NDHS tackles "Into the Woods"

Feb. 13—GREENSBURG — North Decatur High School Drama Department presents the musical "Into the Woods" at 7 p.m. April 12 and 13 and at 4 p.m. April 14 on their cafetorium stage.

Tickets go on sale Feb. 26.

Written by Broadway lyricist and composer Stephen Sondheim, "Into the Woods" was first staged on Broadway in 1987, revived several times in the United States and London, and then toured successfully in the U.S. and the U.K.

ITW was made into a movie in 2014 and starred Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, James Corden, Anna Kendrick and Chris Pine.

The show intertwines the plots of several Brothers Grimm fairy tales, exploring the consequences of the characters' wishes and quests. The main characters are taken from the children's stories of Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, Cinderella and several others.

It's about a baker (played by Evan Yoder) and his wife (Whitney Koors) who try to start a family despite the curse a witch (Clover Taylor) has placed on them.

They meet and interact with several other Grimm fairy tale characters throughout the show.

As with other Sondheim musicals, the songs from "Into the Woods" are deceptively difficult to perform.

Even though actors don't require unusually high ranges to master their character parts, the complex rhythms and intertwined lyric lines require more than a basic understanding of music and music theory.

"'Into the Woods' has been on my bucket list of shows to direct and this year felt like the year to do it," said Director Megan Gehrich. "I just felt in my soul that while it's an incredibly hard show to accomplish, this was the year!"

The Cast

Narrator: Elliott Barber

Cinderella: Cecilia Barber

Jack: Jacob Gearhart

Rapunzel's mother/Cinderella's mother: Navaeh Schwartz

Florinda: Taylor Richardson

Lucinda: Kaylee Weaver

Little Red Riding Hood: Rileigh Hash

Witch: Clover Taylor

Granny/Stepmother: Kay Aug

Cinderella's Prince: Izaiah Yoder

Rapunzel's Prince: Nolan Barber

Steward/Cinderella's father: John Reynolds

Baker: Evan Yoder

Baker's Wife: Whitney Koors

Wolf/Mysterious Man: Robby Young

Jack's Mother: Harper Bridges

Contact Bill Rethlake at 812-651-0876 or email bill.rethlake@greensburgdailynews.com.