audience through all the issues and emotions, such as anger and joy, experienced in a family, she said.

"I think the special part of this show is the relationship people will see in the family setting," Dotson said. "In the end, you'll see love and forgiveness. They rule."

"Little Women" is about the March sisters Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy as they mature.

Anna DeHart, a kindergarten teacher at Mineral Wells Elementary School, plays Jo. "Little Women" with its characters, relationships and the problems they face is as relevant today as when the book was written, she said.

"It was a really great story," DeHart said.

DeHart is making her second appearance with the Guild. The first was in the ensemble of "The Music Man" last year. The experience is enjoyable, DeHart said. Garrett, her husband and high school sweetheart, is making his Guild debut in the show and plays the father, Mr. March.

A bond has been formed among the actors playing the sisters, DeHart said.

"Me and the other girls have created a little bit of a sisterhood," she said.

"We automatically clicked," Sophia D'Eramo, who plays Beth, said. "It really got to feel like we're sisters." D'Eramo, a student at Parkersburg Catholic High School, is appreciative of the help at the Guild.

"Everyone is really nice and supportive," she said. "It's just a great environment for acting.

Her previous Guild shows include "Fiddler on the Roof," "A Christmas Story" and "Aladdin Jr."

"This has been my biggest role to date," D'Eramo said. Players in the show are Anna DeHart as Jo March, Sophia D'Eramo as Beth March, Brittany Ward as Meg March, Analeigh Bennett as Amy March, Anthony Williams as Laurie, Lynn Sommerville as Hannah, Julia Turner as Marmee March, Tim Tuten as John Brooks, Terri Higgins as Mrs. Mingott, Danny Bayer as Mr. Laurence, Bethany Spurrier as Aunt March, Garrett DeHart as Mr. March and the doctor, Kevin Paul as Mr. Dashwood, Beretta Spurrier as the Parrot.

With Dotson, the other members of the staff are Assistant Director Lori Clark, Adviser Barbara Full, Technical Director Nathan Arnold and Production Assistant Nora Corra.