In BSM’s upcoming production Into the Woods, the storylines of classic fairy tales collide, including Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, and Rapunzel. Each with their own wish, the characters set out on their own journeys to find their happily ever after. However, as their tales intertwine, they must grapple with the effects of their choices.
While Into the Woods may seem surface-level at first glance, the story takes on a more mature tone in the second act, revealing how happy endings aren’t all they’re made out to be. “[The characters] kind of deal with the consequences of choices that [they’ve] made… like how do you go from having what you thought you wanted and then not being sure that that’s still what you want anymore? It’s a side of the fairy tale that we don’t hear as often,” Co-director Jake Mahler said.
The Stephen Sondheim performance was chosen for this year’s fall production because of the talent of the cast members. “I felt like we had the group to be able to pull it off. You need some of the right voices to be able to handle it… you know, it’s not easy to recreate Bernadette Peters, who was the original witch,” Mahler said.
As the play has various scenes, the set’s tech-heavy designs will be diverse enough to match. “I’m really excited to see the set because we’re gonna have a bunch of different levels, so it’ll make staging super fun,” sophomore actress Nadia Ehlert said.
Although the theater program lost several experienced seniors, quite a few freshman and transfer students have stepped up to fill the cast. “It’s fun to see some kids who have kind of been waiting in the wings have their moment in this show,” Mahler said.
Directed by Megan Kelly Hubbell and Jake Mahler, the production will make its debut from October 26 through the 29th. “Come see it… the entertainment should be really good,” senior actor Michael McDonald said.