Fairy tale characters portrayed in ‘Woods’

Troupe de Wolfe Productions invites family, friends and community members to journey into Stephen Sondheim’s popular musical, “Into the Woods,” on the Lake City High School stage on Thursday, Friday, next Saturday and March 13, 14 and 15 at 7 p. m.

The production staff includes musical director William Rhodes and director Sandra Seaton; choreographer, Emily Schneider; lighting designer, Jared Gutterud; conductor, Anthony La Frinier; and costumer, Theresa Wolf.

Anything can happen in the woods as characters from several fairy tales are portrayed in song and dance. Cinderella (Brianna Hayes) wishes to leave her stepmother (Sally Nieborsky) and stepsisters (Stefanie Wolf and Michelle Theobald) and marry a prince (Carlin Mitchell); Jack (Josh Cooper) wishes to keep his best friend Milky White (Leah Meyerholtz), but sells her to the Baker (Phil Siemens) and his wife (Cat Seaton) for magic beans, against his mother’s (Sherre Barnes) wishes. The witch (Emily Schneider) wishes for her daughter, Rapunzel (Sarah Keene) not to marry another prince (Michael Preston) and locks her in a tower. The baker and his wife, unable to have a child because of a curse on their family, go into the woods to find several magical items for the witch who wishes to regain her lost youth.

Also included are Red Riding Hood (Allana Schwaab); the Wolf (Carlin Mitchell); the Narrator (Justin Harris); the Mysterious Man (Cory Williamson); Cinderella’s Father (Anthony St. Claire); the Steward (Peter Siemens); Granny (Marlie Gooren); the Giant/Sleeping Beauty (Taylor Behary); and Cinderella’s Mother/Snow White (Lizzy Taccogna).

After several twists and turns, explained in lively and complex Sondheim music and lyrics, Act I ends with the characters living happily ever after. Act II becomes a cautionary tale, where the reality of “be careful what you wish for” brings life’s difficult lessons to those who remain in the woods.