The Into the Woods Jr. stage crew and cast are working together to make the school play happen. The stage crew helps paint sets and keeps everything looking neat and ready. The cast sings, acts, and entertains the audience.
The play takes place on Wednesday, April 8, and Thursday, April 9, from 7:00–9:00 p.m. Because the performances are on school nights, both the cast and crew need to stay organized. The cast must memorize their lines, and the crew must be in the right place at the right time.
“I think it is coming together well,” stated sixth grader, Liam Smith. “I think it is fun working for these awesome directors.” Smith is part of the stage crew and helps with the background work.
Into the Woods Jr. tells the story of a Baker and his wife who want to have a child. Other characters include Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and his cow Milky White, Cinderella and her stepsisters Lucinda and Florinda, and Rapunzel, who is locked in a tower. A narrator tells the story scene by scene.
Each character has a wish. The Baker and his wife want a child. Little Red Riding Hood wants to bring bread and wine to her grandmother. Jack wants his cow back after selling it. Cinderella wants to go to the prince’s ball but is not allowed by her stepmother.
“I do love my part in the play,” said sixth grader Giovanni Cellovos, “especially since it is a main role.” Gio plays the role of Jack.
To break a curse, the Baker and his wife must collect four items in three days. These items are:
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The cow as white as milk (Milky White)
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The cape as red as blood (Little Red Riding Hood’s cape)
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The hair as yellow as corn (Rapunzel’s hair)
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The slipper as pure as gold (Cinderella’s slipper)
Many characters do not want to give up these items at first. However, the Baker and his wife are able to collect them during their journey through the woods. They use the items to make a potion. Along the way, the Mysterious Man helps them. His identity is later revealed in the play.
The story also includes Cinderella trying on the slipper. Her stepsisters attempt to make the shoe fit, but the prince’s steward notices what happens and does not accept them. At the end of the play, the characters’ stories come together as they work toward their wishes.
The stories in Into the Woods Jr. come from different European traditions. “Jack and the Beanstalk” comes from the United Kingdom. “Cinderella” has roots in Greece and Egypt. “Rapunzel” comes from Germany. The musical Into the Woods is also based on European fairy tales.
