What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1183130
of the time, like waltzes and polkas, which will be performed by a live orchestra. Gipson has staged the show in profile, with audiences on two sides, for a maximum sense of intimacy. A big part of the charm of Alcott's story is that the four March daughters — Meg, Amy, Beth and Jo — are allowed to be real, flesh- and-blood characters. These are not perfectly behaved young ladies: They yell, they fight, they sometimes act like jerks (I'm looking at you, Amy). But equally charming is the way they always find a way to come back together, forgiving all transgressions. Gipson has found a quartet of young performers who can embody all of the quirks of the characters while still remaining relatable and likable. Alison Kaseberg, in particular, rips into the firecracker that is Jo March with glee, gusto and abandon — something she says is a departure from her everyday persona. "I was nervous to go out for Jo, because, as I did my research, I realized that she's the one that a lot of people love — she's one of those literary figures," says Kaseberg. "I definitely saw myself playing Meg's role or Amy's role, because I'm naturally more feminine, and I want to be put together all the time and refined. Playing Jo is a real challenge — I have to find that tomboy part of myself. The easiest gateway is finding her feistiness. She can be so quick to anger — but when I was 19, I was the same way." Once Kaseberg found the character, though, she became Jo. "She's a lot more fun than I thought she was going to be," she says. "She's so carefree, and she doesn't care how other people see her. She only cares that she has her family around her. But, even then, she's not willing to compromise who she is to please Amy. It's been a lot of fun, getting to work with this [sibling] dynamic and finding those relationships. Everybody who has a sibling has those moments of truly hating your sibling, but you always end up finding common ground." Kaseberg is a 2017 graduate from the University of Arkansas, having returned to Fayetteville after a brief period abroad. She's currently working and planning on graduate school, but she was drawn to Pilot Arts because she missed the opportunity of performing. She is, in fact, the kind of performer Gipson had in mind when she formed the theater company more than two years ago. "I had met all these people in our community that are awesome performers, but they are living their lives, working their jobs, raising their families — but that [yearning to perform] doesn't die," says Gipson, who is an actor with New York City theater credits on her resume, as well as a member of the popular musical duo Chase Missy. "I know for me, I wanted a space like that, and I wanted to give that space to other people. I call it 'theater for everyday artists.'" Because her cast and crew are people with jobs or students, says Gipson, she's vigilant about using their time wisely. "I only call people [to rehearsal] when I need them," she says. "I'm hyper-aware of their time and what I expect from people and what they expect from me in order to balance their lives." Gipson still performs herself — she recently wrapped the movies "The Riot Act" and "Step Into: Miss Laura's" — but, she says, teaching, producing and directing at Pilot Arts has brought her a lot of fulfillment. "I get a thrill from producing," she says. "I love sitting in the audience, seeing something come together. "I want people to know that it really is an open space. It's an equal opportunity to create, and if they don't get cast, they can work with us in other ways. We bring in an orchestra and a conductor — I try to give everyone the most professional experience I can." LIKE our Facebook page before 11:59 pm this Tuesday, November 12 at to be entered to win: 2 All-Day FREE Passes to Branson Big Air Trampoline Park Go to: facebook.com/BestBranson Like The Best of Branson on Facebook for a chance to win some Really Great Prizes! (Monday - Thursday) This week's prize: businesses texted directly to your phone! 40 WHAT'S UP! NOVEMBER 10-16, 2019 WEB WATCH A video from a rehearsal of "Little Women" is available with the online version of this story at nwadg.com/whatsup. Little Women Continued From Page 4 FAYETTEVILLE LIKE US ON FACEBOOK AT NWAWHATSUP