The Talent Company is getting ready for its production of “Little Women,” which will premiere Saturday at the Central School Apartments Auditorium.

The play, based on the book by Louisa May Alcott, details the lives of the four March sisters — Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy — as they progress from childhood to womanhood during and after the Civil War.

“Most adaptations take some liberties to tell Louisa May Alcott’s novel and this version stays fairly close to the original,” director Heather Wilson-Bowlby said.

The Talent Company is a youth theater company organized to support Stanly County young people in their love of theater, according to the group’s website.

“This has been a fun show to watch come together,” said Rebekah Ayscue, a Talent Company board member. “We have several brand new cast members, a few that have never done a musical with us, and some very loyal TC’ers who have been acting with us since their elementary school days.”

“TC and this TC Cast has been a pleasure to work with on Little Women,” Wilson-Bowlby said.

The cast has been practicing on the weekends since mid-December.

The play will run at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and March 15-16 and at 3 p.m. Sunday and March 17. Tickets are $5 at the door.

The Stanly News & Press caught up with three of the leads in the play and here’s what they had to say.

Kate White

1. How old are you and what school do you attend?

I am 17 and I go to North Stanly High School.

     2. What character do you play? Also briefly describe your character. 

I play Jo March who is a quirky tomboy and has big dreams to be a famous writer.

     3. Is this your first lead role? 

This is my first lead role.

    4. How long have you been with the Talent Company?

I have been with the talent company for about 8 years, since I was in 5th grade doing my first show “school house rock.”

   5. Where you a fan of Little Women (either the book or movie) before becoming a member of the cast?

Before I auditioned for this show, I had no idea what little women was. When I watched a rerun of others doing the show on YouTube, I fell in love with Jo! I knew that she was someone I could relate with on a personal level because we are so much alike!

  6. What is your favorite part of performing?

My favorite part of performing is telling a story and becoming someone else while doing it! I think live theater is a beautiful thing if you let it be and I am so in love with being Jo March! I hope everyone enjoys the show and falls in love with the story our cast has over the past couple of months!

Kong Moua

1. How old are you and what school do you attend?

I am 16 years old and I attend North Stanly High School.

2. What character do you play?

I play Laurie Laurence.

    3. Briefly describe your character.

Laurie is a neighbor of the March family. He is an energetic and happy boy. However, on the inside he wants to feel that he belongs, to feel needed, and loved. He only has one family member and that’s Mr. Laurence, his grandfather.

4. Is this your first lead role?

This is my first lead role.

   5. How long have you been with the Talent Company?

I have been with the Talent Company for roughly three months.

6. Where you a fan of “Little Women” (either the book or movie) before becoming a member of the cast?

I didn’t know anything until my mom told me.

7. What is your favorite part of performing?

My favorite part of performing is to see the smiles of each and every person.

Lillian McRae

    1. How old are you and what school do you attend?

I am 16 years old and I attend North Stanly High School.

    2. What character do you play?

I play Aunt March.

    3. Briefly describe your character? 

Aunt March is an overbearing matriarch who wants to see her family succeed.

  4. I heard you were playing a diva. Is that a fun role to portray?

Playing a diva is always fun. But playing Aunt March is special because she has a lot of funny lines that I love reading.

  5. Is this your first lead role?

This is not my first time playing a lead. I recently had the lead role in the North Stanly High School production of “Bad Auditions by Bad Actors.”

6. How long have you been with the Talent Company?

I’ve been with the Talent Company since 2018. My first show with them was “Meet Me at the Prom.”

7. Where you a fan of “Little Women” (either the book or movie) before becoming a member of the cast?

I had never read or watched “Little Women,” but I think if I did, I would appreciate it more now.

8. What is your favorite part of performing?

My favorite part of performing is when I make a joke or do something funny as my character and the audience laughs. I’ve always loved making other people laugh or smile.