Children's troupe to stage 'Little Women'

Just about everyone knows Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women."

It's a classic book, with movie and play versions, about a family of sisters growing up during the American Civil War. Alcott based it on her own experiences in the mid-1860s.

But every rendition of the story, imbedded in the American collective consciousness and on many schools' required reading lists, is slightly different.

Kidz Kabaret, a Naperville-based theater education group, is presenting the show with four different casts, ensuring that audiences who attend multiple performances will see variations on a theme.

"Even when you have the same cast, you're going to have a different experience," said Kandiss Hernandez, the theater company's founder, adding that live theater guarantees a unique experience with each performance.

The reason for four separate casts is simple: Kidz Kabaret is a no-audition theater company.

"Every child gets a part, every child gets a chance to create on stage," Hernandez said.

Parents of Kidz Kabaret members greeted the news that "Little Women" would be the group's next production with enthusiasm.

"Parents were excited because there's nothing better than bringing literature to life," Hernandez said.

Most cast members are in junior high school. A few are high school students and several are adults.

The story, Hernandez said, is one every child can relate to.

"It's really just about family life. It's all about a mother and her daughters. It's beautiful, the way it's written," she said.

Because the story is character-driven, with four sisters whose distinct strengths and flaws become apparent as the play unfolds, the actors get a chance to fully explore each character and their motivations, Hernandez said.

They also get a glimpse at what life must have been like in the 1860s.

"Our kids get a feel for a different time period," she said. "They didn't have a TV to entertain themselves."

Hernandez said the two-act play runs about two hours and is appropriate for ages 10 and older.

If you go

What: "Little Women" staged by Kidz Kabaret

Where: The Comedy Shrine, 22 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville

When: 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday and Jan. 19; 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday

Tickets: $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and students, $6 for ages 10 and younger

Info: (630) 355-9212 or www.kidzkabaret.com