The Broadway tour of Little Women comes to Wilmington’s Playhouse on Rodney Square for a limited engagement. From May 9-12, come experience the beloved story of Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy March as they come to life on stage with stunning music to highlight the classic novel.
Cast member Aathaven Tharmarajah plays Laurie Laurence on this national tour. Below, he talks more about his character and why Little Women is a must-see!
For more information, visit www.LittleWomenTour.com or BroadwayInWilmington.org.
Q: Most people are familiar with Little Women, but tell us a bit about your Laurie anyway- who is he? Is there anything in particular that you really love about this character?
A: In our production of Little Women, I believe Laurie starts off as this lonely kid who finds comfort and enjoyment amongst the March sisters, particularly Jo. He is someone whose parents passed away when he was very young, and now he lives with his cranky, old grandfather, quite isolated from people his own age. Despite this, I admire that Laurie is someone who is able to see the joy and the fun in all situations. He is able to develop a strong friendship with Jo because of their shared optimistic view on how they can conquer the world.
Q: Why did you want to be a part of this show?
A: Little Women has always been a story that I loved, and so I knew that I had to audition for this tour once I heard about it. I think this story is really unique because of its emphasis on familial love. The bond between the March sisters and their adventures are feelings and stories that many can relate to, which makes it no surprise why so many love Little Women. The songs in this musical are just gorgeous, so that combined with the story really encouraged me to be a part of this show.
Q: Do you have a favorite song in the show? Why?
A: “Some Things Are Meant to Be” has got to be my favorite song in the show. It is a duet sung by my castmates, Camryn Hamm and Hannah Taylor, who play Beth and Jo March, respectively. Firstly, both of them do such an incredible job telling the story in that song and sing it so beautifully. Secondly, I love the way it showcases the relationship between Beth and Jo and the love and spirit they have for each other. Camryn and Hannah do an amazing job with that song every night, and I love watching it from offstage.
Q: Little Women is such a beloved book. How does the musical expand on the story we already know?
A: Even though the musical is an abridged version of the book, I think it is so special when you add music and dance to a story. In a musical, a song should only begin when the emotions and feelings of the characters become so big that they can’t do anything BUT sing or dance. So I really love to see our version of Little Women come to life every night, when the emotions and feelings of our characters become so big and we get to see the actors burst into these gorgeous songs that are full of life and expression.
Q: Why do you think Little Women is still so relatable over 100 years after the novel was first published?
A: Like I mentioned above, I think people relate a lot to the story of Little Women. Many people with siblings can see themselves within the March sisters, and I think the story does a great job of expressing how we love and how we dream as we grow older. Little Women is both funny and heartbreaking at the same time, and it draws people in because they care so much about the characters within the story… partly because they can see themselves in those characters.
Q: You have a BFA from the University of Utah- what’s one lesson or piece of knowledge you gained there that you always keep in mind when performing?
A: One thing that I learned about acting while at school is to be present. Because we are doing live theatre, you never know when something could go wrong or someone says a line a different way. What I love about acting is that it is really reacting to the characters and the circumstances around you, so I really try to keep an open mind about being present and being open to the possibility of anything happening on stage and reacting to it from an honest, natural place.
Q: Little Women is at Wilmington’s Playhouse on Rodney Square for only five shows. What do you want our readers to know about this production and why should they come see it?
A: Just be ready to both laugh and cry your heart out! We will definitely be taking you on a journey, and I hope audiences will enjoy the production that we as actors, musicians, and crew pour our hearts and hard work into every night!
Brenda on Broad 
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