I first saw Into the Woods during its original national tour and was entranced. By melding classic fairy tales with a new tale, the show has brought delight and introspection to those who’ve experienced it. The pop culture view of fairy tales has changed since the show premiered on Broadway in 1987. With phenomena such as the Harry Potter novels and Disney’s Enchanted, we’ve come to understand that fairy tales needn’t be seen as period pieces. These tales began as a way to teach children about morals, dangers, and other life lessons in their own time. I’ve chosen to present Into the Woods as a contemporary fable, to make the story more immediate and meaningful to the audience.
The show takes place in two acts and Act I ends with a typical fairy tale “Happily Ever After.” But that’s not all. Be sure to come back for Act II and see what happens as the characters face the consequences of seeing their wishes fulfilled. Be prepared for a darker mood appropriate to the October holiday season.
I am truly amazed and blessed with this cast and crew. You will be delighted to hear live piano and percussion from the Palmdale Playhouse pit thanks to the efforts of music director Eric Weinstein. Stage Manager Chris Bostwick and Assistant Director Joanna Buchholz have been my steady help through the production process and have contributed immensely. Set and Prop Designer Melys Cook is new to PRT in this role and it has been a rewarding experience working with him. Thanks to Julie Aguilar for helping out with choreography and to Lucy Piccirillo for saying “yes” to costuming. Scott Hickerson stepped in on short notice to design the lights and Marco Aguilar and Juliana Hogan created our wonderful Milky White. And a huge shout out to every cast member. Beyond their awesome performances, they have helped in so many different ways including providing props, costume pieces, and putting hours into set construction.
Enjoy your trip Into the Woods with this intriguing cast of characters and I hope to see you at future PRT productions as well.
Clare Durand
