The Little Women Collection by Louisa May Alcott presented by The Online Stage.

This collection includes the remastered Online Stage productions of Little Women, Little Men, Jo’s Boys as well as Comic Tragedies by Jo & Meg.

Little Women is the story of four sisters growing up against the background of the American Civil War. Alcott wrote the book at the urging of the publisher, Thomas Niles, who was seeking a story about girls that would have popular appeal. Although it was commenced essentially as a children’s book, it developed into something of a bildungsroman, which touches on more serious issues such as the difficulties faced by single-parent families, the death of a sibling, and fractured relationships.

Little Men tells the continuing story of Jo March, who has married Professor Bhaer, with whom she now runs a small school.

In Jo’s Boys, we revisit the Plumfield clan 10 years later, all grown up and finding their way through life’s adventures and misadventures. Simmering romances blossom for some while the bravery and strength of others are tested. Through it all, Jo and Professor Bhaer desperately hope they have done their duty in raising up good citizens of the world with dreams, passions, empathy, and intelligence. Alcott shines once again with her ability to write human emotion through real-world scenarios that are still relevant today.

Comic Tragedies by Jo & Meg is a collection of plays written by Jo and Meg March, often discussed and performed in the March family attic by the beloved Little Women as the Pickwick Players. Our cast returns as Jo, Meg, Amy, and Beth to perform every role with dramatic flair from damsels in distress to evil villains, and no shortage of mistaken identities and sword fights.

Cast:

Narrators—Lee Ann Howlett and Erin Grassie

Jo—Amanda Friday

Meg—P. J. Morgan

Beth—Tiffany Halla Colonna

Amy—Becca Maggie and Anna Grace

Laurie—Andy Harrington

Professor Bhaer—Ben Lindsey-Clark

Various other roles performed by Elizabeth Klett, Ron Altman, Ben Stevens, Nancy German, Maureen Boutilier, Jeff Moon, Jennifer Fournier, Miranda Hodges, Izzy Lindsey-Clark, Rebecca Thomas, Brett Downey, Sarah Pignatello, Chris Marcellus, Leanne Yau, Cate Barratt, Libby Stephenson, Marty Krz, David Prickett, Arielle Lipshaw, Ted Wenskus, Tomas Peter, Anastasia Durning, Josh Innerst, Tim Sailer, Sydnee Fullmer, Lance Rasmussen, Tyler Hyrchuk, Max Gallo, Anna Grace, Jennie VanderLugt, and Trisha Rose.

Amazon/Audible • iTunes

Performed by The Online Stage

This play is a fictionalized account of the life of William Shakespeare, beginning from his humble origins in Stratford-upon-Avon with his wife, Anne Hathaway, to his life as a successful playwright in London. This play uses several biographical speculations about Shakespeare’s life to tell a fascinating tale, such as his relationship with his wife (to whom he famously left his “second-best bed” in his will), his friendship with fellow playwright and competitor Christopher Marlowe, his interactions with Queen Elizabeth I, and even an extramarital dalliance with the queen’s maid of honor, the two-timing temptress Mary Fitton (who is speculated to be the “Dark Lady” to whom Shakespeare refers in his sonnets).

Clemence Dane is the nom de plume of Winifred Ashton, an English novelist, and playwright, who is best known for her novel Regiment of Women and once won an Academy Award for best story.

Cast:

Narrator – Anna Grace

William Shakespeare – Tom Saer

Anne Hathaway – Grace Garrett

Christopher Marlowe – Andy Harrington

Mary Fitton – Leanne Yau

Queen Elizabeth – Linda Barrans

Mrs. Hathaway – Sarah Mitchell

Henslowe – Alan Weyman

Child – Becca Maggie

Landlord – Graham Scott

Hawker – Craig Franklin

Drinking Man – Mark Crowle-Groves

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Anne’s House of Dreams by L. M. Montgomery

Performed by The Online Stage

Anne and Gilbert begin their life together in Anne’s House of Dreams, a continuation of the story that began with Anne of Green Gables. First published in 1917, the L. M. Montgomery series continues with Anne as a new bride making new friends wherever she finds them. They settle on the seashore at Four Winds Point, an area near the village of Glen St. Mary on Prince Edward Island, Canada. She is befriended by the capable Miss Cornelia Bryant, kindly old sea Captain Jim, and the beautiful, mysterious figure of Mrs. Dick Moore.

Cast:

Narrator – Susan Iannucci

Anne Shirley – Amanda Friday

Leslie Moore – Erin Grassie

Miss Cornelia Bryant – Sara Morsey

Captain Jim – David Stifel

Susan Baker/Mrs. Harmon Andrews – P. J. Morgan

Tom/Owen Ford/Old Leon Blaxquiere/John Selwyn – Jeff Moon

Paul Irving/Dr. Dave/Marshall Elliot – Andy Harrington

Phillipa – Anna Grace

Marilla/Mistress Selwyn – Elizabeth Klett

Mrs. Rachel Lynde – Maureen Boutilier

Diana – Tiffany Halla Colonna

Davy/Mrs. Doctor Dave – Grace Keller Scotch

Gilbert Blythe – Ted Wenskus

Miss Patty – Trisha Rose

Mrs. Jasper Bell/Charlotta the Fourth – Becca Maggie

Audio edited by Susan Iannucci

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Charles Dickens’ classic Yuletide tale is one of the most popular tales of personal redemption in world literature, and has been adapted many times for presentation on film and on stage.

This dramatic reading features the voices of the Online Stage. All proceeds from the sale of this audiobook will be donated to Concerns of Police Survivors, a non-profit organization which provides support for the families of police officers who lose their lives in the line of duty.

The cast of narrators includes Bob Neufeld, Ron Altman, Ed Humpal, Alan Weyman, Elizabeth Klett, Chyanne Donnell, K. G. Cross, Evie Maria, Denis Daly, John Burlinson, Beth Thomas, Charlotte Duckett, Jeff Moon, Amanda Friday, Marty Krzywonos, Becca Maggie, Jennifer Fournier, and Brett Downey.

Amazon/Audible • iTunes

Presented by The Online Stage

Sylvie and Bruno was the last novel completed by Lewis Carroll and was published in two parts. The second volume, which is the subject of this recording, appeared in 1893.

This book deals with the resolution of the conflicts described in the first volume. 

Arthur and Muriel are finally united after a traumatic separation and Sylvie and Bruno are reconciled with their wayward uncle, who has shown a strong ambition to take over the kingdom temporarily vacated by his brother.

Carroll’s thesis about the universal power of forgiveness is reflective of his own theological struggle with, and eventual rejection of the concept of eternal punishment, which is a significant subject of discussion in the book.

Cast

Narrator – Noel Badrian

Bruno – Leanne Yau

Sylvie – Becca Maggie

Arthur Forrester – Graham Scott

Lady Muriel Orme – Elizabeth Klett

Warden – Peter Tucker

The Professor- Ron Altman

The Other Professor – Ben Stevens

The Chancellor and Eric Lindon – Mark Crowle-Groves

Earl of Ainslie – Denis Daly

Mein Herr and the Gardener – Alan Weyman

The Count – David Stifel

The Emperor – Craig Franklin

The Empress – Linda Barrans

Also featuring the voices of Amanda Friday, Andrew Coleman, Grace Keller Scotch, Phil Benson and Sarah Mitchell.

Audio edited by Denis Daly

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Old Friends and New Fancies: An Imaginary Sequel to the Novels of Jane Austen, by Sybil Brinton. Presented by the Online Stage.

Old Friends and New Fancies is the first ever Jane Austen fan fiction and was originally published in 1913. Sybil Brinton imagines an entirely new story of romantic entanglements using a mashup of characters from all of Austen’s major novels. Have you ever wondered what happened to Georgiana Darcy and Kitty Bennet from Pride and Prejudice or Mary Crawford and Tom Bertram from Mansfield Park? Find out in this delightfully comic homage to Austen’s beloved characters.

Cast:

Georgiana Darcy: Becca Maggie

Mr. Darcy: David Shears

Elizabeth Darcy: Arielle Lipshaw

Jane Bingley/Anne Wentworth: PJ Morgan

Elinor Ferrars/Mrs. Hurst/Lucy Ferrars: Anna Grace

Miss Bingley/Anne Steele: Tiffany Halla Colonna

Colonel Fitzwilliam: Rob Goll

Mary Crawford: Amanda Friday

James Morland/Mr. Knightley: Andy Harrington

Lady Catherine de Bough/Mrs. Jennings: Sara Morsey

Sir Walter Elliot/Mr. Bennet: Peter Tucker

Emma Knightley/Mrs. Grant: Elizabeth Chambers

Tom Bertram/Mr. Yates: Jeff Moon

Mr. Bingley/Captain Wentworth: Russell Gold

William Price: Mark Crowle-Groves

Kitty Bennet: Leanne Yau

Narrator: Elizabeth Klett

Audio edited by Elizabeth Klett

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Presented by The Online Stage

Sylvie and Bruno was the last novel completed by Lewis Carroll and was published in two parts. The first volume, which is the subject of this recording, appeared in 1889.

The story is presented by an unnamed narrator, who oscillates between two worlds: a fantasy fairyland, populated by characters similar to those in Alice in Wonderland, and the real world environs of a small village by the sea, in which the narrator has taken up temporary residence for health reasons.

The main characters are Sylvie and Bruno, fairies who are sister and brother, and Arthur Forrester and Lady Muriel Orme, who are romantically linked.

The book contains episodes which recall the hectic nonsense of Carroll’s best-known work, but also serious commentary on many social and religious issues. Because of its unusual structure and a strong tendency toward Victorian sentimentality, the work has not been held in high regard. However, it is of particular interest in that it reveals much more about the author and his attitudes than do his more popular works.

Cast

Noel Badrian – Narrator

Leanne Yau – Bruno

Becca Maggie – Sylvie

Graham Scott – Arthur Forrester

Elizabeth Klett – Lady Muriel Orme

Peter Tucker – Warden

Mark Crowle-Groves – Chancellor and Eric Lindon

Ron Altman – The Professor

Ben Stevens – The Other Professor

Denis Daly – Earl of Ainslie

Alan Weyman – Gardener

Craig Franklin – Sub-Warden

Linda Barrans – Sub-Warden’s Wife

Also featuring the voices of Amanda Friday, Andrew Coleman, David Stifel, Grace Keller Scotch, Phil Benson, and Sarah Mitchell.

Audio edited by Denis Daly

Amazon/Audible • iTunes

Anne of the Island by L.M.Montgomery

Presented by The Online Stage

Anne of the Island was published in 1915 covering her from the ages of 18 to 22. This is the third story of Anne Shirley where she earns her BA at Redmond College.

In this book, she enjoys new and old friends at Redmond, living together at Patty’s Place chaperoned by Aunt Jamesina. Gilbert proposes to Anne and she rejects him – but you must listen to the story to know the rest!

Cast:

Narrator – Susan Iannucci

Anne – Amanda Friday

Philippa – Anna Grace

Diana – Tiffany Halla Colonna

Mrs Lynde – Maureen Boutilier

Aunt Jamesin – Marie Hoffman

Gilbert – Ted Wenskus

Also featuring the voices of Ken Foster, Andy Harrington, Grace Keller Scotch, Elizabeth Klett, Becca Maggie, P.J. Morgan, Trisha Rose, and David Stifel.

Amazon/Audible • iTunes

Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi
Translated from the Italian by Carol Della Chiesa
Presented by The Online Stage

Carlo Collodi’s whimsical recasting of the myth of Pygmalion and Galatea was first published in 1883 and has since become an established classic of children’s literature. Geppetto, a poor wood carver, receives a piece of wood from which he carves a marionette. Much to his surprise, the puppet springs to life and embarks on a wild series of adventures.

Cast

Narrator – Michelle Marie

Pinocchio – Becca Maggie

Geppetto – Denis Daly

The Fairy – Amanda Friday

Also featuring the voices of Andrew Coleman, Andy Harrington, Ben Lindsey-Clark, Ben Stevens, Chyanne Donnell, Craig Franklin, Elizabeth Chambers, Erin Grassie, Grace Garrett, Griffin Johnson, Isabelle Friday, Jeff Moon, John Burlinson, Joseph Tabler, Larry Wilson, Leanne Yau, Lee Ann Howlett, Marty Krz, Peter Tucker, Phil Benson, Rob Goll, Russell Gold, Sara Sheckells and Susan Iannucci.

Audio edited by Amanda Friday and Denis Daly

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Jane Eyre is a plain orphan girl, unloved and abused by her Aunt Reed, who is sent away to boarding school. Strong of heart and craving independence, Jane embarks upon a life of governess to a young French girl named Adele, the benefactor of the mysterious Mr. Rochester. Life at Thornfield Hall proves just as mysterious as its owner with haunting laughter and a dark secret living in the attic.

Arguably Charlotte Bronte’s most famous novel, it continues to top the charts of most loved classics of all time.

Cast

Jane Eyre – Amanda Friday
Mr. Rochester – Rob Goll
St. John Rivers – Jeff Moon
John Reed – Andy Harrington
Mary Rivers – Grace-Keller Scotch
Mrs. Reed – Sara Morsey
Diana Rivers – Elizabeth Klett
Grace Poole – Danielle Cohen
Abbot – Michelle Marie
Mr. Lloyd – Ben Stevens
Mr. Brocklehurst – Alan Weyman
Frederick Lynn – Ted Wenskus
Miss Miller/Georgiana – Arielle Lipshaw
Helen/Rosamond Oliver – Becca Maggie
Adele/Blanche Ingram – Tiffany Halla Colonna
Mrs. Fairfax – Sarah Mitchell
Sam – Peter Tucker
Lady Ingram – P J Morgan
Mason – Craig Franklin

Audio edited by Amanda Friday

Amazon/Audible • iTunes

Little Men 
By Louisa May Alcott 
Presented by The Online Stage  

Published in 1871, Little Men is a sequel to the novel, Little Women. It tells the continuing story of Jo March, who has married Professor Bhaer, with whom she now runs a small school.    

Cast 

Narrator: Lee Ann Howlett 

Ragged Boy/Nat/Uncle Teddy: Andy Harrington 

John/Emil/Comodore/Silas/Peter: Jeff Moon 

Servant maid/Mary Ann/Nan: Leanne Yau  

Tommy Bangs/Dick/Nursey/Asia/Meg: P J Morgan 

Demi/Kitty Mouse: Arielle Lipshaw 

Daisy/Sally/Adolphus/Dolly: Tiffany Halla Colonna 

Jo/Rob: Amanda Friday 

Mr Bhaer: Ben Lindsey-Clark 

Franz/Jack: Ted Wenskus 

Stuffy/George: Tomas Peter 

Ned: Anastasia Durning 

Teddy/Amy: Becca Maggie 

Dan/Billy: Maureen Boutilier 

Little Bess: Miranda Hodges 

Dr Firth/Mr Roberts/Grandpa/Mr Hyde: Ben Stevens  

Audio edited by Libby Stephenson

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Presented by The Online Stage

Following Anne of Green Gables (1908), this book was written by Lucy Maud Montgomery in 1909. From the age of 16 to 18, Anne is about to start her first term teaching at the Avonlea school.

The book soon introduces Anne’s new and problematic neighbor, Mr. Harrison, and his foul-mouthed parrot, as well as the twins, Davy and Dora. Other characters introduced are some of Anne’s new pupils and Miss Lavendar Lewis, a sweet but lonely lady. This book sees Anne maturing slightly, even though she still cannot avoid getting into a number of her familiar scrapes, as only Anne can – some of which include selling her neighbor’s cow (having mistaken it for her own) or getting stuck in a broken duck house roof while peeping into a pantry window.

Narration by Susan Iannucci

Featuring the voices of Amanda Friday, Elizabeth Klett, David Stifel, Tiffany Halla Colonna, Maureen Boutilier, Grace Keller Scotch, Jeff Moon, Marie Hoffman, P.J. Morgan, Ted Wenskus, Tomas Peter, Andy Harrington, Becca Maggie, and Ben Stevens.

Audio edited by Susan Iannucci

Amazon/Audible • iTunes