'Little House on the Prairie - the Musical' brings Melissa Gilbert and Little House books to TPAC

October 28, 1:31 AMNashville Gospel Music & Entertainment ExaminerKathryn Darden

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Little House image from press kit.

Little House on the Prairie - the Musical with Melissa Gilbert at Nashville's Tennessee Performing Arts Center

The musical version of "Little House on the Prairie," based on the beloved books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, debuted at Nashville's Tennessee Performing Arts Center on October 27, bringing the books to life in a most evocative and entertaining manner.

Millions of young girls have grown up with the "Little House" books, and an entire generation grew up with Melissa Gilbert who played "Half Pint" Laura Ingalls to Michael Landon's "Pa" and Karen Grassle's "Ma" in the "Little House on the Prairie" television series from 1974 to 1983.

Melissa Gilbert - from "Half Pint" to "Ma" Ingalls

Now Melissa Gilbert is "Ma" Ingalls, and she has been a part of Little House on the Prairie The Musical since the beginning. The musical launched in previews at the Guthrie Theater (Minnesota) on July 26, 2008. Prior to that, workshop presentations were held April 16-17, 2007 with a cast that included Melissa Gilbert and actor Patrick Swayze.

Comparing herself to Karen Grassle who played Ma on the television series, Gilbert told www.nytimes.com, “My Ma’s a little more feisty, a little more earthy,” she said. “I’m a redhead. So is Ma in this show. So there’s some fire under those petticoats.”

Little House on the Prairie - the Musical Cast

The talented cast performing at TPAC includes Melissa Gilbert ("Ma"), Steve Blanchard ("Pa"), Kara Lindsay (Laura), Alessa Neek (Mary), Kate Loprest (Nellie), Kevin Massey (Almanzo Wilder), and Carly Rose Sonenclar (Carrie). (See the cast slideshow below.) Michael Boxleitner, Gilbert's 13-year-old son with husband actor Bruce Boxleitner, plays the part of Willie Oleson in the musical. Gilbert’s brother, Jonathan Gilbert, played Willie in the TV series.

My favorite song is the emotional duet "I'll Be Your Eyes" by Kara Lindsay and Alessa Neek when Laura promises Mary, who has just learned she is permanently blind, she will be the older sister now and take care of Mary.

Melissa Gilbert Sings

Melissa Gilbert didn't need to sing or dance - this is one of those nostalgic occasions when it is simply enough to have her in the cast, but Gilbert does in fact, both sing and dance in the "Little House" musical, as well as move props with the ensemble. Although Gilbert's voice is not of the same trained caliber as some of the other cast members, she has a sweet, pleasing voice that is quite appropriate for "Ma."

Musical Stays True to "Little House" Story

The musical stays true to all the important aspects of the "Little House" story, as well as to the Ingalls' conservative family values as the Ingalls family is seen attending church services regularly (where Almanzo picks Laura up to take her to Brewster every week), praying or discussing prayer, inserting scripture references into their daily lives, and living out their faith as they learn from their trials. As Mary puts it, "God sends us the lessons we need most to learn."

Full of the same tender moments, light-hearted humor, and tragedies that have made the books so enduring, the "Little House" musical delivers a happy ending as Pa blesses the union of Laura and Almanzo.

Restoring Our Faith in the Future by Recalling the Stories of Our Past

The Little House on the Prairie The Musical uses the line from Laura Ingalls Wilder "Restoring our faith in the future by recalling the stories of our past..." as its theme, and the musical delivers. The timeless, life-affirming stories of the past Laura Ingalls Wilder first published in 1935 still inspire theater goers through its celebration of the pioneering spirit and the core values on which this country was founded - a spirit that still resonates with audiences today.

Little House on the Prairie The Musical with Melissa Gilbert runs from October 27 through November 1, 2009 at TPAC's Andrew Jackson Hall.