Go INTO THE WOODS With Theatre In The Park Starting July 6

"Careful the things you say, children will listen...."

Those lyrics are part of the magical Stephen Sondheim musical INTO THE WOODS, the third production in Theatre in the Park's (TTIP) 2018 summer outdoor season. Set appropriately in the "woods" of Shawnee Mission Park, INTO THE WOODS opens this Friday, July 6 as part of a seven-performance run at the outdoor amphitheater. Performances continue Saturday and Sunday July 7 & 8 as well as the following Wednesday through Saturday July 11-14. Showtime for all productions is 8:30 p.m. with gates opening at 7 p.m. This production is rated PG.

Fairy tales become larger than life in this musical written by James Lapine and Sondheim and re-imagined in the 2014 star-studded film that featured Meryl Streep. The Tony Award-winning book and score are both enchanting and touching bringing new meaning to these traditional tomes in a magical way. Characters must learn what it is like when their fantasy world intersects with that of the real one in the woods.

INTO THE WOODS follows a Baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King's Festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the Baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a Witch's curse, the pair sets off on a journey to break the curse. While everyone's wish is granted, the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results.

This musically sophisticated show features such songs as "Children Will Listen, "Agony, "It Takes Two" and "No One is Alone".

Chris McCoy, an assistant professor of theatre at William Jewell College, directs INTO THE WOODS. McCoy returns to his TTIP roots where he performed as a youth and has directed other productions. Music director Langston Hemenway, director of instrumental studies at William Jewell, joins McCoy. Together they have assembled a talented cast of local performers bringing INTO THE WOODS to life on the TTIP outdoor stage. (Cast list follows below.)

"INTO THE WOODS was one of the first Broadway musicals that I fell in love with when I was in high school and it's a privilege to present it at TTIP," McCoy said. "What I love about the show is that it reaches audiences on so many different levels. Young people love the show because it has characters they are familiar with, but explore their stories in new ways. Adults can relate to the interpersonal issues and relationships that are really at the heart of each story. Sondheim is a master at expressing some of life's most profound experiences -- love, loss, hopes, and disappointment -- through beautiful lyrics and music that reach directly to the soul."

Full details about this production are available on the TTIP web site, www.theatreinthepark.org.

Following INTO THE WOODS, TTIP's outdoor venue at Shawnee Mission Park will feature two additional musical productions, all with seven evening performances. Additional productions include the TTIP premier of the comedic and quirky THE ADDAMS FAMILY and Disney's fun loving HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 1 & 2 (One Act Version).

TTIP's 2018 Season sponsors are Shawnee Mission Health and First National Bank.

The performance dates for the remaining TTIP OUTDOOR are:

THE ADDAMS FAMILY (July 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27 & 28; directed by Zach Faust; rated PG)

Filled with dark humor, this musical features "Just Around the Corner," "Where Did We Go Wrong" and "Live Before We Die".

Disney's HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 1 & 2-ONE ACT Versions (Aug. 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10 & 11; directed by Guy Gardner; rated G)

These one-act versions of the musical include such fan-favorite songs as "Get'cha Head in the Game" and "All For One".

Full details for the entire 2018 season are available on the TTIP web site: www.theatreinthepark.org.

The TTIP box office opens at 6:30 p.m. and the gates to the seating bowl open at 7 p.m. TTIP OUTDOOR ticket prices are $8 for adults (plus tax), $6 (plus tax) for youth and children three and under may attend for free (but require a ticket for entrance). Reserve seats and parking are also available. Tickets may be purchased online at www.theatreinthepark.org, or at the theatre box office the nights of performance.

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