Wednesday, March 12 | 5 p.m.

Thursday, March 13 | 7 p.m.

Friday, March 14 | 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 15 | 1 p.m.
Heller Auditorium

 

Parker Performing Arts proudly presents the 2025 Upper School Spring Musical, Into the Woods. A musical by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine that takes everyone's favorite storybook characters and brings them together for a timeless, yet relevant, piece and a rare modern classic. The Tony Award-winning book and score are both enchanting and touching.

 

The musical intertwines the plots of several Brothers Grimm fairy tales, exploring the consequences of the characters’ wishes and quests. The story follows a Baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King's Festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the Baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a Witch’s curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse. Everyone’s wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results.

 

Into the Woods opened on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre on November 5, 1987. The film adaptation opened in cinemas on January 8, 2015.  

 

Into the Woods takes everything we know about these classic characters and turns that understanding on its head. It uses familiar stories to highlight the harsh realities of the human experience and to examine the possibility of our world as we wish to see it, and as we wish to pass it on to our children.

 

Sondheim’s words remind us to choose our paths thoughtfully. And as we consider our own paths, may we always remember that indeed “no one is alone.”

 

The Performing Arts presentation of Into the Woods is directed by Theatre & Technical Manager/ Auditorium Manager Tom Moster, with music direction by Kevin Zhou and choreography by Upper School Dance teacher Florence Walker-Harris. The production team includes lighting design by Art teacher Rachel Korotkin, costume design by Katie-Sarah Philips and Erica Wade as assistant choreographer. The team is rounded out with scenic design and construction by Art/Shop/Stage-Set Design teacher Nick Rupard and the Upper School stagecraft class. The cast of 27 students brings this storybook musical to our stage!

 

Join us for one of the four performances! The show opens on Wednesday, March 12 at 5 p.m. Additional performances are Thursday, March 13 and Friday, March 14 at 7 p.m., or Saturday, March 15 at 1 p.m. All performances take place in the Diane and David B Heller Auditorium and are free of charge with general admission seating. This musical is rated PG-13 and is recommended for audience members over the age of 14. Parent/Guardian accompaniment is recommended for anyone under the age of 14.

 

Please also join us for an opening night reception to celebrate the cast and crew immediately following the performance on Wednesday, March 12 in the Small Gym. Special thanks to the Parents' Association for sponsoring the reception.