‘Into the Woods’ returns to stage in Madison July 7-9
Fairytale characters are returning “Into the Woods” as theatre lights are ablaze this weekend at Madison Square Center for the Arts.
Power outages resulting from storms hitting Madison during the initial June run left The Center Players Community Theatre in the dark, cancelling most of the performances of the Broadway-acclaimed Stephen Sondheim musical.
“The storms may have halted us, but they didn’t stop us. The show must go on,” said Brittnye Aven, who brings The Witch to life on stage.
“It’s ‘theatre magic.’ The moment the lights go down and the music starts until the final bow the audience is under a spell. The actors forget who they are and take on a character that is only a small part of themselves to travel through space and time to transport you to a new world that only exists in that small window of time. The cast of Into the Woods is so excited to share this magical moment with you for another weekend,” said Aven, who is the chair of the Visual and Performing Arts Department at Madison Ridgeland Academy.
Performances are this Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday July 8 at 2 p. m. and 7:30pm, and Sunday July 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the arts center on Main Street.
“We hope these new dates will allow people to attend who may not have been able to last month,” co-director Megan Mayhan said.
The Center Players troupe is pleased to have a second chance to bring this lively story, filled with beautiful songs sung by talented actors, Mayhan said.
“We feel strongly this show needs to be seen by the community. It's too good not to. Audience members were so disappointed and asked us to reschedule. It is very hard to reschedule with this many people involved in a production but we were blessed to find a weekend that works. We are thrilled to reopen this show to an audience again.”
All previously purchased online tickets will be honored at any of the shows this weekend. New tickets can be purchased online at www.thecenterplayers.org, or at the door, beginning 30 minutes before showtime. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for seniors, students, and military.
“The cast has been working diligently and rehearsing during the break to keep the show fresh and sharp. We have had some amazing stand ins from the community volunteer their time to help keep us on track while cast members have been out on previously scheduled trips. When the show reopens there will be two minor changes: Parker Montgomery, who portrays The Giant, is taking on additional duties as assistant stage manager and Anthony Mayhan will assume the role of Cinderella's Father.
Cast and crew say the production is not to be missed for the unforgettable songs and story.
Music director Benton Donahue called the show “musically fantastic” and a “musical spectacle.”
“The talent runs deep in this show. Such gorgeous voices,” co-director Mandy Hackman said.
The musical weaves together familiar fairy tale characters – Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack of beanstalk fame, a couple of Princes, Rapunzel and more. Cinderella wishes to attend the King’s Festival. Little Red wants to deliver bread to her Granny. Jack wants his cow to give milk. In the woods, they all meet the Baker and the Baker’s Wife, who want a child but a Witch’s curse hovers over them.
“It’s a fun and fresh take on familiar stories,” Hackman said. “At the end of Act 1, all the characters think the story is done.”
In Act 2, consequences of their actions, and their answered wishes, arise to haunt them, sometimes with disastrous results. And yet, there is hope at the end. The characters find a sense of community as they move on with their lives.
“Even if something sad happens in the second act, the story shows there is still hope for a bright, shiny happy ending,” Hackman said.
Center Players’ production, under the direction of Hackman and Mayhan, is choreographed by Bradley Davis, with music direction from Donahue and Aven and technical direction by Callie Jackson. Ellen McCarley, Dawn Blanton, and Brayden Young costumed the elaborate production.