Into the Woods

Meet Rapunzel

Meet Rapunzel and her handsome and devoted prince

Meet the wicked step-sister, Florinda (center), and her family

These characters - along with Little Red Riding Hood, Granny, and the Wolf, a baker and his wife, Jack (as in Jack & the Beanstalk) and his mother and pet cow, as well as a wicked witch and a mysterious man - made up the cast of our school's first ever major musical theater production -

Into the Woods Jr.

Our music teacher, Ms. Linda (seen below with Katie), did a phenomenal job organizing and directing this production. The auditions were in January, followed by months of rehearsals and 3 performances at the end of April. Madi and Katie were happy to be a part of it, though Madi was disappointed in her role as a step-sister. She felt she was qualified for a larger role (despite a less-than-desired audition due to nerves), but when all was said and done, Ms. Linda did a perfect job casting the play. Once she got over the disappointment, Madi decided to be the best step-sister she could be, and in the end, she said the play was the most exciting thing she had ever done.

I was able to be involved with the play as well, accompanying the cast as they learned the group ensemble numbers in the beginning. I then worked with the soloists in the end, helping them get ready for the performances. It was a big family commitment, with rehearsals 3 days a week after school, added to our already busy extra-curricular activity schedule. Ben spent lots of afternoons hours hanging out by the piano at the school.

Madi particularly enjoyed going to the rehearsals because she got to spend time with with her friends. She poses in the picture below with her friends, Lexi and Lauren. Lexi was on the tech crew and Lauren was the Wicked Witch.

Madi and the other 8th graders who were part of the play - Cristien (narrator), Madi, Elan (the Mysterious Man), Lauren (Witch - the green nose gives it away, right?, Lexi (tech crew)

And in the picture below - my actresses - the night of the final performance. Those big smiles on their faces tell you just how they felt at the end of the night. They were on such a high! Before the performance Katie said she hoped they would get a standing ovation, which of course, they got. It made her night! Madi and Katie both grew from participating in this production. Madi learned that you don't have to be the star to have a rewarding and positive experience. She also learned that it can be a lot of fun to be a drama queen - hamming up her role as much as possible. Katie learned that she can sing some pretty high notes when necessary and that it's OK to pretend to care about a prince even when he's a silly boy you've gone to school with since you were 4. The girls were both sad to see it all end, and wondered what they would do with their afternoons now that the rehearsals were over. I, on the other hand, did not have that same concern :). I know one thing for certain - our school has now entered the realm of theater and there's no turning back now!