Owensboro Theatre to Present Popular Musical “Into the Woods”
OK, so can we talk about this cast photo first? I mean WOW!! This seriously looks like something from Entertainment Weekly or Vanity Fair. Show photographer Kevin Brown plays double duty as the role of the narrator, which I think is kind of perfect. Before the curtain even opens, he is teasing us with this wonderful story.
What is Into the Woods About?
Into the Woods written by the legendary Stephen Sondheim is one of my favorite musicals, and stories in general really, of all time. The music, characters, and subject matter are all intricate and complex. Drawing from well-known fairy tales and fables that entertain and provide valuable lessons, some twists and turns keep you on the edge of your seat. Here is a clip from the Prologue of the 1991 Broadway production starring Bernadette Peters.
Into the Woods to Grandmother's House
The stage musical has had many lives and you may have seen the Disney movie version with a star-studded cast. I had the pleasure of playing Little Red Riding Hood when Theatre Workshop presented this show in 2008, and it was one of the best experiences of my life. From what I have heard, this production will be unlike any we have seen before.
No One is Alone, Truly
Set in an old and dilapidated house in the middle of the woods, the Narrator keeps the story moving along as bold and beautiful characters spring to life around torn furniture and even pop out of pictures hanging on the wall. What a creative way to add an extra element of necessary magic!
Gotta give a shout-out to those set artists. Director Preston Middleton told me, "Blood sweat and tears went into this for sure. Molly Gross and John Campbell worked on our fabulous set. It’s been so fun creating this abandoned house in the middle of the woods."
While this show is very difficult to put together from the music to the technical aspects, Preston and his team have been total rockstars, "I’m thankful that I have a cast who have taken my vision and just rolled with it. I think audiences will be genuinely surprised. A lot of familiar talent and some real powerhouses." He's not kidding, y'all. This ensemble is made up of some of the best performers in Daviess County.
When Can You See Into the Woods?
You don't have to wait much longer! The show opens this Friday, April 12th, at 7:30 PM at Theatre Workshop of Owensboro's Empress Theatre. I'll be there ushering, so hopefully I'll get to show you to your seat. If you can't make it to opening night, here are the rest of the show times. April 13th, 19th, 20th at 7:30pm with matinees April 14th & 21st at 2:00pm. Just call (270) 683-5333 or visit theatreworkshop.org/tickets for your tickets today!
"It’s really a work of art—the details are INSANE. I encourage everyone to come early and just take it in. This is a once-in-a-lifetime way of seeing this story and I can’t wait to hear the audience's response to it."
LOOK: Can you guess the world-famous actor from a childhood photo?
Gallery Credit: Stacker