Wolfson Opera / Music Theater Ensemble

under the direction of Amy Ibberson and Alan Ngim.
Free and open to public.

April 20 and 21, 2006 at 7:00 pm
Auditorium, Room 126

Into The Woods, the 1988 Tony Award winner for both Score and Both of a musical is a brilliantly conceived exploration of what happens after “happily ever after.” The show which has an enchanting, moving and profound score by Stephen Soundheim, and a powerful, witty book by James Lapine, opened on Broadway on November 5, 1987, at the Martin Beck Theatre under the direction of Mr. Lapine.

Into The Woods is a magical, imaginative adventure with a moral and political point of view. Employing sophisticated artistry and innovative craft, the show’s creators lead the audience on a journey to the darker side of fairy tales as they explore the pain of growing up, communal responsibility and the values we pass on to our children. As the intricate, absorbing plot unfolds, a childless baker and his wife, cursed by a wicked witch, go off in the woods in hopes of ridding themselves of her evil influence. There they encounter Cinderella, her Prince, Little Red Riddinghood, the Wolf. Jack the Giant Killer, Rapunzel, and other fairy tale characters who are attempting to realize wishes of their own.

By the end of Act I, everything seems to be blissfully, happily resolved. But a destructive, vengeful force looms in the woods which lead to tragic consequences in the second act, bringing the characters to a painful, but hopeful solution.

Filled with unexpected twists and dazzling insights, Into The Woods is a cautionary plea for commitment expressed through masterstrokes of theatrical magic. Subjects as diverse as the promise of perfect love, the foolhardiness of questing for material goods and the loving but difficult relationship between parents and children are considered in a landscape shaded with psychological undertones.

With tenderness and laughter, Sondheim and Lapine bring us through a maze that mirrors the complexity of everyday existence. Like the characters in Into The Woods, we end this journey aware of the moral consequences off our actions and the power of tolerance, community and shared sacrifice.