It is set during and after the Civil War and tells the story of the March family, principally the four girls: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. The girls struggle and grow as a family while their father is serving in the war and learn the value of hard work, self-sacrifice, and love.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

MARTHA “MARMEE” MARCH Extremely kind, wise, strong and loving. Has high standards, but understands human frailty. Dignified but not elegant. Beloved by her girls. Beloved by everyone who knows her. She is indefatigable in her labors to make life better for all in her sphere. Seems to always maintain her composure.

MR. ROBERT MARCH Father of the four March girls. A gentle soul but with great strength of purpose. Intelligent, loving, wise and with a redeeming sense of humor to offset all that goodness. Very much ahead of his time. A minister, he has volunteered as a chaplain in the Union army and is on the front lines, away from his family through most of the play. At one time fairly wealthy, he came to the aid of a friend in trouble, resulting in near-bankruptcy.

MEG MARCH 17 years old at the opening of the play, and is the eldest of the March daughters. She is extremely pretty with lovely hands, which she is proud of. To help earn money for the family, she has become a governess to young children of a wealthy family and finds it hard to watch the teenage daughters of the family go to parties and buy innumerable dresses and accessories. She is very sweet and kind and rather naive. Jo adores her and even obeys her because her advice is so gently given.

JOSEPHINE “JO” MARCH The second-oldest daughter, Jo starts the play at 15 years old. She is athletic and tomboyish, bold, bluntly truthful, fun-loving, and endlessly creative. She has a quick temper, a sharp tongue, and restless spirit that often get her into scrapes. She is strong, brilliant, funny, fiercely loyal, and very loving. She is also observant and thoughtful, but rarely shy. Barely tame, she chafes at a lack of freedom. Her long, thick hair is her one beauty, but usually tied back messily to keep it out of the way. Her clothes are fly-away looking, and she is rapidly taking the shape of a woman - and does not like it. To contribute to the family resources, she has signed on as her Aunt March’s assistant. Her greatest affliction is that she can’t read, write, run, and ride as much as she’d like.

BETH MARCH 13 years old at the beginning of the show; a rosy, smooth-haired, bright-eyed girl with shy manner, a timid voice, and a peaceful expression. Too bashful to go to school, she is nicknamed “The Mouse” by the family and “Little Tranquility” by her father. She helps Hannah take care of the March home, cleaning, cooking and washing. She never thinks of any reward, but to be loved. Beth loves music and dreams of a beautiful, well-tuned piano. It would be great if this actor plays the piano and sings well.

AMY MARCH 12 years old at the beginning of the play. She is described as “a regular snow maiden”, pale and slender, with blue eyes, golden hair, and the posture of a “very important person” - in her own opinion at least. She will grow into an elegant beauty. She is a font of malapropisms. School is currently her job, which she survives by being a model of deportment, if not a top scholar. Her greatest trial is her nose, which she feels is flat and not aristocratic and she blames this misfortune on Jo who dropped her on a coal hod when Amy was a baby. She is a talented artist and her sisters call her “Little Raphael”.

LAURIE (THEODORE) LAURENCE 16 years old when the play begins, he is the extremely wealthy next-door-neighbor to the March’s. Over-protected by his grandfather, he is of resentful of the restrictions, yet a little unmotivated because everything is handed to him. He is also terribly lonely and longs for a family like the Marches, whom he observes often having a great time - and occasional quarrel - next door. He has impeccable manners but is very mischievous, highly intelligent, and full of fun. He loves sports and riding but also music, art, and literature. He is not very interested in his studies. Described by Jo as altogether jolly.

HANNAH BROWN Live-in housekeeper to the Marches since Meg was born This version of the play writes her as an Irish immigrant to the States, and uses that vernacular (or tries to) but she could be of any nationality or ethnicity, and this author would be fine with actors adapting the vernacular to fit the character they feel works best for them. She could also be a born and bred Massachusetts American. Hannah is a respected, trusted, beloved member of the March household. She is gruff, no-nonsense and blunt, but loves the girls and Marmee completely. She is funny, bossy, shrewd and smart.

JOHN BROOKE Laurie’s tutor. A serious, intellectual young man with a quiet, gracious manner. He has a strong sense of morality and duty, leavened with great compassion, understanding, and a sense of humor. He is kind and noble. He, too, is without a family and is very lonely. Completely smitten with Meg.

MR JAMES LAURENCE Laurie’s grandfather. A very wealthy businessman. Gruff and opinionated. Very sad over the toss of his son and granddaughter. Extremely protective of Laurence and plans for Laurie to become a businessman like himself. Although he loves art, music, and literature, he is dismissive of the arts as professions. Has a well-developed and well-concealed sense of humor.

AUNT MARCH Robert March’s aunt. Wealthy, crotchety, opinionated but not well-informed, judgmental, demanding, bossy, rude, and interfering. Yet generous and devoted to her family in her own way.

FREDERICK BHAER Around 30-35 years old. A German immigrant in Mrs. Kirke’s Boarding House who teaches German to help pay his rent and is highly intelligent and extremely kind. He cares for his nephews and works hard at all his endeavors. In spite of being quite poor, he always seems to be giving things to others. He is fascinated with his fellow humans and is beloved by children and everyone else in the boarding house. He has a wonderful sense of humor.

DOCTOR BANKS Gruff but kind doctor who treats the March family and others in the neighborhood. He is competent and efficient and committed to his work and those who need him.