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Buffalo Theatre Ensemble (BTE), the professional Equity theater company
in residence at the McAninch Arts Center (MAC), opens its 2026-27 three-play season with "Louisa May Alcott's Little Women," by Lauren Gunderson, directed by BTE Managing Artistic Director Daniel Millhouse+*. Performances run Nov. 12-Dec. 13. There will be a preview performance at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 12.

In Gunderson's fresh and heartfelt adaptation of Alcott's classic novel "Little Women," the four March sisters step onto the stage with new vitality and emotional clarity. As Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy navigate growing up during the Civil War, they chase dreams, confront loss and discover the fierce power of family. Splash Magazine calls it, "an absolute delight from start to finish." "Ideal for a multigenerational theatrical outing," says Pioneer Press. Chicago Stage and Screen hails it as, "a heartwarming experience perfect for the holiday season."

In this play, Gunderson uses novelist Alcott as the narrator who melds into the character Jo, illustrating how the author's own life shaped the story. She incorporates prose and non-dialogue narration from the classic novel, an approach sure to resonate with fans of the book. Yet, those not familiar with the book will easily savor this heartwarming tale.

Gunderson has been recognized by TCG's American Theatre Magazine as America's most produced living playwright (2025-26). She is also the co-writer of the popular Austen-esque "Christmas at Pemberley" trilogy that ran sequentially over the course of BTE's past three holiday seasons. "Louisa May Alcott's Little Women" was originally co-commissioned by Northlight Theatre (Skokie, Ill.), City Theatre Company (Pittsburgh Pa.), People's Light (Malvern, Pa.) and TheatreWorks Silicon Valley (Palo Alto, Calif.) and premiered at, Northlight on Nov. 29, 2024.

"There's always something special about opening a new season, and "Little Women" is the perfect story to begin with: a celebration of family, resilience and the dreams that carry us forward," says Millhouse. "BTE has a proud tradition of bringing together exceptional established artists, and this production is no exception, with costumes by 2026 Jeff Award winner and BTE Ensemble member Aly Greaves Amidei and original music and sound design by Ensemble member Christopher Kriz. BTE is equally committed to supporting new talent, and I'm thrilled that this cast features a new generation of gifted young performers, most of whom are making their MAC debut."

The cast for "Louisa May Alcott's Little Women," features Valerie Martire (Louisa/Jo), Carol Kelleher (Meg), Marina Jokanovic (Beth), Adrianne Cury* (Marmee/Aunt March), Alexander Wisniewski (Laurie) and Ari Ford Golin (John, Mr. Laurence, Mr. March, Friedrich).

Director is Daniel Millhouse+*. The rest of the design team includes Caitlyn Girten (scenic design), Aly Greaves Amidei+^ (costume design), Garrett Bell (lighting design), Christopher Kriz+^ (composer and sound design), Paloma Locsin (properties design) and Amber Wuttke (fight and intimacy director/coordinator). Caitlin I. Quinn* is stage manager. Nicholas Washington is Assistant Stage Manager. Harry Smith is Student Assistant Stage Manager.

Tickets

Buffalo Theatre Ensemble presents "Louisa May Alcott's Little Women" at the McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd. on the campus of College of DuPage ,Nov. 12-Dec. 13. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28 and Sundays. The is no performance Thursday, Nov. 26. Tickets are $46. For tickets or more information, visit AtTheMAC.org.

There is an ASL performance at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 3

Related Events:  
• Pre-show Discussion: 6:45 - 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12
• Post-show Discussion Friday, Nov. 20

About Buffalo Theatre Ensemble

The mission of Buffalo Theatre Ensemble is to provide a forum in which artists, scholars, writers, students and community members explore new ideas and provocative issues through the production of quality theater for the enjoyment of its audiences. Celebrating their 40th anniversary, BTE has staged more than 125 productions. The Artistic Staff for BTE includes Daniel Millhouse+* (Managing Artistic Director), Stephen Schellhardt*~ (Associate Artistic Director) and Bryan Burke+* (Business Manager).

BTE Ensemble members are Aly Greaves Amidei^, Robert Jordan Bailey*, Amelia Barrett*, Bryan Burke*, Connie Canaday Howard*, Rebecca Cox, Lisa Dawn, Nick DuFloth, Jon Gantt, Christopher Kriz^, Daniel Millhouse*, Laura Leonardo Ownby, Michael W. Moon, Kurt Naebig*, Galen G. Ramsey*, William "Sandy" Smillie* and Kelli Walker. For more information about BTE, visit btechicago.com.

+ Denotes BTE member. *Denotes member of Actors' Equity; ^Denotes member of United Scenic Artists .

~Associated Actors and Artistes of America

Buffalo Theatre Ensemble is partially supported and funded by generous grants from Choose DuPage, College of DuPage Foundation, The Norm Woodel Inspiration Fund, Arts DuPage – a DuPage Foundation Initiative, Benevity and the Illinois Arts Council Agency. 

About The MAC  

McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage is located 25 miles west of Chicago near I-88 and I-355. It houses three indoor performance spaces (the 780-seat proscenium Belushi Performance Hall; the 186-seat soft-thrust Playhouse Theatre; and the versatile black box Studio Theatre), the outdoor Lakeside Pavilion, plus the Cleve Carney Museum of Art and classrooms for the college's academic programming. The MAC has presented theater, music, dance and visual art to more than 1.5 million people since its opening in 1986 and typically welcomes more than 1117,000 patrons from the greater Chicago area to more than 388 performances each season. For more information visit AtTheMAC.org.

Share the Spirit of the Holiday

From Nov. 13 - Dec. 20, the MAC Giving Tree (located in the MAC lobby) is accepting food donations for COD Student Fuel Pantry and People's Resource Center.  

Buffalo Theatre Ensemble (BTE), the professional Equity theater company in residence at the McAninch Arts Center (MAC), announced it will mark its 40th anniversary season with three productions spanning beloved literary adaptations, classic suspense and broad British comedy. The season opens with "Louisa May Alcott's Little Women," by Lauren Gunderson (Nov. 12-Dec. 13). It will be followed by "Dial M for Murder" adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher, from the original by Frederick Knott,  directed by Steve Scott (Jan. 28-Feb. 28) and Richard Bean's "One Man, Two Guvnors" directed by Ensemble member Connie Canaday Howard (May 6-June 6).

"Forty years of sharing stories on stage has been made possible by our outstanding community of audience members who have made Buffalo Theatre Ensemble their theatrical home. These plays, filled with humor and heart, are a thank you to our loyal patrons and an open invitation to new friends to experience Buffalo Theatre Ensemble during this milestone season,"says Daniel Millhouse, Interim Managing Artistic Director.

BTE's 2026-2027 three-play season is as follows.

"Louisa May Alcott's Little Women"
By Lauren Gunderson
Director to be Announced
Nov. 12 – Dec. 13, 2026
Preview: Thursday, Nov. 12, Press Opening: Friday, Nov. 13
Performances: 7:30 p.m. Thursday - Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday
Note: No show on Thursday Nov. 26 (Thanksgiving); added performance Saturday, Nov. 28 at 3 p.m.

In Lauren Gunderson's fresh and heartfelt adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's classic novel "Little Women," the beloved four March sisters step onto the stage with new vitality and emotional clarity. As Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy navigate growing up during the Civil War in Massachusetts, they chase dreams, confront loss and discover the fierce power of family. Gunderson, co-writer of the popular "Christmas at Pemberly" trilogy, illuminates Alcott's timeless story, celebrating imagination, resilience and the enduring bonds that shape who we become. Splash Magazine calls it, "an absolute delight from start to finish," and Chicago Stage and Screen calls it, "a heartwarming experience perfect for the holiday season."

"Dial M for Murder"
Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher from the original by Frederick Knott
Directed by Steve Scott
Jan. 28 – Feb. 28, 2027
Preview: Thursday, Jan. 28, Press Opening: Friday, Jan. 29
Performances: 7:30 p.m. Thursday - Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday

A sophisticated game of cat and mouse unfolds in this classic suspense thriller when a carefully constructed murder plot begins to unravel in unexpected ways. What follows is a razor-sharp battle of wits filled with deception, twists and chilling surprises. The Chicago Sun-Times says, "'Dial M' calls up a noirish universe filled with shady corners and shadier characters," and the Chicago Tribune calls it, "an entertaining evening of old-fashioned suspense." Originally written for a 1952 BBC broadcast, Knott's play was adapted for London and Broadway stages, TV and a 1954 Alfred Hitchcock film starring Ray Miland, Grace Kelly and Robert Cummings.

"One Man, Two Guvnors"
By Richard Bean
Based on "The Servant of Two Masters" by Carlo Goldoni
With "Tomorrow Looks Good from Here," Music by Grant Olding, Lyrics by Richard Bean  and Grant Olding
Directed by Connie Canaday Howard
May 6-June 6, 2027
Preview: Thursday, May 6, Press Opening: Friday, May 7
Performances: 7:30 p.m. Thursday - Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday

The perpetually hungry Francis Henshall accidentally winds up employed by two men: a fearsome gangster and a criminal on the run. Both guvnors are entangled in a web of schemes, shakedowns and seductions. To keep his double-dealing a secret, Henshall must juggle both guvnors, chase a decent meal and win the girl. Playwright Bean transports the classic commedia dell'arte tale "The Servant of Two Masters" (1746) into the bright, brash world of seaside Brighton in 1963. Daily Variety calls "One Man, Two Guvnors" "...sheer comic delirium," and London Theatre calls it "one of the funniest shows I've seen ... a rip-roaring hit."

For each play, there will be a pre-show discussion before the Thursday preview performances, and a post-show discussion following the second Friday performance. There will be an ASL Performance on the fourth Thursday of each run.

Tickets

Subscriptions are now on sale. Those subscribing by June 10 save 25% off single show ticket prices. After that date, subscribers receive 20% off single show ticket prices. A Season Flex-Pass is also available redeemable for each production during BTE's 2026-2027 Season. Subscriber benefits include free ticket exchanges, invitations to subscriber nights, a subscription to the SuBTExt newsletter, 10% discount at the MAC Gift Shop and two complimentary tickets to a COD student performance. Subscriptions are $103.50 (Adult) and $99 (Senior) - add $9/subscription for all-in pricing. Online flex-pass subscription is $103.50, plus $9 subscription fee and additional online fees.  

Single show tickets for all BTE shows are $46. For all-in pricing visit AtTheMAC.org or call the box office at 630.942.4000. BTE's 2026-2027 Season performances will take place in the Playhouse Theatre of the McAninch Arts Center located at 425 Fawell Blvd. on the campus of College of DuPage. .

Single show tickets go on sale in July. For all-i n]pricing visit AtTheMAC.org or call the box office at 630.942.4000. Single show tickets for all BTE shows are $46. BTE's 2026-2027 Season performances will take place in the Playhouse Theatre of the McAninch Arts Center located at 425 Fawell Blvd. on the campus of College of DuPage.
About Buffalo Theatre Ensemble 

The mission of Buffalo Theatre Ensemble is to provide a forum in which artists, scholars, writers, students and community members explore new ideas and provocative issues through the production of quality theater for the enjoyment of its audiences. Since 1986 BTE has staged more than 125 productions. The Artistic Staff for BTE includes Daniel Millhouse* (Interim Managing Artistic Director), and Bryan Burke+* (Business Manager).

BTE Ensemble members are Aly Renee Amidei^, Robert Jordan Bailey*, Amelia Barrett*, Bryan Burke*, Connie Canaday Howard*, Rebecca Cox, Lisa Dawn, Nick DuFloth, Jon Gantt, Christopher Kriz^, Laura Leonardo Ownby, Michael W. Moon, Kurt Naebig*, Galen G. Ramsey*, William "Sandy" Smillie* and Kelli Walker. For more information about BTE, visit btechicago.com. 

*Denotes member of Actors' Equity;  ^Denotes member of United Scenic Artists

Buffalo Theatre Ensemble is partially supported and funded by generous grants from Arts DuPage, Choose DuPage, College of DuPage Foundation, The Norm Woodel Inspiration Fund, the DuPage Foundation, and the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

About The MAC  

McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage is located 25 miles west of Chicago near I-88 and I-355. It houses three indoor performance spaces (the 780-seat proscenium Belushi Performance Hall; the 186-seat soft-thrust Playhouse Theatre; and the versatile black box Studio Theatre), the outdoor Lakeside Pavilion, plus the Cleve Carney Museum of Art and classrooms for the college's academic programming. The MAC has presented theater, music, dance and visual art to more than 1.5 million people since its opening in 1986 and typically welcomes more than 100,000 patrons from the greater Chicago area to more than 230 performances each season. For more information visit AtTheMAC.org.