Theatre Memphis to Present INTO THE WOODS

Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods will open March 11 and run until April 3, 2016, on the Lohrey Stage at Theatre Memphis. This storybook fantasy is a musical journey with an original story based on several Brothers Grimm fairy tales. A childless baker and his wife set out on a mission to begin a family but must break a Witch's curse. Their travels bring them to interact with characters from Little Red Riding Hood, Jack & the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, Cinderella and more. The show is a delightful romp with a dose of reality thrown in the mix that makes one question happily ever after.

Ann Marie Hall directs this spellbinding production with a keen sense of storytelling. Hall relates, "Into the Woods burst forth from the pages to me like a crazy child in search of mad attention from a reluctant mother. The mash up story James Lapine created from inspiration of the fairy tales has it all ... the greed, revenge, betrayal, murder, mayhem, lust... we've added dancing ...with really great Sondheim lyrics and music. Just like I like it," she wickedly smiles. Hall continues, "The fantasy that begins with all the best wishes in Into the Woods is something we all aspire to though in so many ways. The possibilities of life and love are all around us. Then comes the hard part ... life gets in the way. And that is when we have to make choices and critical decisions. With all the fantasy surrounding the story, there is really a positive, real message to take away."

The formidable cast features talented performers that bring the storybook tales to life. Featured as the Baker and his Wife are, respectively, Lee Gilliland and Lynden Lewis with Lydia Hart as Cinderella, Gia Welch as Little Red Riding Hood, Renee Davis Brame as the Witch, Cody Rutledge as Jack ( of the Beanstalk verse) and Kell Christie as his mother. Atam Woodruff is the Wolf who weaves within the story and challenges trespassers in the "wood." Other characters who animate the stage are portrayed by Joe Lackie, Jaclyn Suffel, Shannon Sparks, Dani Chaum, Hailey Townsend, Caroline Simpson, Maddie Dunavant, Jacob Wingfield, Philip Himebook, Stewart Turner, Anna Lunati and Evie Bennett.

Theatre Memphis Executive Producer Debbie Litch says the tall tale-telling that comes with a show like Into the Woods is something special. " The cast of Into the Woods is an all-star cast. So many uniquely talented performers devote so much time to tell these fun, inspiring and sometimes heartbreaking stories. With Ann Marie's direction, all of it comes together to spin a great, golden musical yarn."

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