Anne of Green Gables

What's Anne of Green Gables Like?

The Anne of Green Gables musical is set between 1876 and 1881 in the fictional town of Avonlea on Canada’s rural Prince Edward Island, and follows an imaginative and cheerful, redhead orphan girl named Anne Shirley.

The show begins with an 11 year old Anne being adopted by the siblings Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert. The brother and sister pair are in their fifties and sixties, are unmarried and are dairy farm owners. After Anne experienced a tough childhood, which was spent living in the homes of strangers and various run-down orphanages, she was very relieved to finally be taken in by the Cuthberts.

Family Wanted to Adopt as Boy

The Cuthbert’s express to Anne that they initially wanted to adopt a boy, because they live and work on a farm and could use the extra help, but after some consideration and getting to know Anne, they decided to keep her. Anne takes much enjoyment with their decision, because she had never been part of a family like theirs before and she learns to adapt quickly to her new small-town farm life. Anne begins thriving in the intimate farming town and uses her imagination, cheerfulness and talkativeness to brighten people’s day around the town.

Anne Determines That She Wants to Teach

After Anne has lived with the Cuthbert’s for a few years she finally expresses her true calling, which is that she wants to become a school teacher to give back to children by giving them opportunities to learn. At age sixteen, Anne gets awarded a scholarship into the prestigious ‘Queen's Academy’ where she would learn how to become an effective teacher and earn a teachers license. However, tragedy hits when her adopted father, Matthew, dies of a sudden heart attack. His untimely death deeply affects her adopted mother Marilla's social, emotional and financial well-being.

Anne Leaves Queens Academy

Anne decides to leave the Queen’s Academy behind and care for her adopted mother, who is now in a deep depression. The musical shares a message with a relatable struggle story and new music and lyrics made specifically for this version of the show. The show’s message is one that love, determination and the willingness to succeed against any odds is within all of us.

Is Anne of Green Gables Good for Kids?

This Broadway show was written for kids and adults of any age to enjoy and even younger children will benefit from the show. The show is not suitable for children under the age of four years old.

Anne of Green Gables on Broadway Background