Broadway Stars Grace NC Theatre's INTO THE WOODS, Beginning Tonight

Raleigh, NC- North Carolina Theatre, the region's premiere nonprofit professional regional theatre producing Broadway musical revivals, welcomes a strong mix of Broadway and regional talent for Into The Woods, playing tonight, October 20, through October 25, 2015 at the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium in the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts.

Into The Woods was written by James Lapine with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The musical tells a story of a childless baker and his wife who endeavor to lift their family curse by journeying into the woods, where they encounter Rapunzel (and her witchly "mother"), Cinderella, Jack (of Beanstalk fame), Little Red Riding Hood and other classic fairy tale characters, and they all must learn the responsibility that comes with getting what you want.

NC Theatre is thrilled that Jacquelyn Piro Donovan, Broadway and NC Theatre veteran, will return home to play the role of the "Witch" in NC Theatre's production, the role made famous by Meryl Streep in the 2014 movie. Donovan's Broadway credits include Les Miserable and Miss Saigon. She also starred in the title role in NC Theatre's Hello, Dolly!. She most recently appeared as the "Wicked Witch of the West" in the National Tour of The Wizard Of Oz.

Laurel Harris has been cast as the "Baker's Wife", returning to her hometown of Raleigh after starring as "Elphaba" in the Wicked Broadway National Tour that came to Durham this past January. Before Wicked, Harris performed in the Broadway production of Evita, as the main understudy for the title role. Jennifer Cody, known for her Broadway credits in A Christmas Story, The Pajama Game, Taboo, Urinetown the Musical, and others will be joining the cast as "Little Red Riding Hood". The role of "Jack" will be played by Jeremy Morse, currently originating the role of "Ogie" in the new Sara Bareilles musical Waitress at the American Repertory Theatre in Boston. Stepping into the role of the "Baker" will be Jamison Stern. He most recently starred "Albin" in Goodspeed Opera House's La Cage Aux Folles.Other credits include: By Jeeves on Broadway and National Tours of Beauty &.the Beast and Little Shop of Horrors.

Six-show Broadway veteran and a NC Theatre favorite, Dirk Lumbard, will be playing the role of the "Narrator/Mysterious Man" which makes Into The Woods his eighth production with the North Carolina Theatre. Also appearing is Broadway's How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Abby Church as "Cinderella" and Nathaniel Hackmann as "Cinderella's Prince/Wolf", who was most recently seen in Broadway's Les Miserable as Jean Valjean.

Rounding out the cast is Jeff Aguiar ("Steward"), Ashley Adamek ("Stepsister"), Pauline Cobrda ("Jack's Mother"), Kinsland Howell ("Stepsister"), Christine Hunter ("The Stepmother"), Lisa Jolley ("Cinderella's Mother/Granny/Giant"), Emily Leonard ("Rapunzel"), Ben Michael ("Raunzel's Prince"), Lauren Satterwhite ("Sleeping Beauty/Milky White") and Emily Thomas ("Snow White/Milky White").

"We are very excited about the blend of top-notch Broadway talent and returning North Carolina Theatre veterans we were able to assemble for this production of Sondheim's epic fairy tale musical," said Producer Carolee Baxter. "Audiences will be awed by the powerful yet believable characters beautifully brought to life by this fabulous cast and find that they too will be transported to a land far, far away."

Into The Woods will be directed and choreographed by James Brennan who has set shows for theatres nationwide including The Cape Playhouse and Riverside Theatre. Brennan has also performed on Broadway in nine shows including Crazy For You, Me and My Girl, and 42nd Street. The show will be under musical direction by Edward G. "Eddy" Robinson who has conducted and musically directed over 10 shows at the North Carolina Theatre including Les Miserable, Cats, The Drowsy Chaperone, Legally Blonde, and Hello, Dolly! Robinson's work also includes Associate Conductor with the Radio City Music Hall's The Christmas Spectacular!

About INTO THE WOODS:

The original production of Into The Woods debuted in San Diego at the Old Globe Theatre in 1986 and premiered on Broadway on November 5, 1987, where it went on to win several Tony Awards including Best Score, Best Book, and Best Actress in a Musical. The musical has since been produced many times in the West End, National Tours, Anniversary Concerts, and a 2002 Broadway revival which resulted in winning a Tony for "Best Revival of a Musical." The film adaption of the musical was released in 2014 receiving over three Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations.

For tickets to NC Theatre's production of INTO THE WOODS visit NCTheatre.com or call Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000. For groups of 10 or more, call 919- 831-6941 x6949. Coming up in our 2015/2016 season: DIRTY DANCING-THE CLASSIC STORY ON STAGE, September 8-13; INTO THE WOODS, October 20-25; RAGTIME January 12-17; GREASE, February 9-14; WIT, April 29- May 8; MARY POPPINS, July 26- 31.