In September 2005, A Little Princess was featured in National Alliance for Musical Theatre's 17th Annual Festival of New Musicals, held off-Broadway at Dodger Stages in New York City.[5]
A new version of the musical was performed in a concert in October 2011 by the Texas State University musical theatre department, conducted by Lippa.[8]
The musical received its premiere in London at Southbank Centre on May 28, 2018. The one-night-only production was the first to have a child ensemble playing its array of schoolgirls. Amanda Abbington played Miss Minchin, and Danny Mac played Captain Crewe.
Sara Crewe is a girl who was raised in Africa and now attends a London boarding school. She draws the ire of the headmistress, Winifred Minchin, for going to supper without shoes on and for mingling with Becky, a scullery maid at the school. Crewe's father, Captain Crewe, enrolled her in the boarding school while he undertakes an expedition to Timbuktu. He promises to return for Sara Crewe. Sara Crewe's father's wealth means provides her with privileges that her schoolmates are both jealous of and curious about.
Crewe tells stories to her schoolmates and talks about contacting spirits, which Minchin disapproves of. Meanwhile, in Africa, Captain Crewe struggles on his expedition. Sara Crewe gains friends in classmates Ermengarde and Lottie, who moreover apologize to Becky for their previous behavior toward her.
After time passes, the school celebrates Sara Crewe's birthday. Minchin, having made some money on the stock market based on rumors that Captain Crewe reached Timbuktu, is more amenable toward Sara than previously. However, a lawyer interrupts the birthday party to inform the school that Captain Crewe never reached Timbuktu and died. Sara Crewe is orphaned with no money, and Minchin's stock market gains are reversed. Minchin obliges Crewe to begin working as staff in the school.
Sara Crewe endures her reversal of fortune. Christmas draws near. After disputation, Minchin locks Crewe and Becky in the attic. Becky attempts to comfort Crewe through imagination, but Crewe is inconsolable. After they fall asleep, Pasko—a friend of Crewe's from St. Louis—sneaks into their attic and brings food and amenities to comfort them. Upon waking, Becky is startled to see Pasko in the attic. Minchin, hearing the ruckus, goes to the attic to check what is happening. Crewe escapes with Pasko out the window. Becky, scared of heights, says she will rendezvous with Pasko and Crewe at another time.
Minchin makes plans to have Crewe arrested, but then Crewe returns to the school in the company of Queen Victoria. Crewe having told her about Minchin's cruelty, Queen Victoria has Minchin arrested. At the show's end, Crewe's father is revealed to be alive after all, and she and he reunite.
Song list
Note: from the Studio cast album, released in 2011[10]
Act 1
Overture
Good Luck – Bonne Chance - Sara and Chorus
Soon, My Love – Captain Crewe
Live Out Loud – Sara
Let Your Heart Be Your Compass – Sara, Becky, School Girls, and Chorus
The Widow Zuma – Ermengarde, Sara, Lottie
Home by Christmas – Captain Crewe
Isn't That Always the Way – Captain Crewe
Lucky – Miss Minchin
If the Tables Were Turned – Becky, Sara, Ermengarde, Lottie
Timbuktu Delirium – Chorus
Soldier On – Sara
Be a Princess – Sara, Lavinia, Ermengarde, Lottie and other school girls
Act 2
Another World – Sara
Almost Christmas – Sara, Schoolgirls and Chorus
Captain Crewe – Pasko
Once Upon A Time – Miss Amelia
Broken Old Doll – Becky
Timbuktu – Becky, Sara, and Chorus
Soon – Pasko, Sara, Becky, and Miss Minchin
Gossip – Ermengarde, Lottie, Lavinia, Becky, and other schoolgirls
"Compass" Reprise – Chorus, School Girls
Finale – Full Company
Critical response
Richard Connema, for Talkin' Broadway, wrote:
"I give credit to TheatreWorks, Mr. Lippa, Mr. Crawley and director Susan H. Schulman for working toward making this old-fashioned family musical work wend its way to Broadway. However, the show needs to flow more smoothly and the characters need to be defined more sharply. There is just too much going on, with too little focus on the central characters. It's not a sophisticated musical, but there are saving graces in this production's singing, exuberant athletic dancing, melodic score and good production values. However, something is lacking to make it a great musical. Two liabilities are the indigestible book and two stories presented side by side".[11]
