Finding Jo March

You should know right away that this is not a traditional adaptation of Little Women.

A young writer dives into the world of Louisa May Alcott’s most famous novel in order to bring the story to life (with a little help from their friends). Suddenly the March sisters are back, and the writer is one of them… Jo! But as the lives and loves of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy unfold, the present constantly threatens to pull the writer back into reality where a tragedy they have yet to deal with waits.

It’s about telling someone else’s story so you can find your own.

Dramedy Classical Adaptation Holiday

Average Producer Rating: 5.0 out of 5

Recommended for High Schools

Running Time

About 120 minutes

Approximate; excludes intermissions and scene changes

Cast

14 Characters

5 M5 F1 Any Gender3 F or NB

Length

85 pages

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Royalty fees apply to all performances whether or not admission is charged. Any performance in front of an audience (e.g. an invited dress rehearsal) is considered a performance for royalty purposes.

Exemption details for scenes and monologues for competition.

14 Characters

5 M, 5 F, 1 Any Gender, 3 F or NB

Please see the playwright’s notes in the script for details on gender and casting flexibility.

JO [F/NB] 415 lines

A writer trying to turn Louisa May Alcott’s novel Little Women into a play. Casts themselves as “Jo March.”

AMY [F] 78 lines

The youngest March sister. An artist. Says whatever thought comes stomping through her brain.

MEG [F] 74 lines

The eldest of the March sisters from Little Women. Concerned with money and appearance, at least at first.

BETH [F] 75 lines

In Little Women, the middle sister, sweet and empathetic and incredibly musically inclined. The actor who plays Beth also plays the Writer’s sister: determined, headstrong, and occasionally bratty.

RAE / ANNIE [F/NB] 51 / 39 lines

“Jo’s” ex-girlfriend who has agreed to help them turn Little Women into a play. Plays other characters where noted, but particularly Annie Moffat, a wealthy brat of a young woman who, nevertheless, has an eye for Jo.

JET [A] 36 lines

One of “Jo’s” friends who has agreed to help them turn Little Women into a play. Impatient and possessing very little in the way of an attention span, nevertheless very much wants to help their friend. Plays other characters where noted.

NORA [F/NB] 22 lines

One of “Jo’s” friends who has agreed to help them turn Little Women into a play. Very motherly and empathetic. Plays other characters where noted.

JACKSON / CHRISTOPHER/ FRIEDRICH [M] 34 / 3 / 4 lines

One of “Jo’s” friends who has agreed to help them turn Little Women into a play. Very much a “dude bro” and super into the writer playing Jo. Plays other characters where noted, but particularly Christopher Straub, a wealthy 21st century socialite and Laurie’s boyfriend, and Friedrich Bhaer, a 19th century German man with an oversized mustache who might or might not end up marrying Jo.

MARMEE [F] 58 lines

Margaret March, mother of the March sisters. The actor who plays Marmee also plays the mother of “Jo” and “Beth.”

FATHER [M] 15 lines

Mr. March, father to the March sisters, husband to Marmee, away fighting in the Civil War. The actor who plays Father also plays the father to “Jo” and “Beth,” an alcoholic gambler who finally leaves his little family forever.

LAURIE [M] 160 lines

“Jo’s” best friend who has agreed to play Laurie, otherwise known as Theodore Laurence, a wealthy boy and next-door neighbor to the March sisters.

AUNT MARCH [F] 44 lines

In Act One, Father’s elderly and mean-spirited aunt, a wealthy woman who hires Jo to organize her library. In Act Two, not-quite-as-elderly and far more stylish (but still disgustingly wealthy) aunt who insists on controlling the lives of her nephew’s daughters.

MR. LAURENCE [M] 34 lines

Laurie’s grandfather, a beneficent gentleman who appreciates the March family’s kindness and consideration and decides to reward them when he can.

JOHN BROOKE [M] 7 lines

Laurie’s tutor who falls in love with Meg March.

Praise for Finding Jo March

Loriann Schmidt

Keizer Homegrown Theatre

Finding Jo March was the 2nd of 2 plays we have performed by this playwright and I can say that we are smitten with his intelligent writing, his sensitivity to our young actors and his exploration of the kinds of subjects that are on the minds of our teens. Jo March is an exemplary handling of a teen unsure of their own self and their journey towards understanding. While there is a positive outcome, Mr. Dean allows his main character to leave the play with unanswered questions and more of their journey ahead. The delightful plot device of a play-within-a-play is used adeptly by the playwright to have the audience join in Jo's self-exploration, with flashbacks into Jo's life, leaping from past (Little Women) to present - all without any confusion whatsoever. The leaps are clear and understood, yet still surprising enough to keep interest. Our mostly queer cast fell in love with Jo and all their characters and appreciated the growth and movement in even the "old characters". Our troupe is still talking about this piece and are grateful for the opportunity to perform it.

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