The Conservatory will be showing performances of “Into the Woods” in Spencer Theatre, with an ensemble of dancers added, until March 23rd.
Into the Woods is an Oscar-winning musical written by James Lapine and composed by Stephen Soundheim, a tale twisted with Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and the Baker and his Wife.
Over 50 UMKC students and alumni put many hours breathing life into the musical, using the stage of the Spencer Theatre means the time is coming to a close.
Mary-Kate Griffin, a music and psychology major who plays the Baker’s Wife said actor’s need to bring themselves into a new character, and has enjoyed finding herself in the character
“This is a show about wishing, and in wishing finding yourself and your chosen family,” said Griffin. “It’s deeply heartwarming, somehow nostalgic all while being lighthearted and funny. I think it’s everything people want to look for in theatre.”
The process starts with auditions, music and staging, before they could move onto dress rehearsals on the big stage.
“This is my fourth show as a freshman,” said freshman theatre performance major Torrin Beasley. “I started with set building and have made it to directing the sound and light board, today I’m helping as man-power while they program the board.”
Assistant director said the show is production-heavy, making it more expensive than previous.
It’d been about a month when the actors started working amongst their puppet co-star, also known as Milky White, puppeteered by Oscar Phillips.
Phillips works alongside Everett Quiett, another puppeteer for the show.
“Tonight is about integrating orchestra and costume, so dancers can hear the things that activate the story. It’s important because this piece uses so many sound cues,” said Will Porter, an alumus and the assistant director and choreographer for the show. “You can certainly seen how far they’ve come with that, making sure that the opera singers and the dancers are stepping into their actor selves, it’s a Pulitzer award winning play and all these departments are putting the work in.”
The show will be from Wednesday through Saturday at the James C. Olson Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. with tickets found here.
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