Northlight Theatre's Georgette Verdin Dishes On New Little Women Adaptation
By Kaila StangBy Kaila Stang|October 23, 2024|People, People Feature,
Northlight Theatre Associate Artistic Director Georgette Verdin (@georgette_verdin) talks her latest project: A new adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s iconic Little Women.
In directing Little Women, Georgette Verdin examines identity, grief and the intimate lives of women, which are all themes central to her artistic work.
What drew you to this play? More than anything, I’m drawn to creating a version of this beloved coming-of-age story that is centered on family, love, resilience and the pursuit of dreams.
Why should audiences be excited about this production? Hopefully, audiences are excited to engage with a production that honors the well-loved source material, both in the writing and presentation, while also offering the story anew. And, of course, there’s also the desire to serve up a holiday experience that audiences are eager to share with the people who are nearest and dearest to them.
Why is this play important right now? The heart and universal appeal of Little Women is an ideal selection for the disunity of our current times. We’ll be opening less than a month after the presidential election. I hope that regardless of the outcome, our production can serve as a healing agent and potent reminder of the power of kindness and how our fundamental humanity overlaps.
What do you find most rewarding about directing this play? The opportunity to develop this new adaptation alongside one of the American Theater’s most produced playwrights of the last decade is thrilling. Capitalizing on my intersectionality as a queer woman, Cuban-American and mother, I strive to create visceral theatrical experiences that elicit radical empathy. I’m up for the challenge and ready for the collaboration. After all, my cast and creative team are an embarrassment of riches. Nov. 29-Jan. 5, Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, northlight.org