Cinderella, Bakers and Wolves: Gordon Theatre Department Production of "Into The Woods"

“These stories are more than scary or fun diversions; they connect to something much deeper in us all.” 

by Jo Kadlecek

Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella might never be the same, especially since Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine first drew from their stories (and other tales from Brothers Grimm) to create the 1987 Broadway musical Into the Woods.

Now, as Sondheim turned 80 years old this year, the Gordon College Theatre Department celebrated his nationally recognized artistic achievement with its fall production of Into the Woods. Directed by Jeffrey S. Miller, professor of theatre arts, with musical direction by Michael Monroe, associate professor of music, the musical ran to to sold out audiences October 29–30 and November 2–6. Show times include Tuesday–Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Staged in the Barrington Center for the Arts (255 Grapevine in Wenham, Massachusetts), ticket prices included usual prices for theatre productions at Gordon: $7 for adults and $5 for students and seniors at Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday matinees; $12 for adults and $10 students and seniors on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.

“These stories are more than scary or fun diversions; they connect to something much deeper in us all,” said Miller. “The characters initially travel to lift a spell or sell a cow, but ultimately the journey is about growing up in the best sense of that phrase. And when it looks like it will end happily ever after, there are deeper lessons to be learned, not the least of which is be careful what you wish for!”

Dawn Sarrouff, production manager for the Theatre Arts Department, provided the show’s technical direction and oversaw a stage, set and lighting crew of over 30 students. The stage manager was Jasmine Myers ’11, a theatre arts major from Florence, Massachusetts.

Almost 20 student actors and musicians comprised the cast for the show. They were as follows:

(From Massachusetts, with years and majors): Carl Schultz ’13, Uxbridge, Massachusetts, theatre arts; Christina Brandano ’12, Rowley, Massachusetts, theatre arts; Evangelyna Etienne ’12, Saugus, Massachusetts, music education; Nicole Graham ’14, Ashfield, Massachusetts, music and theatre arts; Nathaniel Haywood ’11, West Newton, Massachusetts, music education; Luke Padilla ’13, Haverhill, Massachusetts, theatre arts; Rachel Strasner ’14, Framingham, Massachusetts, English and theatre arts.

(From New England): David Alvarado ’14, Bedford, New Hampshire, theatre arts; Katherine Wadleigh ’14, Hollis, New Hampshire, theatre arts; Alec Lewis ’14, Manchester, Vermont, theatre arts and political studies; Danielle Mills ’14, Wells, Maine, communication arts; Matt Slipp ’14, Gorham, Maine, psychology and music; Kelsie Davidson ’12, Oxford, Maine, theatre arts; Dominique Gobeil ’14, Bristol, Connecticut, theatre arts.

(From beyond New England): Ryan Coil ’13, Brentwood, Tennessee, communication arts and theatre arts; Darcy Halstead ’11, Chesapeake, Virginia, English; Carissa Gerber ’11, West Chicago, Illinois, theatre arts and art; Kaitlyn Ebbott ’11, Wilmington, Delaware, Spanish and theatre arts; and Olivia King ’14, Flower Mound, Texas, English and theatre arts.

For information, please visit www.gordon.edu/theatreschedule.

Make plans now to attend the next show Pirates of Penzance, the classic operetta by Gilbert and Sullivan presented by The Department of Music and directed by Jeffrey S. Miller, January 28-29.

###

Gordon College is a multidenominational Christian college of the liberal arts and sciences on Boston’s North Shore, offering majors in 36 fields with graduate programs in education and music education. Gordon is nationally recognized for excellence in academics and in character building, and ranks as one of the nation’s top Christian colleges. www.gordon.edu 

<< BACK