ADRIAN — Students from high schools spread across five counties in southeast Michigan and northwest Ohio are taking the stage through next weekend in the Croswell Opera House’s production of “Into the Woods,” its annual all-area high school production, which opened on Jan. 25.
“Into the Woods” is a musical that ties together numerous classic fairy tales in a sometimes comic, sometimes dark masterpiece of musical theater.
The stories are tied together by the story of a childless baker and his wife (played by AJ Landingham, a homeschool student from Carleton, and Savanah Hernandez from Liberty Center High School in Ohio), who are trying to start a family. However, a curse has been placed on them by a witch (played by Rebecca Lanham, a homeschool student from Toledo). She tells them that in order to lift the curse, they must bring her four ingredients for a potion: a cow as white as milk, a cape as red as blood, hair as yellow as corn, and a slipper as pure as gold.
As the baker journeys into the woods to seek these ingredients, so do three other characters, each for their own reasons. Cinderella, played by Lila Brighton (Adrian High School) is going to visit her mother’s grave; Little Red Ridinghood, played by Ella Flumignan (Adrian High School) is going to her grandmother’s house; and Jack from the tale of “Jack and the Beanstalk,” played by Aiden Ketola (Adrian High School), is seeking a buyer for his cow.
Their stories are intricately woven together in a musical narrative that led to Tony Awards for both librettist James Lapine and composer Stephen Sondheim.
Many characters both help and hinder the four seekers along their way.
Jack’s mother is played by Julia Jones (Tecumseh High School). Puppetry for Jack’s cow, Milky White, will be performed by Zoelle Blackmon (JC/LISD Academy) and Abigail Lipsitz (Saline High School).
Cinderella’s deceased mother is played by Caroline Grenn (Monroe High School). Her father and stepmother are played by Alex Goetz (Blissfield High School) and Amelia Martinal (Lenawee Christian School). Stepsisters Florinda and Lucinda are played by Amelia Bowman and Brenna Gifford (Adrian High School). Cinderella’s Prince is played by Kai Yuen (Adrian High School), and the prince’s steward is played by Alex Coumoundouros (Adrian High School).
Little Red Ridinghood’s grandmother is played by Macy Schmidt (Tecumseh High School), and the wolf who waylays her in the woods is played by Trent Aneed (Adrian High School).
Rapunzel, locked away in a tower by the witch, is played by Carolyn Mohler (Whiteford High School). Rapunzel’s prince is played by Jude Carlton (homeschool, Adrian).
The Giant, originally from Jack’s story, is played by Camdenne Kruse (Clinton High School). Noble Wilt (Adrian High School) plays a mysterious man in the woods. The action is narrated by Tyler Condon (Adrian High School). Bringing two more classic fairy tales into the mix are Snow White, played by Claire Cousineau (Tecumseh High School) and Sleeping Beauty, played by Laila Seeburger (JC/LISD Academy).
The show is directed by Michael Yuen. The vocal director is Julia Spanja Hoffert, the choreographer is Jessica Briggs, and the live orchestra is directed by Jonathan Sills.
The Croswell’s all-area high school production is an annual tradition that started in 2010. In this production, top theater students from all over the region get the chance to come together and work with professional directors, music directors and choreographers while meeting and acting alongside peers from other schools.
Tickets range from $12 to $25 for adults, depending on seat selection, and are $12 for students in all seating areas.
Remaining performance dates and times are:
- Friday, Jan. 31 at 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Feb. 1 at 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Feb. 2 at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets may be ordered by calling 517-264-7469 or by going online to croswell.org.
