Pilgrim High School’s theater arts program is putting the finishing touches on “Little Women,” which is set to debut this Friday.

According to Richard Denningham, an English teacher and the theater director at Pilgrim, the cast and crew have been putting everything together in their rehearsals over the last few weeks.

The choice to perform “Little Women,” Denningham said, came out of practicality. He was worried he would not have enough male actors to work with; however, he said, that has since worked out fine.

“We had several really talented new kids come in, and some returning kids too, but we didn’t know that going in,” Denningham said. “So it started out as very practical, but it turned out to really be kind of a blessing in disguise. It’s a great show for our company. Lots of kids get to showcase their strengths in different ways, and it’s such a nice story.”

Some of those newcomers, Denningham said, have been extraordinary, noting that some ninth-graders have “really knocked our socks off” in their roles.

In total, according to Denningham, around 50 students will be taking part in the play.

The lead role is being played by senior Alexandra Howlett. Denningham said that throughout her time at Pilgrim, Howlett has been an integral part of the theater program, and has taken on the challenge of “Little Women” admirably.

“This is a very challenging show for the lead,” Denningham said. “It’s basically the lead, and then everybody else. She’s really taken that responsibility on, and she’s a pretty terrific performer on top of being just a great kid.”

In addition to Denningham, the cast and crew are working with specialists and music directors in order to hone their skills for the musical portions of the performance.

“We’ve got people who are talented that I bring in to help me push the kids to where they need to be,” Denningham said. “It’s easy for me to say the pieces come together, but it’s a matter of taking little steps and working one song at a time or one scene at a time, and eventually you start to pull those pieces together.”

The Pilgrim theater program will perform three shows in the school’s auditorium this weekend – one on Friday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m., one on Saturday, Nov. 23, at 7 p.m., and a Sunday matinee the following day at 2 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door and online.

For anyone looking to see the show, Denningham said to expect a heartfelt story of family and community delivered by a talented cast and crew.

“This story has survived in literature for almost 200 years for a reason,” Denningham said. “Just to watch that story come to life, it’s a comfort. There are times where you just want to feel good for a few hours… and the message of the play, in a lot of ways, is about a family – people being a part of a family – and how when families come together there’s no stopping you.”