If you’re looking for a lift as the end-of-semester stress mounts, go watch Cornerstone’s spring production, “Little Women, the Musical.”

 The musical opened last night, presenting a wide range of gifted singers and actors, from crotchety and commanding Aunt March (Rachel Schaefer, sophomore) to wizened old Mr. Laurence (Mike Coon, CU ’07), to beaming Beth (Amy Groen, junior), to a stunning Jo (Reagan Boomershine, freshman), whose heart shone through every ounce of her performance as the show’s lead character.

At the Wednesday dress rehearsal, Jo’s songs and lines were at first difficult to hear above the orchestra music, but her microphone problems were soon resolved and she belted out the songs in her powerful and moving way.

This stage adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic, “Little Women,” a novel about four sisters growing up during the Civil War, will give play-goers a little twist to look forward to.

It does not follow the story’s usual chronology, but instead, it opens with a flash-forward to Jo and Professor Bhaer discussing Jo’s stories, which have been rejected by multiple publishers at that point.

As she described to Professor Bhaer the “blood and guts” storylines she writes to satisfy the world, a chorus of actors recreated scenes from her stories for the audience. The chorus acts to live music directed by Randy Burghart, assistant professor of music.

Whatever acting blunders (and at times, cheesy dialogue) the show sported were far made up for by the singing talent overall. One standout was a musical lecture from Aunt March to Jo, about accepting one’s place in society instead of pursuing dreams of success.

With a swinging, too-short hoop skirt and a prim, gray bun, Aunt March commandingly strutted across the stage to extract Jo’s response.

“Surely with your guidance I could use feminine wiles with delight!” Jo sang, eliciting laughter from the crowd.  “I could be beguiling!”

Other great songs were “Astonishing,” Jo’s solo about her hopes for the future, “Delighted,” about the March sisters going to a dance, and “Some Things Are Meant to Be,” a duet between Jo and Beth.

In fact, there were several duets, and the singers’ voices blended exceptionally well together, especially the voices of Meg and John Brooke (Megan Tibbits, sophomore, and Kyle Juresich, freshman) and Jo and Professor Bhaer (Boomershine, freshman, and Nate Reynolds, sophomore).

The final duet topped them all off—“Small Umbrella in the Rain” sung by Jo and Professor Bhaer as the story draws to a close.

Tammy Looman, director of the writing center, brought her 9-year-old daughter Kelly to the Wednesday dress rehearsal, and shared her thoughts about the performance afterward.

“I cried through most of the second act,” she said. “I liked the last song before the break, ‘Astonishing,’ by Jo—that was really good. The song that Marmee and Jo sang up in the attic, that was really good, too.”

“I liked it. It was wonderful,” said Kelly.

Besides providing a night of entertainment for CU audiences, the theater department is also extending 32 free Sunday matinee tickets to the girls of St. John’s Home on Knapp Street.

“Marty Arnold contacted me and explained that they like to try to give these underprivileged girls from St. John’s home quality, memorable experiences to treasure as they are growing up,” said Jennifer Hunter, CU director of theater. “I thought this sounded great and we donated tickets for them.”

If you did not make it to opening night, you still have six more chances: April 18, 19, 24, 25 and 26 at 8 p.m., and April 27 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for students and seniors, and $5 for students at the door. To order ahead, call the Cornerstone University Bookstore at (616) 254-1663.