'Little Women' to close on the 22 May 2005

Little Women is to close following Sunday's Matinee performance on the 22 May 2005. The cast was informed by the producers on the 17 May. When it closes the show will have played 55 previews and 137 performances.

Little Women, opened on the 23 Jan 2005, following previews from 2 Dec 2004 and had been booking up to the 4 Sep 2005.

Producers, Randall Wreghitt, Dani Davis, Chase Mishkin and Ken Gentry have announced that the planned national tour, which will star Maureen McGovern, is set and will open a 30 city tour in San Diego in August.

Based on the classic book by Louisa May Alcott, Little Women tells the tale of Jo, a young writer and her two sisters during the Civil War. The musical has book by Alan Knee, music by Jason Howland and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein .

Little Women stars Sutton Foster, Maureen McGovern, Janet Carroll, Danny Gurwin, John Hickok, Amy McAlexander, Megan McGinnis, Jenny Powers, Robert Stattel and Jim Weitzer.

The show received mostly luke-warm to poor notices from the popular press. Clive Barnes of the New York Post said of the show "The score is weak, generic and, when it's not unnoticeable, boring." and Gordon Cox of Newsday said "A condensed take on a heartwarming story that hits the right broad emotional notes."

Susan Foster's performance was praised by Michael Kuchwara of the Associated Press who wrote "What entertainment it delivers is primarily in Sutton Foster's hands, and it is fortunate that this engaging, spunky performer is on stage for a good portion of the evening."

Susan Foster's performance has earned her a Tony, Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Nomination for best actress in a musical. While she has not won the Outer Critics Circle award, which went to Victoria Clark for her performance in 'The Light In The Piazza,' the Tony's and the Drama Desk Awards are still to be announced.