Jillian Augustine, Reporter
@JillAugCourant
Over the years, the New Canaan High School theatre program has covered a wide range of plays and musicals— some of the most recent being Annie, Beauty and the Beast, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Grease. However, the theater students and director Dee Alexander take on an interesting new challenge this season as they explore and adapt the Broadway classic Into the Woods to the NCHS stage.
Into the Woods is a fantasy and adventure story that combines classic Brothers Grimm fairy tales such as Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Jack and the Beanstalk as they venture through the woods on a scavenger hunt for a witch. Prominent characters include the Witch (played by Audrey Kirkpatrick), the Baker (played by Jacob Freedgood), the Baker’s Wife, (played by Jennifer Daly), Little Red Riding Hood (played by Claire Leville), Jack (played by Parker Ames), Cinderella (played by Sadie Seelert), and the Big Bad Wolf (played by Berlin Charles).
Sophomore Claire Leville offered a little glimpse into the after-school life of a theater student. “A day of practice usually starts right after school at 2:05, with going and getting the props and costumes ready,” she said. “Then at 2:15, we move into a 15 minute warmup. We sing through all the songs until 3:30, and rehearse until 7.” As they approach closer to the show, practices will go as late as 9 pm, to make sure that the show is perfect.
Claire also shared a bit about her personal experience in the musical this year as a sophomore lead, which is uncommon as seniors typically take the bigger roles. “Along with loving the chance to reach out and bond with people of different grades and social groups, another important aspect of musical theater is the ability to channel a different side of you,” she said.
In addition to the perks of being a part of the theatre department in general, Claire had a lot to share about the Into The Woods musical in particular. “Unlike the original movie, the musical adaption of Into The Woods features an ensemble, which is about 30 people who dance, sing, and accompany the leads during key scenes,” she said. The cast of the musical agreed that the addition of this ensemble makes the story feel bigger and more engaging for the audience.
Senior Jacob Freedgood believes the audience has something to look forward to when coming to the show. “The second act of the musical is very dramatic,” he said. “I like the ending the most because it’s a nice way of wrapping up all of the lessons that the show teaches.”
A unique aspect of this version of the play is that Ms. Alexander personally wrote in the parts of Hansel and Gretel and the Three Little Pigs.
Senior and four-year student actor Berlin Charles thinks that Into the Woods has widespread appeal for audiences. “I think the audience will really like this musical. It’s different from things that we have done before,” he said. “As we get closer to the show, it is all beginning to come together, which is exciting to see.”
Be sure to catch Into the Woods on March 17, 18, and 19 at 7 pm. Tickets are available at the New Canaan High School Theatre website, or at the door at $18 for orchestra seats and $15 for mezzanine.
