McIntosh High School fine arts department presented Little Women the musical, Feb. 1 and 2. Directed by Drama teacher Ken Buswell and chorus teacher Hannah Beth Potter, the musical told a story about the life of four sisters growing up with their father at war and only their mother to look out for them. As time passes, the sisters discovered love, loss and the unbreakable bond they share despite multiple obstacles they faced along the way.

Lead roles were played by Iain Hemenway, Emma Skaggs, Anna Seville, Lauren Schimandle, Emily Grace Childs, Lydia Campbell, Ryan Robertson, Clay Lawhead, Ava Whiteley and Colton Hayes. “Operatic Tragedy” players were portrayed by Allie Cincera, Ryan Robertson, Jack Choat, Tiffany Smith, Natalie Cardon and Jack Hemenway.

The musical begins with one of the sisters Jo, played by Emma Skaggs, expressing her frustration for how she is unable to catch a break with her fictional writing. She reads some of her written stories out loud while numerous students act it out.

“Being in Little Women was such an amazing experience and I’m so glad that I was able to be a part of it,” sophomore Allie Cincera said. “I became closer with amazing people and I had a blast over the past couple months. While rehearsals and the time leading up to the show can be stressful, it all became worth it during show week. I’m so excited to continue doing theatre at McIntosh for the next two years.”

Playing two of the four sisters: Skaggs and Emily Grace Childs share a heart to heart scene where both their characters, Jo and Beth, say goodbye to each other for the last time. Due to Beth being diagnosed with Scarlet Fever, she passes soon after her duet with her sister Jo.

“The scene was both exciting and emotional to do,” junior Emily Grace Childs said. “It was so fun to play a character that was going to pass away. In the sense that you know that you’ve worked hard to build up a character that people would really like, therefore it makes people cry when the character is taken away. It’s an accomplishment to move people like that, and it feels like you did well. I loved the scene because working with Emma Skaggs made it all the more raw and believable. We were both tearing up ourselves while rehearsing it the first few times.”

As the show came to an end, the other two sisters, Meg and Amy, portrayed by Lauren Schimandle and Anna Seville find love. Jo is left alone with only her writing, until she meets her significant other Professor Bhaer, played by Iain Hemenway.