Little Women

Little Women - The Musical based on the classic novel by Louise May Alcott, is coming to the Cadillac Palace Theatre where it will play from Tuesday, January 24th through Sunday, February 5th.  Recording, concert and theater start Maureen McGovern, who starred in the show on Broadway, will headline the tour.

Maureen McGovern, whose career spans over 30 years, includes recordings, concerts, Broadway, films, television and radio, with a voice that defies categorization. From a jazzy, warm pop register, Maureen glides easily into a crystalline coloratura. It is no wonder she has been called, "The Stradivarius Voice." Her appearances with America's most prestigious symphony orchestras are highlighted by duets with orchestra members in which her voice matches the tonal quality and dexterity of various instruments. She has earned a reputation for being one of America's most popular artists.

To quote Mel Torme, "Maureen McGovern is, quite simply, the most glorious singer to come down the pike in several months of Sundays. Possessed of one of the finest vocal instruments in the world, with a range that hasn't been matched since Yma Sumac stunned us all decades ago, and the ability to softly breathe into a lyric or "read" the words in a clear, strong voice, perfectly in tune, she is positively daunting to the parade of soubrettes who wish they could sing like Maureen McGovern. Add the fact that she is the loveliest of them all in form and face, and it is easy to understand why she is a world-class performer."

Maureen has recorded over 25 albums and has been a guest on other numerous prestigious recordings, including a duet with Placido Domingo, “A Love Until the End of Time,” and the CBS recording of Bernstein’s “Glitter and Be Gay” and Faure’s “Pavane” with the Philharmonia Virtuosi of New York.

Maureen’s feature roles include The Towering Inferno, Airplane! (playing ‘Sr. Angelina,’ the guitar-strumming Nun), Airplane II: The Sequel and most recently, the independent film Sex and Bullets.  Maureen also is currently heard as the voice of ‘Rachel’ in the DreamWorks animated video/DVD Joseph: King of Dreams with Ben Affleck.

Maureen returned to Broadway last fall, originating the role of 'Marmee' in Little Women - The Musical. She recently performed in the West Coast Premiere of William Finn's Elegies at the Canon Theatre. Maureen starred as 'Countess Aurelia' in an historic revival of the 1969 Jerry Herman musical Dear World (an adaptation of The Madwoman of Chaillot) at The Sundance Institute Theatre. She originated the role of 'Eleanor Bridges' in the World Premiere of Letters From 'Nam at Boston's North Shore Music Theatre. Other recent performances include her dramatic debut role as 'Eleanor of Aquitaine' in The Lion in Winter at The Carpenter Square Theater, 'Madame Emery' in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg at the Sundance Theatre, and as 'Mary Turner' in George Gershwin's Of Thee I Sing in the prestigious 'Reprise' series at UCLA's Freud Playhouse in Los Angeles. Critics and audiences alike were delighted with her definitive portrayal of 'Anna' in the Broadway National Tour of The King and I.

Ms. McGovern made her Broadway debut in 1981 as 'Mabel' in the Joseph Papp production of The Pirates of Penzance and was hailed by New York Times critic Frank Rich as "...a winning comedian... a real find for the musical theatre." Other Broadway roles include 'Luisa Contini' in the Tony Award winning production of Nine with Raul Julia and as 'Polly Peachum,' opposite Sting, in The 3 Penny Opera. Off-Broadway, she originated the role of 'Mary' in Brownstone. She has also starred in productions of The Sound of Music, South Pacific, Guys & Dolls (playing both 'Sarah' and 'Adelaide') and I Do, I Do. Her children's musical, The Bengal Tiger's Ball, had its East Coast Premiere in 1999. Maureen wrote the music, co-created and starred in the production.

Based on Alcott’s own family experiences, Little Women - The Musical, follows the adventures of Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March as they grow up in Civil War America. The beloved story of the March sisters is timeless and deals with issues as relevant today as when they were written. Now for the first time ever, this wonderful narrative has been brought to life as an exhilarating new musical filled with glorious music, dancing and heart. Little Women - The Musical embodies the complete theatrical experience, guaranteeing a night filled with laughter, tears, and a lifting spirt.