This November 22 and 24 at the W. E. Scott Theatre in the Fort Worth Cultural District, Fort Worth Opera presents its season-opening production: Mark Adamo’s operatic adaptation of beloved literary classic, Little Women. Adamo’s exquisite opera, a daringly contemporary adaptation, provides a rich new version of the story, breathing exciting life into the resonant themes of family, sisterhood, growing up, and coming home.
Which is perfect, because Little Women makes its 2024 Fort Worth homecoming as a fully staged mainstage production (it was last performed by Fort Worth Opera in 2005) with direction by Claire Choquette and chamber orchestra accompaniment by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Tyson Deaton. Mezzo-soprano Kelly Guerra — who arrives in Fort Worth fresh from her Metropolitan Opera debut in Osvaldo Golijov and David Henry Hwang’s Ainadamar — leads the talented young cast in the role of Jo March. Her portrayal of Jo is complemented by soprano Mary Feminear as Beth, lyric coloratura soprano Megan Koch as Amy, and mezzo-soprano Bridget Cappel as Meg. Playing John Brooke is baritone Erik Earl Larson, who met, fell in love, and married Bridget Cappel when they were Fort Worth Opera RAs – they will be falling in love and getting married all over again onstage. The cast also includes tenor Charles Calotta as Laurie; bass-baritone Christopher Curcuruto as Friedrich Bhaer; bass-baritone Seth-Emmanuel Clarke as Gideon March; mezzo-soprano Kaswanna Kanyinda as Cecilia March; and mezzo-soprano Twyla Robinson as Alma March.
“When people think of Little Women, it feels very nostalgic,” Choquette said. “It’s a book that many of us read when we were younger and just starting to dive into the classics. But it’s also an important piece of literature with a relatable story about the value of family connections and growing up together. In modern American society, individuality is often more heavily valued than family ties. We’re encouraged to leave our family homes and pursue our dreams alone, while rarely being reminded that it’s okay to prioritize family, whether chosen or biological, and keep them close to your heart.” Choquette is dedicated to crafting opera performances that are accessible and intriguing to a wide variety of modern audiences.
To suggest those varieties of families onstage, Choquette has made the unique decision to change an offstage chorus of voices from previous productions into a fully staged chorus of modern young women: four undergraduate performers from Texas Christian University’s Opera Studio program. The parallel presence of these modern girls as chosen family will underscore the relevance of the opera’s themes of sisterhood, family, and emerging maturity.
The W. E. Scott Theatre itself provides one final, bittersweet element to the production’s theme of homecoming. Fort Worth Opera has a long history of performing American works at the Scott, but as the arts complex is slated for imminent closure and potential redevelopment, Little Women may be the last production to occupy the Scott Theatre in its current state.
Little Women
Fort Worth Opera
W. E. Scott Theatre, 1300 Gendy Street in Fort Worth
in English with English supertitles
2 hours, with one 20-minute intermission
Friday, November 22, 2024 at 7:30
Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 2
for tickets, visit FW Opera
coming up this season: The Elixir of Love and La Cenerentola (Cinderella) at Bass Hall in April, 2025