Metropolitan Performing Arts Presents INTO THE WOODS

On Friday, March 13th, Barbara Richardson, Executive Director of Metropolitan Performing Arts (MPA), steps onto the stage taking on the role of the witch in INTO THE WOODS. The show, which first opened on Broadway in 1987, was nominated for 10 Tony Awards and won three, including those for Best Book (James Lapine) and Best Score (Stephen Sondheim). Barbara isn't the only MPA staff member to be part of the show. Portraying the role of The Baker is MPA music teacher Kaleb Burris. The Wolf/Cinderella's Prince is portrayed by Ryan Mayfield, an MPA alumni and choreographer. MPA set designer, Mark Martin plays the Mysterious Man and stage combat instructor Kellan Connolly portrays Rapunzel's Prince. The production is directed by Kris Heller with music direction by Ian Timmons and choreography by Ryan Mayfield and Shannon Jung.

"The chance to work on Sondheim offers such a great challenge." says Barbara Richardson. "The characters are colorful and the story is told so completely through both the words and music. The show lives in a place between fantastical and the real, between a child's wishes and an adult's experience. For MPA students to work alongside professional actors (who happen to also be their teachers) is a wonderful opportunity. It takes a specific approach, rehearsal room behavior and commitment to character to do such a complex show like Into the Woods."

This show demonstrates that musical theatre - no matter how frivolous at times - can have a heart and substantial meaning. Interweaving fairytale stories feature many characters familiar to audiences: Cinderella, Jack (who climbed the beanstalk), and Little Red Riding Hood are among them. Each have a familiar wish they seek to fulfill, be it to attend a ball, get milk from a cow, or provide bread to a grandmother. But our fairy tale friends are not the only wishful folk going into the woods. On their own quest are a Baker and his wife, who seek the ingredients for a spell to break the Witch's curse which has left them childless. Those ingredients-which include a red cape and a slipper- well, let's just say that perhaps those fairy tale characters could help.

Kristin Heller, director of the production says "The narrator of the show invites the audience to look into her mind as she grows older and we see these fairy tales take on different perspectives as she ages. Our world is not cut and dry, there are areas between what we wish for and what we get. Not all the questions we have are answered, and there are

always consequences to every decision that is made, some are just yet to be seen. Sondheim's music weaves us through

these events with changing patterns and vibrant lyrics. The audience is left to make up their own mind about who is right or wrong and if there is blame to place."

Performances run for three weekends, March 13th-29th, at the Metropolitan Performing Arts black box theater located at 6403 E Mill Plain Blvd in the heart of central Vancouver. Catch a show on Fridays at 7pm, Saturdays at 2pm & 7pm or Sundays at 2pm. Advance tickets are $12-$17 and can be purchased online at www.MetropolitanPerformingArts.org.

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