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FOOD - DRINK - FUN

Mountain View News Saturday, June 7, 2025

Little Women Ballet and ArtistsPlus Productions

Presents

LITTLE WOMEN 

ORIGINAL FULL-LENGTH CLASSICAL BALLET

Pasadena Playhouse

June 21-22, 2025; Three Performances

Louisa May Alcott’s beloved novel comes to life through dance, celebrating the timeless 
journey of the March sisters as they navigate love, loss, and personal growth during a transformative 
era

Little Women Ballet, based on Louisa May Alcott’s beloved novel, returns with its Full-
Length Classical Ballet for an encore presentation with three captivating performances between 
June 21 and 22, 2025 at the historic Pasadena Playhouse. This original, full-length 
ballet brings the beloved novel to life through dance, celebrating women’s stories and the 
timeless journey of the March sisters as they come of age during a time marked by war, love, 
poverty, and profound personal discovery. A moving tribute to family, friendship, and finding 
one’s voice, Little Women Ballet promises an unforgettable experience for audiences of 
all ages.

After rebounding from the tragedy of the Eaton Fire where Little Women Ballet props, 
merchandise, painted signage, decorations, and many of the costumes were destroyed, Little 
Women Ballet thanks its many supporters for assisting in its rebuilding and is thrilled to be 
able to bring these special and unique experiences back this spring.

Pioneering more ballets about women and their stories, Little Women, is an original ballet, 
manifesting the coming of age of sisters Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy as they navigate an ever-
changing world as they learn to embrace their artistic gifts and share them with the world 
as a source of comfort. A delightful tale of family, friends, finding yourself, and growing up, 
Little Women will warm the hearts of audiences of all ages.

Little Women Ballet pairs heartwarming life lessons with progressive ideas about women’s 
roles in 19th century America. Be part of the story as Little Women Ballet dancers perform 
in the historic mansions and beautiful private grounds of this iconic landmark. Heritage 
Square is the living history and open-air architecture museum which includes eight historic 
structures located beside the Arroyo Seco Parkway in the Montecito Heights neighborhood 
in the southern Arroyo Seco area.

A combination of over 35-40 dancers take part in the full-length ballet. The ages of the dancers 
in both productions range in age from 10-75, donned in 19th century costumes make 
up the cast. Several of the musical compositions used for the production are composed by 
Daniel Robbins, combined with classic Victorian pieces. Dr. Robbins is a noteworthy music 
educator, composer, orchestrator, and classic film music reconstructionist.

This original Little Women full-length classical ballet brings Louisa May Alcott’s beloved 
novel to life through dance, celebrating the timeless journey of the March sisters – Meg, Jo, 
Beth, and Amy – as they navigate love, loss, and personal growth during a transformative 
era, providing heartfelt and enchanting performances where audiences will witness unforgettable 
literary moments including Jo’s rejection of Laurie, the whimsical Pickwick Club 
meetings, and Beth’s touching farewell – all captured through beautiful choreography and 
storytelling.

The two-act classical Full Length Little Women Ballet will have three performances taking 
place on Saturday, June 21 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and on Sunday, June 22 at 2 p.m. Tickets are 
$42 - $49. Pasadena Playhouse is located at 39 S El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101.

For more information and to purchase tickets for the full-length original classical ballet 
please visit https://www.pasadenaplayhouse.org/tickets-events/.

Little Women Ballet, established in 2023 by Emma Andres, is a series of dance works about 
the classic tale Little Women --- with the culmination being a full-length ballet. This work 
is a tribute to Louisa May Alcott and other female authors and artists and launches a movement 
toward more ballets surrounding women and their stories. As a female choreographer, 
director, and teacher, Andres, who is just 26 years old, believes it is crucial that young artists 
see stories that are uplifting, inspiring, and, most of all, center around characters they can 
relate to and admire.

The ballet features choreography that captures the essence of the characters and the pivotal 
moments in their lives. The dancers are coached in both their technical artistry and character 
development. Several of the musical compositions used for the production are composed 
by Daniel Robbins, combined with classic Victorian pieces from composers such as 
Debussy and Brahms, which complement the emotional depth of the story. It's a beautiful 
fusion of dance and literature, bringing the beloved characters and their experiences to life 
on stage.

Little Women Ballet has evolved into many forms, including several dynamic productions 
and a short film. Little Women Ballet, the Immersive Experience is currently taking place at 
Heritage Square Museum in Los Angeles. In addition, Little Women Ballet offers open ballet 
classes every Sunday, 12-1:45 PM, at Pasadena Civic Ballet. Intermediate and Advanced 
levels welcome.

Emma Andres is a professional ballet dancer and contemporary/classical ballet choreographer 
who has experience working in the techniques of jazz, contemporary, modern, and 
ballet. Andres earned her BFA in Dance Choreography at UC Irvine where she was a recipient 
of the merit-based William Gillespie Scholarship. During her time at UCI, Andres had 
the pleasure of working with distinguished faculty, including Lar Lubovitch, Diane Diefenderfer, 
Molly Lynch, Vitor Luiz, Tong Wang, Loretta Livingston, and Dr. Ama Wray. She 
has performed nationally and internationally, including in Shanghai, China, and Panama. 
In 2019, Andres showcased her first original choreographed work in a main-stage production, 
Façade Azur — a contemporary ballet piece experimenting with the different states of 
water. Recently, Andres has created several new ballet works that combine technique and 
whimsy, including In The Cosmos and American In Paris. She is currently the Department 
Analyst for UC Irvine’s Dance Department, and a teacher, and resident choreographer for 
Pasadena Civic Ballet (PCB). Andres is a Ballet Teaching Artist for the Music Center in Los 
Angeles and is the Co-Artistic Director of SCOPIXdance, a new dance organization emphasizing 
exciting choreography from up-in-coming choreographers.

ArtistsPlus Productions, Inc. is the collective creation of three outstanding director-choreographers 
from Southern California. After collaborating on numerous projects, Diane De 
Franco Browne, Shauna Goddard-Barger and Jackie Kopcsak united their creative visions, 
coming together to form their own production company. ArtistsPlus Productions enhances 
the performing arts experiences by bringing the power and imagination of excellent dance-
making to collaborative creative partnerships throughout Southern California and around 
the world.


FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE TO THE DINNER TABLE: A CONVERSATION 
WITH TRAINER JOHN SADLER

When you think of Southern California 
horse racing, the name John Sadler 
is never far behind. With a career that’s 
spanned decades and includes major 
stakes wins across the country, Sadler 
has become a fixture at Santa Anita, Del 
Mar, and beyond. But there’s more to the 
man than saddling thoroughbreds—
he’s also got an appetite for good food 
and the kind of dining wisdom you’d 
expect from someone who knows what 
it means to savor a moment.

I recently caught up with Sadler to talk 
shop(Thank You Juan Arrieta, “The 
Boat”)—not just about his career on the 
track, but also where he goes when he 
wants to enjoy a great meal. Turns out, 
the man knows a thing or two about 
where to eat in Southern California.

“My schedule’s hectic,” Sadler admits. 
“But when I have the time, I like to sit 
down and have a real meal. A steakhouse, 
good seafood—you can’t go 
wrong.”

One of his longtime go-to spots? The 
Derby in Arcadia, a racetrack favorite 
for jockeys and trainers alike. “There’s a 
history there. It’s part of the whole culture,” 
Sadler says. “You walk in and feel 
like it’s race day, even if you’re just there for the prime rib.”

He also gave a nod to Mastro’s and Arroyo Chop House in Pasadena—both top-tier destinations 
for anyone looking to celebrate a big win or just unwind after a long day. “There’s 
something special about places that still do things right. Great service, consistent food, no 
frills.”

For those heading south toward Del Mar or San Diego, Sadler is just as dialed in. “Steak 
48 in San Diego is top-notch—new, modern, and they get everything right,” he says. And 
when the mood shifts to Mexican food? “Fidel’s in Solana Beach is the real deal. Old-
school, great chips, strong margaritas—what more could you ask for?”

When asked about eating on the road during the busy racing calendar, Sadler lit up with 
stories from Keeneland and Saratoga. “You can find good food near most tracks, if you 
know where to look. Sometimes the best meals are in the little local joints that aren’t trying 
too hard.”

Sadler’s voice carries that same calm confidence whether he’s talking about horses or halibut. 
He doesn’t need flash—his track record speaks for itself.

In a sport full of speed and pressure, John Sadler is a reminder of the steady hand that 
makes champions—and of the simple joy that comes from a well-prepared meal at the end 
of the day.

Email me at the chefknows@yahoo.com , follow and listen to my podcast Peter Dills

Know a local celeb that would be a great interview? Let me know


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com