Temple High School’s production of Into the Woods concluded a very succesful run on January 18th at the Azalee Marshall Cultural Activities Center (3011 North 3rd Street, Temple). The show was performed at the CAC because of renovation construction to the Temple High auditorium.

The adventures of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel were woven together as they tried to overcome obstacles in the same forest. It's the story of a Baker (Trenton Schneiders) and his Wife (Alexandra Tolleson) scattered through the other tales. An evil Witch (Kara Kasberg) had placed a family curse on the couple that prevents them from having a child.

In the first act, the characters set out to achieve their goal of living "happily ever after" through familiar routes. Cinderella (Stephanie Scherer) goes to the ball and captures the heart of Prince Charming (Rory Jones). Cinderella’s family includes her Stepmother (Shalyssa Wright), Stepsisters (Emily Kleypas and Sherry Hughes), her Father (John Patterson) and her Mother (Elizabeth Pasichnyk).

Jack (Morgan Crozier) climbs the beanstalk and finds a land of Giants and gold. Jack lives with his Mother (Stacy Henderson) and his best friend, Milky-White the cow. Little Red Riding Hood (Corrie Hermans) survives her clash with the Wolf (Chris Burrow) at the home of her Granny (Anya Godigamuwe). Rapunzel (Allison Henderson) manages to escape her tower with the aid of a handsome Prince (Andrew Averitt) who climbs her long golden hair.

At the end of act one, all characters seem poised to live "happily ever after". However, act two deals with the consequences that traditional fairy tales conveniently ignore. What does one do with a dead giant in the back yard? Does marrying a prince really lead to a happy and fulfilling life? Is carving up the wolf the solution? Is the giant always wrong?

The show was narrated by Richard Tolleson. Other characters included Mysterious Man (Nathan Graham), the royal Steward (Scott Ray), Snow White (Heather Stanley) and Sleeping Beauty (Sarah Jo White). The voice of the Lady Giant was provided by Samantha Sheffer.

Over 140 new Into the Woods  photos were added to our Snapfish Photo Group on January 17th and 18th. Click on "Photo Gallery" in the menu bar. You must be a Snapfish member to view the photos, but the membership is free.

Fourteen new Into the Woods  videos were added to our ThespiansRUs YouTube account on January 18th. Click on "YouTube" link at the lower left of this page, or CLICK HERE to go to YouTube.

Stephanie Scherer (Cinderella) and Kara Kasberg (The Witch) appeared on KWTX-TV's Morning Buzz television show on Wednesday, January 14, at 6:25 a.m. for a live interview with Emily Matthews.

Here's the cover of the souvenir program from the show:

Wikipedia article

What happens in fairy tales when the characters do not live "happily ever after"? In Stephen Sondheim’s award-winning musical, “Into the Woods,” several familiar characters (and some new ones) find out.

Cast of Characters

Narrator = Richard Tolleson
Cinderella = Stephanie Scherer
Jack = Morgan Crozier
Jack's Mother = Stacy Henderson
Baker = Trenton Schneiders
Baker's Wife = Alexandra Von Tolleson
Cinderella's Stepmother = Shalyssa Wright
Florinda - Emily Kleypas
Lucinda = Sherry Hughes
Cinderella's Father = John Patterson
Little Red Riding Hood = Corrie Hermans
Witch = Kara Kasberg
Cinderella's Mother = Elizabeth Pasichnyk
Mysterious Man = Nathan Graham
Wolf = Chris Burrow
Granny = Anya Godigamuwe
Rapunzel = Allison Henderson
Rapunzel's Prince = Andrew Averitt
Cinderella's Prince = Rory Jones
Steward = Scott Ray

Lady Giant (Voice-Over) = Samantha Sheffer
Snow White = Heather Stanley
Sleeping Beauty = Sarah Jo White

Production Staff

Director = Natasha Tolleson
Technical Director = Rachel Aker
Technical Consultants = Byron Lovelace and Adam Kennard
Vocal Consultants = Ken Stanton, Tonya Ellis and Jimmy Pfeiffer
Rehearsal Accompanist = Dawna Mischtian
Sound & Publicity Consultant = Jody Donaldson
Temple ISD Fine Arts Director = Jimmy Pfeiffer
Temple ISD Fine Arts Secretary = Kata Rafferty

Stage Manager = Sarah Jo White
Assistant Stage Manager = Samantha Sheffer

Set Foreman = Nathan Graham
Assistant Set Foremen = Earl Pope and James Roeder
Set Crew = Cassi Anderson, Brad Hickey, Michela Hill, Meredith Howell, Dylan Johnston, Lauren Mann, Immanueli Mwaura, Morgan Sorley, Jared Straub and Tyler Winkler

Properties Mistress = Allison Mesecke
Properties Crew = Gloria Matthews, Kathryn Pasichnyk, Shay Patterson, Emily Roeder and Rachel Ann Stonestreet

Adult Costume Mistress = Kathryn Hermans
Student Costume Mistress = Heather Stanley
Student Costume Crew = Brooke Fader, Chelsea Heitman, Elizabeth Russell and Joshua Zepeda

Hair and Make-up Crew Chief = Regan Allen
Hair and Make-Up Crew = Alex Anderson, Alison Clifton, Monica Griggs, Ravin Jackson, Annie Sorge and Mikah Young

Lighting Crew Chief = Evan Wright
Lighting Crew = Jesse Meyer and Joel Williams

Sound Crew Chiefs = Victoria Hanks (microphones) and John McSpedon (music)
Sound Crew = Ashlie Burrow, Travis Deibert and Shannon Graham

Publicity Crew = Stephanie Ewing, Joey Jaworski, Nisha Pillai, Landry Wheeler and Josh Wilder

House Manager = Josh Wilder
Front-Of-House Crew = Stephanie Ewing, Katie Hargrove, Joey Jaworski and Nisha Pillai plus other Temple High Theatre Students

Deleted from Production Staff: Reese Atkinson (set), Calli Elliott (props), Katelynn Hill (set), Dorothy Irvine (props), Tamitra Nealy (props), Mathew Slaybaugh (props), Jessica Pratt (set), Taylor Welch (set),