Studio West Productions Presents the Musical Theatre Masterpiece 'Into the Woods' a retelling of Classic Fairytales with Unexpected Twists

CUMMING, GA, October 31, 2012 (Press-News.org) Family entertainment may be hard to come by, but West Forsyth High School's highly acclaimed Studio West Productions is making it easy with their production of Into the Woods, a Tony Award Winning Production with a score by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine.

The show will run Thursday, November 8th through Saturday, November 10th at 7:30 pm and Sunday, November 11th at 3 p.m. at West Forsyth High School Auditorium. Advance tickets are available over the phone or online for a reduced price of $11 for adults and $7 for students 18 years and younger. To purchase, go to showtix4u.com. Tickets will also be available at the door for $12 and $8.

Audiences of all ages are sure to enjoy this Tony-award-winning witty and irreverent reimagining of beloved classic fairytales. An ambivalent Cinderella? A blood-thirsty Little Red Ridinghood? A Prince Charming with a roving eye? A Witch...who raps? They're all among the cockeyed characters in James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim's fractured fairy tale. When a Baker and his Wife learn they've been cursed with childlessness by the Witch next door, they embark on a quest for the special objects required to break the spell, swindling, lying to and stealing from Cinderella, Little Red, Rapunzel and Jack (the one who climbed the beanstalk). Everyone's wish is granted at the end of Act One, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later, with disastrous results. What begins a lively irreverent fantasy in the style of The Princess

Bride becomes a moving lesson about community responsibility and the stories we tell our children.

Eric Gray, artistic director Studio West says, "We are taking the musical to a whole new place. I have seen Into the Woods so many times and have directed it three times in my career. I had accepted the fact that I would never do it again because I had become so disillusioned by all of the versions I now see. So many people do Act I only. Sondheim has an incredible message in this show and it deserves to be told as he intended. This summer I had an opportunity to see the show in a whole new light and fell in love with the show again. Same great show but with a few little twist to style and sets that make the show an incredible experience. I have chosen to use a child as the narrator to make the story more relatable to younger audiences. Though the true message of Into the Woods is loud and clear to every adult and parent in the audience it also offers a sincere message to children as well."

Into the Woods premiered on Broadway in 1987 at the Martin Beck Theatre starring Bernadette Peters, Chip Zien, Joanna Gleason, Kim Crosby and Robert Westenberg. The original cast performance was preserved by PBS' American Playhouse in 1991. A 2002 Broadway revival played the Broadhurst Theatre. The show is produced with permission from Musical Theatre International.

The cast is led by cast member Walker Weldon as the Narrator, with Lily Dickinson as the Witch, Connor Wright as the Baker, Michelle Higgins as the Baker's Wife, Peyton Smith as Cinderella, Nick Eibler as Jack, Elizabeth Powers as Little Red Riding Hood, Jessica Montgomery as Jack's Mother, Cody Marshall as Cinderella's Prince and Tyler Bos as Rapunzel's Prince.

Completing the company are Rachel Valadez as Step Mother, Allie Odom as Lucinda, David Fowler as Mysterious Man, Sara Cromie as Florinda, Dejah Rosenberg as Granny/Giant, Jordan Downey as Wolf, Molly Godlewski as Cinderella's Mother and Vita Peake as Rupunzel.

For more information about West Forsyth High School's Studio West Productions, or to learn how you can contribute, go to wfhsstudiowestproductions.com.

Digital Photos of Rehearsals are available upon request.