James Caldwell High School Presents 'Into The Woods'

Want to add a Little Red Riding Hood to Jack’s beanstalk? Bedazzle Rapunzel with some glass slipper magic? Then Into the Woods you go, as James Caldwell High School presents its spring musical starting Thursday, March 19.

“It takes a group of different fairy tales by the Grimm Brothers and Hans Christian Andersen and mushes them together as the characters pursue their ‘happily ever after,’” said Greg Paradis, theatre teacher and program director at James Caldwell High School and Grover Cleveland Middle School.

He said that while children will enjoy the story line and overall style of the play, Into the Woods speaks to adults at a deeper level as it poses a pressing question: Will you finally be happy once you get what you want?

“Kids would enjoy it, but it’s definitely not a kids’ play. Adults will get more out of it,” he said. “It makes you think, what message are we giving to the young people in our lives? What do they hear us say, and what do they observing us doing?”

Paradis says that Act I starts out with a lighthearted look at the different characters and their pursuit of happiness, but ironically, things go amiss during Act II, when they finally get what they thought they wanted.

The characters’ quest for personal fulfillment is not the only challenge Into the Woods offers.

“This is the first time we’ve done a Stephen Sondheim show. He is known for complex and intricate melody lines,” Paradis said, adding that his drama students are excited to rise up to the occasion and had been asking to do this show.

“Every version has been interpreted differently,” said Paradis, referring to the stage and movie versions of Into the Woods. “You can take this story and make it your own, it is open to different interpretations.”

With this in mind, Paradis said he added some ensemble cast members, such as a chorus, “in unique and innovative ways.” While staying true to the original lines and music written by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, Paradis said he also honored the writers' wishes to take creative license and “interpret it your own way to guide the narrative to suit your community.”

In all, the JCHS production of Into the Woods boasts 50 student cast members, 20 student stage crew members, and 18 pit orchestra performers, 10 of which are students.

Tickets are $10 at the door or in advance. Online purchases are limited and offer specific seating selections: showtix4u.com. There are plenty of tickets available to purchase at the door! Show times for Into the Woods are as follows:

Thursday, March 19, at 7:30 pm

Friday, March 20, at 7:30 pm

Saturday, March 21, at 7:30 pm

Sunday, March 22, at 7:30 pm