Arts & Entertainment

Cast of ‘Little Women’

Musical Theatre West (MTW) has unveiled the full cast joining Jenna Lea Rosen as Jo March in “Little Women,” taking the stage Nov. 6–22, at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. Bringing together MTW favorites and new faces, the company will bring Louisa May Alcott’s beloved story of four sisters, family, ambition and finding one’s place in the world to life as the final production of MTW’s 2026 season.

“The magic of Little Women comes from the relationships between these characters. You have to believe they are a family, that they’ve grown up together, challenged one another and loved each other through every chapter,” said Paul Garman, executive director and producer of Musical Theatre West. “We’ve assembled a remarkable cast who bring so much heart, humor and personality to these beloved characters. There is incredible talent across this entire company, and I can’t wait for audiences to see what they bring to the stage this November.”

Joining Rosen as March family matriarch Marmee will be played by Tami Tappan Damiano, returning to Musical Theatre West after starring as Dolly Levi in MTW’s 2025 production of Hello, Dolly! A familiar face on the MTW stage, Damiano’s previous credits with the company also include “Spamalot,” “The Full Monty,” “Singin’ in the Rain” and “1776”.

The March sisters are rounded out by Katie Roche as Meg, Jordan Cruz as Amy and Haven Watts as Beth. Cruz returns to MTW following “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” while Watts makes her MTW debut. A member of the Grammy Award-winning “Pacific Chorale,”

 Watts has performed at the Hollywood Bowl and Segerstrom Concert Hall alongside the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Pacific Symphony. Roche joins the production following seven years performing aboard Celebrity and Royal Caribbean cruise lines, with credits that include “Frozen,” “Mean Girls,” “Sweeney Todd” and, fittingly, Jo in a previous production of “Little Women.”

Also returning to Musical Theatre West is Jonathan von Mering as Professor Bhaer, following his appearance as Captain von Trapp in MTW’s “The Sound of Music.” Since then, von Mering has appeared in “The Pitt,” adding to screen credits including “The Holdovers,” “For All Mankind,” “The Flight Attendant,” Julia and FBI. He will also appear in the upcoming film “Greyhound 2.”

Rounding out the company is Ariel Neydavoud as Theodore “Laurie” Laurence, Aaron Gibbs as John Brooke, Barbara Carlton Heart as Aunt March and Martin Kildare as Mr. Laurence.

Garman adds, “There’s a reason people have loved Little Women for generations. We see ourselves in these characters: in their dreams, their relationships, their heartbreaks and their love for one another. That connection is what makes this story timeless, and we can’t wait to share it with Long Beach audiences this November.”

Based on Louisa May Alcott’s timeless novel, “Little Women” follows Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March as they grow up, discover their places in the world and pursue dreams uniquely their own. At the center of the story is Jo, an ambitious, imaginative and fiercely independent aspiring writer determined to forge a life on her own terms.

Featuring a book by Allan Knee, music by Jason Howland and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein, the musical brings the beloved characters from page to stage through a story filled with humor, heartbreak, first loves and the enduring bonds of family.

Little Women takes the stage at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach from Nov. 6–22, concluding Musical Theatre West’s 2026 season. With a runtime of 2 hours and 10 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission, “Little Women” is rated G.

Tickets are available for purchase by phone at (562) 856-1999 or online at musical.org. Fees may apply. Student rush tickets for $15 are available at the Box Office one hour prior to showtime, with a valid student ID. More information, a full line-up of performances, and additional details can be found at https://musical.org.

Faces of America

Celebrate America’s 250th anniversary Oct. 10 at the Terrace Theater with Long Beach Symphony featuring music by Copland, Gershwin, and more. Experience Grammy Award-winning cellist Zuill Bailey, a special performance by the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band, and the Southern California premiere of Visions of Humanity & Unity.

https://longbeachsymphony.org/concerts-events/america-at-250/

Schubert Mass in G

More than 80 voices will come together on Oct. 11 as Long Beach Camerata Singers opens its 61st season with Franz Schubert’s Mass in G at Our Lady of Refuge church in Long Beach.

Starting at 4:30 p.m., the concert will feature Camerata alongside an eight-piece string ensemble and keyboard. Composed when Schubert was 18, “Mass in G” predates some of his best-known works, including “Erlkönig” and “Ave Maria.” This first concert of the 2026-2027 season also marks the 10-year anniversary of Camerata’s Grammy Award-Winning Artistic Director, James K. Bass.

Founded in 1966, Long Beach Camerata Singers is a nonprofit choral and music education group that serves its namesake city and the surrounding South Bay. Its mission is to enrich and transform the lives of performers and the community through excellence in performance, innovative programming and arts education. General admission is $45 and premium seating is $60. Tickets can be purchased in advance by visiting Camerata’s website or by calling their Box Office, as well as at the door on the day of the performance.

Website: https://lbcamerata.ludus.com/show_page.php?show_id=200537085

Info: (562) 900-2863.