Award-winning musical 'Into the Woods' opens Oct. 29

Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and Jack join forces to combat giants and the Big Bad Wolf in the Illinois State University School of Theatre production of the musical “Into the Woods,” opening at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, in the Center for the Performing Arts Theatre.

With “Into the Woods,” which swept Tony and Drama Desk awards in 1988, composer Stephen Sondheim and writer James Lapine take familiar characters and stories from the Grimm Brothers’ fairytales and show what happens when their wishes are granted. The Baker and his wife wish for a child, Jack wishes his cow would give milk, Cinderella wishes to go to the ball and Little Red Riding Hood wants to see her grandmother. After they head into the woods to seek their wishes, their stories become entangled and things go awry.

Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 29 through Oct. 31 and Nov. 4 to 7. There will be a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, Nov. 1. Tickets are $15 for the general public and $10 for students and senior citizens, and are available at the CPA box office from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays or by calling (309) 438-2535.

“For me, this is a story for all of the future parents among us,” says MFA Directing student Mark Baer, who is directing the musical. “Ultimately, the play is urging young parents to look beyond their own wishes when raising a child. Taken out of context, ‘Children Will Listen’ seems a laughable moral. Sondheim is showing us that children will listen to the example that we set and copy the ways that we struggle with the complexities of the world – the woods.”

“Into the Woods" features set design by John Stark, light design by MFA lighting student Cassie Mings, costumes by Lauren Lowell, hair and makeup design by Trevor Neff and sound by Brandon Lettow.

Next article: Memphis faculty member to present piano recital