As the audience settles into its seats, the familiar fairy-tale characters of Jack, his mother, Cinderella and her evil stepsisters and a baker and his wife take to the stage.
In a few minutes’ time, all of them head “Into the Woods” – Stephen Sondheim’s woods, that is, in one of the musician’s most famous musicals.
The show is being produced by the Haylofters, and hits the stage tonight. Tickets are $15, and are available online at www.thehaylofters.com, The Coffee House at Chestnut and Pine, or at the Malt House Theater Box Office.
Show dates are July 10-13 – this Thursday through Sunday – July 17-20 and July 24-27. Thursday, Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:30 p.m., with Sunday matinees beginning at 2 p.m.
Sondheim’s musical poses the interesting question of what happens to our fairy tale characters after they are done with their journeys and happy endings are in hand.
Or as first-time solo director Megan Schroeder (who has directed in the past with her mother, Pamela) explained, it is all about consequences.
“It’s such an interesting show, the way the characters and stories weave into each other,” Megan said. “I like how the second act explores consequences, which isn’t something you normally think about or take into consideration when you’re talking about fairy tales.”
Of course, there are a few twists in the story. Jack can’t keep the gender of his cow straight – in spite of the fact that only females give milk – and Little Red Riding Hood tries to empty out the baker’s store. The witch, meanwhile, is involved in just about everyone’s story.
Also included in the storytelling are Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and, of course, Little Red Riding Hood along with her grandmother and the ever-present wolf.
The show is narrated by Bil Luth, who fills in the spaces between the story’s famed characters.
Cast
Narrator: Bil Luth
Baker: Don Fresen
Baker’s Wife: Amy Stanfield
Witch: Anne Marie Travia
Cinderella: Katy Williams
Cinderella’s Prince: Eli King
Cinderella’s Stepmother: Nina Fiegel
Florinda: Rachel Oldenburg
Steward: Mason Hawes
Rapunzel: Tamra Fricke
Rapunzel’s Prince: Mike Cha
Little Red Riding Hood: AnneMarie Lovrine
Granny: Rob King
Wolf: Zachary Opal
Jack: Timothy Conn
Jack’s Mother: Pamela Schroeder
Mysterious Man: Rob King
Giant: Tara Cha
Sleeping Beauty: Kennedy Bunker
Snow White: Tara Cha
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