“Between Us Sisters”: A Dialogue with Louisa and May Alcott

Please join the Friends of the Robbins Library for this intimate conversation with two storied sisters. Perhaps some of the most famous sisters of all time are the Jo, Amy, Meg, and Beth of Little Women fame, the classic coming-of-age story set in Civil War-era Concord, Mass. Their real-life inspirations were the Alcotts, Louisa, Anna, May, and Lizzie, all deep-spirited personalities who have enchanted readers worldwide. But the relationship between Louisa and May remained a largely unexplored mystery – until now.

Concord playwrights Amy Cole and Stefanie Cloutier, Concord Visitor Center staff, and licensed tour guides, have created an intimate living history performance that brings these two siblings to life. Based on primary sources including letters, journal entries, and books, Cole and Cloutier uncovered the innermost details between these beloved Little Women. Their 1.5-hour-long production, “Between Us Sisters” features period costumes and a close-up conversation between Louisa and May. How did May come to draw the illustrations for the first edition of Little Women? Why did Louisa feel so strongly about women’s rights and why were they integral to her stories? How were May and Louisa’s parents supportive yet flawed? Cole and Cloutier’s portrayal brings a nuanced portrait of these Little Women to life.