Take the stories of Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, throw in a witch, a cow, a mysterious man, and Stephen Sondheim music and lyrics and book by James Lapine, to go beyond happily ever after. “Into the Woods” opens at Open Air Theater on Thursday, August 4. ##M:[more]##
“Into the Woods” opened in November, 1987, and played on Broadway for 765 performances. The musical won Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, and Best Actress in a Musical (Joanna Gleason). A revival opened on April 30, 2002 at the Broadhurst Theater and played for 279 performances. It received Tony Awards for Best Revival of a Musical and Best Lighting Design. Pennington Players produced the show in 1996 at Open Air Theater.
The story is based on the folk tales by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm that we all grew up with, and the versions by French writer Charles Perrault — which Disney cartoons are based on. Child psychologist Bruno Bettelheim talks about the importance of fairy tales and the need to go into the woods in his book, “The Uses of Enchantment.”
Act one introduces Cinderella’s stepmother and stepsisters, Lucinda and Florinda, who all laugh at the idea of her going to a ball. After Cinderella does go to the ball and loses her shoe, her stepmother has Lucinda and Florinda fit into the slipper by cutting off parts of their feet. At Cinderella’s wedding, her stepsisters are blinded by birds. Act two brings the characters into the woods — where all of the characters change and darkness prevails.
Caitlin Tierney of West Windsor has had a very busy summer — and it’s only July. She just finished up a two-week run of “Once Upon a Mattress” at the park where she played one of the nightingales and was in the chorus. During the production she was also in rehearsal for “Into the Woods,” and for “Bye Bye Birdie” which opens in September at Kelsey Theater.
In “Into the Woods,” she is playing the part of Florinda, one of Cinderella’s evil stepsisters. In “Bye Bye Birdie,” she is playing the part of Debra Sue, Kim’s best friend.
Born in the area, she lived in Plainsboro until she was three and the family moved to West Windsor. A rising senior at High School North, she has also been seen on the Kelsey stage as the rose seller in “Oliver.” Musicals at North include “Music Man” and “Annie.” A member of Westminster Youth Chorale, she was a member of Silver Lining, the all-female a cappella group at North.
Former Plainsboro resident Frank Ferrara is directing the show. Shannon Ferrara, music teacher at Village School, is musical director.
“I’ve made a lot of friends in community theater,” says Tierney. “A lot of people do multiple plays and some become good friends. It’s great to meet people and be on the stage at the same time.”
Into the Woods, Open Air Theater, Washington Crossing, Pennington-Titusville Road, Titusville, 609-737-1826. Bring a seat cushion or blanket and insect repellent. $8 to $10; children half price. Performances begin at 8 p.m. Thursday, August 4, to Saturday, August 6; and Wednesday, August 10, to Saturday, August 13.
