If I had one word for the Iowa State Theatre Department’s production of Little Women, it would be empowering. No, it would be a short phrase: “empowering for women.”

The musical, which just finished its last performance on Sunday, was phenomenal and by far the best production that I have seen yet from Iowa State.

The musical takes place mostly in Concord, Massachusetts towards the end of the Civil War. I say that the musical is “empowering to women” because the main focus is the March sisters.

The four of them, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, are as close as can be. Throughout the production the “little women” are faced with problems that are still relevant today. This is mostly noticed through the second eldest girl, Jo.

Jo, who is played by vocal music education major Maddie Oslem, faces these dilemmas more than anyone else as she tries to get her “blood and guts” stories published.

“Jo strives to blaze her own path in a world where women are conditioned against being such brazen trailblazers,” according Brad Dell, associate professor in the Iowa State theatre department. “By starting with her sensational melodramas, Jo tries to be what she thinks a great writer ought to be.”

It wasn’t easy to be a woman during the late 1800’s, and for obvious reasons. Women were meant to keep the house clean and, as one publisher tells Jo, to “go home and have babies.”

When her Aunt March, who is played by music major Bridget Johnston, bets Jo that she can’t act like a lady, Jo takes the challenge so seriously that she does something that she never in a million years thought that she would do- go to a ball, though she would rather prove her worth to society by proving that she is a phenomenal and compassionate writer.

I was thoroughly impressed with the way that Oslem portrayed Jo March. In a previous interview with Oslem, I learned that she was able to connect with her character rather easily. Even though she didn’t have any sisters, Oslem was able to fully transform into Jo and adapt her love for her sisters.

In that interview, Oslem said, “I think I relate so much to her because… I was a tomboy when I was younger.” It was easy to see this in her acting. She moved in a way that was tomboyish and held herself upright.

Let’s get to the part that makes a musical a musical: singing.

Oslem’s voice was like a breath of fresh, spring air after a thunderstorm. It was a relief and a beautiful experience. Each song was better than the last, and I was sad that it had to end.

I’d like to say thank you to the cast and crew for creating a show that was absolutely phenomenal. A performance like that was a once in a lifetime experience, and I am glad that I was able to experience it.

Bravo!