Wasilla High School opens ‘Little Women’ Thursday

WASILLA — Wasilla High School is putting on its first live theater production in two years with a local rendition of “Little Women.”

Local actor Aspen Bakner is directing the play with WHS piano and choir teacher, Sara Guhl. She said that she was thankful to see the local theater scene coming back to life.

“It’s just nice to have theater again, especially for the students,” Bakner said. “It’s so refreshing. It’s just been down for so long. It’s been crazy. To be honest, I feel lucky.”

“Little Women” opens Thursday, November 4. Bakner said it was a unique challenge coming back from the pandemic hiatus to wrangle a group of high school students into a cohesive unit, but the students really stepped up and proved their investment in the production through constant music exercises and script rehearsals.

“It’s been going really well, and we’re really excited about it,” Bakner said.

Bakner said they’ve been working on this play since August and it’s been a lot of hard work to get to this point, and seeing the students put those countless hours of practice on full display this weekend will be worth every minute.

“All of it is the students, it’s all up to them from there. They are so determined,”

This is the school’s first production since their adaption of “Matilda” in November of 2019. Guhl said the school typically puts on one show every fall. She said that on top of inspiring students to tap into their inner talent, being involved with theater helps them develop a wide range of important skills that will serve them well throughout their years.

“Anything can happen, that’s part of the excitement,” Guhl said. “I really like to see them blossom as people. You’re essentially exposing your soul out there. Even if they never have a show again and they’ll always have that experience. It’s an experience that can’t be taken away.”

Bakner said that it’s particularly exciting to have the opportunity to direct her first production and reunite with her former choir teacher. She said that she graduated from WHS just a few years ago, and she wanted to try her hand from the other side of the stage while helping the next generation of actors discover their own love for theater.

Guhl said that Bakner has been a tremendous help to their overall efforts and left a very positive impact on the students, taking an extra amount of pride in having an alumnus fostering the creativity, passion, and drive to succeed amongst the cast and crew.

“It’s really fun and I’ve just really enjoyed it. She really stepped up to the plate... If you look around the community there’s not a lot of people doing that at her age,” Guhl said.

Bakner said they have help with the play’s score from local musicians who’ve played with local groups such as the Mat-Su Orchestra and Mat-Su Concert Band. She said it’s encouraging to see people coming back together to make these local productions happen.

“Just having theater in the community is really important,” Bakner said.

Wasilla High School’s production of “Little Women” runs through Thursday, Saturday, and Friday this week and next week. All shows start at 7 p.m. at the school theater.

Guhl noted that veterans, active military, and their families receive free admission on Veteran’s Day.

Admission is $25 for families, $7 for students, and $10 for adults.

For more information, call 907-352-8200 or 907-250-5995.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com