John Nicholas Rattray as Wolf and Melissa Harrison as Little Red Ridinghood. Photo Credit: Jessica Bix Into the Woods Friday, April 20 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, April 21 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, April 22 at 2 p.m.
Friday, April 27 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, April 28 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, April 29 at 2 p.m.
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The Bonstelle Theatre brings classic fairy tale characters to life in the award-winning musical Into the Woods, opening at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 20, 2007. Combining the music and lyrics of Stephen Sondheim with the text of James Lapine, Into the Woods explores the very real consequences that traditional fairly tales often ignore. Into the Woods is on stage at the Bonstelle Theatre from April 20 – 29, 2007.
Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, Little Red Ridinghood and Rapunzel are just some of the familiar characters whose stories intersect as they each try to reach their dream of living “Happily Ever After.” Along the way, they encounter the baker and his wife, who have been left childless due to a family curse. To break the curse, the couple must rely on the magic of their next-door neighbor, a conniving witch. Just when they think a happy ending is in sight, a new threat forces the community to examine the choices they’ve made along the way.
Into the Woods experienced a successful Broadway run, receiving Tony awards for both the score and book (musical) and also a Grammy award-winning original cast album. It is the second collaboration of Sondheim and Lapine, who previously won a Pulitzer Prize for Sunday in the Park with George. Additionally, Sondheim is generally recognized as one of the most influential and innovative artists working in contemporary musical theatre, having written lyrics for West Side Story and complete scores for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Sweeney Todd.
Into the Woods is directed by Michael J. Barnes, stage managed by Hilberry graduate student Candace Hemphill (Des Moines, IA) and includes the following cast: Ashlee Armstrong (Jack’s Mother/Port Huron, MI); E.J. Assi (Steward/Port Huron, MI); Madeleine Bien (Cinderella’s Mother, Granny, Giant/Walled Lake, MI); Rachel Chesley (Lucinda/Milford, MI); Branden Chowen (Baker/Rochester Hills, MI); Laura Downes (Cinderella/Dearborn, MI); Melissa Harrison (Little Red Ridinghood/Livonia, MI); Murphy M.M. Hendy (Jack/Grand Ledge, MI); Jeremy Kucharek (Milky
White/Roseville, MI); Katie Lietz (Snow White/Livonia, MI); Rachel McCauley (Sleeping Beauty/Roseville, MI); Kristen L. Parise (Cinderella’s Stepmother/Armada, MI); Kristen Pickthall (Baker’s Wife/Tecumseh, Ontario); Holly Portman (Florinda/Milford, MI); Bree Amber Rafferty (Rapunzel/Dearborn, MI); John Nicholas Rattray (Wolf, Cinderella’s Prince/Dearborn Heights, MI); David Roberts (Rapunzel’s Prince/Southgate, MI); Cal M. Schwartz (Narrator, Mysterious Man/Dearborn, MI); Lauren Mae Shafer (Witch/Farmington Hills, MI); Dave Woitulewicz (Cinderella’s Father/Detroit, MI). The production team includes Stan Harr (Vocal Music Director); WSU faculty member Fred Florkowski (Scenic Designer); Hilberry graduate students Andrea Bear (Costume Designer/Brewster, KS) and Chad Croteau (Lighting Designer/Windsor, Ontario); and WSU undergraduate students Kevin Beltz (Technical Director/Eastpointe, MI), Christopher Binkowski (Orchestra Music Director/Detroit, MI), Katy O’Brien (Properties/St. Clair, MI), and Rahme Rayes (Sound Designer/Livonia, MI). Into the Woods plays at the Bonstelle Theatre April 20 – 22 and 27 - 29. Advance tickets are available in person through the Wayne State Theatre Box Office, located at 4743 Cass Ave. on the corner of Cass and Hancock, or by phone at (313) 577-2960. The box office is open Tuesday – Saturday from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the door at the Bonstelle Theatre (3424 Woodward Ave.) beginning one hour prior to each performance. Regular tickets are available for $18, with $14 discount tickets available for students with ID, seniors 62+, and Wayne State University faculty, staff and Alumni Association Members. Group discounts are also available. For more information, please visit the theatre’s website at www.bonstelle.com.
Season sponsored by Between the Lines, Dearborn Times Herald and GreatStuff.
Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, Little Red Ridinghood and Rapunzel are just some of the familiar characters whose stories intersect as they each try to reach their dream of living “Happily Ever After.” Along the way, they encounter the baker and his wife, who have been left childless due to a family curse. To break the curse, the couple must rely on the magic of their next-door neighbor, a conniving witch. Just when they think a happy ending is in sight, a new threat forces the community to examine the choices they’ve made along the way.
Into the Woods experienced a successful Broadway run, receiving Tony awards for both the score and book (musical) and also a Grammy award-winning original cast album. It is the second collaboration of Sondheim and Lapine, who previously won a Pulitzer Prize for Sunday in the Park with George. Additionally, Sondheim is generally recognized as one of the most influential and innovative artists working in contemporary musical theatre, having written lyrics for West Side Story and complete scores for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Sweeney Todd.
Into the Woods is directed by Michael J. Barnes, stage managed by Hilberry graduate student Candace Hemphill (Des Moines, IA) and includes the following cast: Ashlee Armstrong (Jack’s Mother/Port Huron, MI); E.J. Assi (Steward/Port Huron, MI); Madeleine Bien (Cinderella’s Mother, Granny, Giant/Walled Lake, MI); Rachel Chesley (Lucinda/Milford, MI); Branden Chowen (Baker/Rochester Hills, MI); Laura Downes (Cinderella/Dearborn, MI); Melissa Harrison (Little Red Ridinghood/Livonia, MI); Murphy M.M. Hendy (Jack/Grand Ledge, MI); Jeremy Kucharek (Milky
White/Roseville, MI); Katie Lietz (Snow White/Livonia, MI); Rachel McCauley (Sleeping Beauty/Roseville, MI); Kristen L. Parise (Cinderella’s Stepmother/Armada, MI); Kristen Pickthall (Baker’s Wife/Tecumseh, Ontario); Holly Portman (Florinda/Milford, MI); Bree Amber Rafferty (Rapunzel/Dearborn, MI); John Nicholas Rattray (Wolf, Cinderella’s Prince/Dearborn Heights, MI); David Roberts (Rapunzel’s Prince/Southgate, MI); Cal M. Schwartz (Narrator, Mysterious Man/Dearborn, MI); Lauren Mae Shafer (Witch/Farmington Hills, MI); Dave Woitulewicz (Cinderella’s Father/Detroit, MI). The production team includes Stan Harr (Vocal Music Director); WSU faculty member Fred Florkowski (Scenic Designer); Hilberry graduate students Andrea Bear (Costume Designer/Brewster, KS) and Chad Croteau (Lighting Designer/Windsor, Ontario); and WSU undergraduate students Kevin Beltz (Technical Director/Eastpointe, MI), Christopher Binkowski (Orchestra Music Director/Detroit, MI), Katy O’Brien (Properties/St. Clair, MI), and Rahme Rayes (Sound Designer/Livonia, MI). Into the Woods plays at the Bonstelle Theatre April 20 – 22 and 27 - 29. Advance tickets are available in person through the Wayne State Theatre Box Office, located at 4743 Cass Ave. on the corner of Cass and Hancock, or by phone at (313) 577-2960. The box office is open Tuesday – Saturday from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the door at the Bonstelle Theatre (3424 Woodward Ave.) beginning one hour prior to each performance. Regular tickets are available for $18, with $14 discount tickets available for students with ID, seniors 62+, and Wayne State University faculty, staff and Alumni Association Members. Group discounts are also available. For more information, please visit the theatre’s website at www.bonstelle.com.
Season sponsored by Between the Lines, Dearborn Times Herald and GreatStuff.