Photo Flash: Melissa Gilbert Reunites with Her Original LITTLE HOUSE TV Series Family

LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, the new musical based on Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved series of classic American books, is now enjoying a celebrated 26-city tour throughout the U.S. and Canada. Last week, during its two-week engagement at the California Musical Theatre in Sacramento, the cast got a special visit from some of Melissa Gilbert's co-stars from the original "Little House" TV series.

Original TV cast members Rachel Greenbush (Carrie Ingalls), Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson) and Charlotte Stewart (Miss Beadle) reunited with Gilbert and met her musical co-stars backstage after the Saturday evening performance.

Gilbert, who rose to fame as a child playing Laura in the hugely successful 1970s NBC television series "Little House on the Prairie," now continues her legacy "on the prairie" by taking on the role of Caroline "Ma" Ingalls. LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE also stars Steve Blanchard as Charles "Pa" Ingalls and Kara Lindsay as Laura Ingalls, Kevin Massey as Almanzo Wilder, Kate Loprest as Nellie Oleson, Alessa Neeck as Mary Ingalls and Anastasia Korbal as Carrie Ingalls.

(Photos below feature understudy Caroline Innerbichler, who performed Nellie Oleson at the Saturday evening performance).

LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE is the uplifting story of an American family forging a new life amidst the mighty challenges, heartbreaks, joys and triumphs that face them in the newly-settled heartland. It is also the story of young Laura Ingalls, as she begins her life as a young woman, finding purpose and finding love. Above all, it is the celebration of the pioneering spirit and the core values on which this country was founded - a spirit that still resonates today.

Initiated for the stage by Adrianne Lobel (A Year with Frog and Toad) and Francesca Zambello, LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE is directed by Zambello (Disney's The Little Mermaid) and features music by Academy Award winner Rachel Portman (Emma), lyrics by Donna di Novelli and a book by Tony Award winner Rachel Sheinkin (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee). Michele Lynch is choreographer and Kevin Stites is musical supervisor.

Scheduled through June 2010, the national tour of LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE is set to play upcoming engagements in Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Kansas City and more.