Welcome to our production of Stephen Sondheim’s
epic fable, Into the Woods!
When I began work on Into the Woods, I realized that
what I had known about this wildly popular musical,
based on a contemporary remix of classic fairy tales,
was only a teaser of what this show holds for actors
and audiences alike.
Beneath the delightfully familiar fairytale stories and
characters lie hidden layers of emotional depth, which
are revealed as the characters come up against the
unintended consequences of blindly pursuing their
“happily ever afters.” Our actors have loved delving
into this more dramatic strain of musical theater, and
have had to consider the question of who’s to blame
when tragedy follows the pursuit of happiness without
personal responsibility? When a father has abandoned his son,
is it too late for fatherly advice? When a woman is desperate
for a better life, should she settle for a marriage that is
unfulfilling? Would you lie to get your heart’s desire?
Weighty questions that lead to thoughtful dramatic
exploration, and the sad consequences of the choices
made are at the heart of the tender drama that unfolds.
While these characters were conceived by Sondheim to be
played by adults, teens are called upon to cope with
the kind of darkness they encounter too; and there’s a
special kind of poignancy in their authentic connections to
these events.
This is the kind of show that truly takes a village to produce, and I want to thank my creative staff, board, administration,
volunteers, actors, families and all who have lent their time and talents to our production of Into the Woods. Enjoy!