Western Playhouse, the summer theatre company at 含羞草社区, presents 鈥淚nto the Woods鈥� June 19-27 in the Potter Hall Theater. Show times are at 7:30 p.m. June 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27, and 2 p.m. Sunday, June 21. Tickets may be purchased in advance in person at the Western Institute, Spratt Hall room 105; by phone at 816-271-4452; or online at www.westernplayhouse.com. Opening Night will include a Gala Dinner at 6 p.m. Friday, June 19 at the Walter Cronkite Memorial inside the Spratt Hall Atrium. Tickets to the dinner are $16 and must be reserved by Friday, June 12 by calling 816-271-4100. Dinner and show tickets can be purchased in combination for $30, an $8.50 savings.
With 鈥淚nto the Woods,鈥� James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim take everyone鈥檚 favorite storybook characters and bring them together for a timeless yet relevant piece and rare modern classic. The Tony Award-winning story follows a Baker and his wife who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King’s Festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the Baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a Witch鈥檚 curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse. Everyone’s wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results.
鈥淚nto the Woods鈥� is directed by Dr. Bob Willenbrink, founding dean of Missouri Western鈥檚 School of Fine Arts and the Western Playhouse producing director. The cast is a mixture of professional actors, Missouri Western students and alumni:
Narrator/Mysterious Man 鈥� Tim Noland
The Baker 鈥� Sebastian Smith
The Baker’s Wife 鈥� Dana Kinney
Witch 鈥� Devon Barnes
Jack 鈥� Jacob Mills
Jack’s Mother 鈥� Celia Gannon
Little Red Riding Hood 鈥� Abby Sexton
Lucinda 鈥� Nerissa Lee
Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf 鈥� Thomas Delgado
Rapunzel’s Prince 鈥� Caleb Hazelwood
Stepmother 鈥� Susan Carter
Cinderella’s Mother/Giant 鈥� Jessica Agnew
Florinda 鈥� Alexandra (Xan) Kellogg
Cinderella 鈥� Adrienne Collins
Steward 鈥� Clayton Avery
Cinderella’s Father 鈥� Danny Kellogg
Wolf #2/Snow White 鈥� Amanda Estep
Rapunzel 鈥� Kyra Weinberger
Noland and Gannon are members of the Actors鈥� Equity Association.
Tickets cost $22.50 for adults; $9.50 for the first two children then $1 for each additional child; and $20 for seniors 65 and older. Discounts are available for groups, Missouri Western faculty and staff, and college students.
鈥淚nto the Woods鈥� is the first of two productions that comprise Western Playhouse鈥檚 fourth season. 鈥淭he Fantasticks鈥� will be produced July 10-18 in Kemper Recital Hall, inside Spratt Hall.
鈥淚nto the Woods,鈥� music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lupine, orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick, and originally directed on Broadway by Lupine, is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International.
含羞草社区 is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .