Cavod Campers To Stage Fairy Tale Mash-Up
According to Stephanie Morales, who is making her theatrical directorial debut with Cavod's "Into the Woods Jr.," the woods are a metaphor for life. "We have an idea of what life should look like, but let's look at 2020," said Morales, pointing out the timeliness of the message. "Life was supposed to look one way, but how do you roll with those punches?"
"Into the Woods Jr." is, in Morales' words, "a modified, condensed, and wholesome version of the show," which has been called a modern mash-up of classic fairy tales. The show brings together main characters from "Cinderella," "Jack and the Beanstalk," "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Rapunzel," and along with a witch, and a few pieces of other beloved tales, in a story about a baker and his wife and their wish to start a family.
Nearly 30 performers ages 8 to 18 will take part in the show. Cast members will be part of Cavod's "Into the Woods Jr." camp, which is being held at Cavod Academy, New Holland, from July 12 through July 23. The show will be presented at the Cavod Theatre, 641 W. Main St., New Holland, on Saturday and Sunday, July 24 and 25, at 2 and 7 p.m. each day. Leads include Lucy Taylor as the narrator, DaleRose Day as Cinderella, Gwenyth Unruh as Jack, Margaret Bates as Jack's mother, Chance Wilson as the baker, Grace Fafel as the baker's wife, Eden Marcott as Little Red Riding Hood, Emily Rau as the witch, Foster Shrom as Cinderella's prince, Alana Halliday as Cinderella's stepmother, Emma Blake as Florinda, Meghan Miller as Lucinda, Josiah Brubaker as Cinderella's father, Sarah Blatt as Cinderella's mother, Audrey Pavlica as Rapunzel, Josiah Henne as Rapunzel's prince, Ayla Vieland as the mysterious man, Sheridan MacKenzie as the wolf, Aaliyah Clark as Granny, and Annicka Locke as the steward. Amy Rau will be the musical director.
Morales noted that one challenge of staging the show is that the script only calls for about 15 cast members, but the camp attracted 27 attendees. "We are trying to find new and creative ways to implement everyone and make sure each one has a moment on stage," she said. However, even before camp had begun, Morales stated, she was having fun deciding which direction to take the quirky script and gathering the cast for a read-through. "The kids all were excited," she said, noting that when she walked into the gathering, she heard children squealing and laughing. "Seeing people hug each other ... we are starting off with a positive, loving environment," she said.
Many of the show's lessons are meant for audience members of all ages. "At some point in life, we are all 'in the woods,'" said Morales. "You follow the journeys of all these characters who (are seeking) a specific idea of happiness, (but) as they travel into the woods they discover that ideal happy moment is not what they needed, but only what they wanted."
Tickets may be purchased in advance at http://www.cavod.org.
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