The Koronis Theatrical Company will present the musical "Into the Woods" this weekend.It will be shown at 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and 1 p.m. on Sunday at the elementary school. Admission is $6. There will also be a free preview performance tonight at 7 p.m. for the first 30 people that show up.
The musical was composed by Stephen Sondheim. According to Antonia Kehr, director, it was originally written as a social commentary on the selfish attitudes of the 1980s.
The musical features familiar characters from Grimm's fairy tales, including Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, and Rapunzel.
During the first act, each of the characters will meet in the woods. They are all trying to solve a different problem, but are following their own selfish desires. Once they get what they originally wanted, however, they find that they are still unfulfilled. The second act finds the characters working together as a community.
During rehearsal,Ian Pelton, as the baker, listens to Erin Vork, who portrays a witch.
The performance lasts approximately three and a half hours, including two intermissions.
According to Kehr, a duet by Scott Ingalsbe and Ed Gardner titled "Agony" will be "an absolute show stealer." Another highlight will be Erin Vork's performance of the major piece in the show, "The Last Midnight."
"The music is heinously difficult," said Kehr. "Everybody that performs it says it's difficult." Gretchen Vork agreed. "It's an extremely complex show," she said.
The show was cast in January and music rehearsal began in June. They began blocking and running through the show in July. "It's a great cast, and it's been fun to watch the show come together," said Kehr.
Cast members are: Josh Ryan, narrator/mysterious man; Becca Gardner, Cinderella; Adam Ingalsbe, Jack; Susan Walther, Jack's mother; Ian Pelton, baker; Gretchen Vork, baker's wife; Paula Geier, Baker's Wife; Lauren Vork, Florinda; Sami Tierney, Lucinda; Mackenzie Merrill, Little Red Riding Hood; Erin Vork, witch; Cheryl Colbert, Cinderella's mother/Granny/Giant; Allison Thompson, Rapunzel; Scott Ingalsbe, Cinderella's prince/ wolf; Ed Gardner, Rapunzel's prince; Casey Kavanagh, steward; Courtney Colbert, Sleeping Beauty; and Stacy Wahl, Snow White.
Helping Kehr on the production staff are: Ken Vork, musical director; Erin Kehr, technical director; Meredyth Johnson, choreographer; Gretchen Vork, costume construction; and Megan Nyffeler, stage manager.