South Coast Repertory's Summer Player's present Into the Woods Aug. 6-7 and 13-14
Cast includes five Theatre Conservatory grads
COSTA MESA, CA. – Five graduates of South Coast Repertory’s Theatre Conservatory (Kids and Teen Program) will appear in the Summer Players production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods August 6-7 and 13-14 on the Julianne Argyros Stage.
The returning grads—all college students on summer break—are Chase Anderson-Shaw (USC sophomore/theatre major), Brianna Beach (UC San Diego sophomore/theatre major), Jordan Bellow (Chapman sophomore/ BFA in theatre performance), Akshay Sharma (Harvard freshman), and Rachel Teague (Orange Coast College freshman).
Into the Woods is directed by SCR Theatre Conservatory Director Hisa Takakuwa, with musical direction by Erin McNally.
Summer Players are students in the SCR’s Kids and Teen Acting Program who have been chosen by audition after at least one year in the Theatre Conservatory. According to Takakuwa, “For the first time, we opened our Summer Players casting pool to include recent graduates. This allowed us to choose Into the Woods, which requires more mature and experienced performers, who will raise the level for the younger actors in the show.”
As rehearsals began, Takakuwa added, “It’s wonderful to see how these grads are passing on what they’ve learned. Because SCR has helped shape and support them, they’re eager to give back and share their experiences and joy with others.”
While most fairytales begin “once upon a time” and end “happily ever after,” that’s not the case with this Tony Award-winning musical. After their dreams seem to come true, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and a bevy of fairytale characters—plus a few new ones created to add to the chaos—return to the woods for a reality check. The Summer Players journey into this fantastical world where traditional fairytales take on fractured new lives and teach important lessons.
INTO THE WOODS music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim book by James Lapine originally directed on Broadway by James Lapine orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick Directed by Hisa Takakuwa Musical Direction by Erin McNally Orchestrations/Arrangements by Bobby Nafarrete Set and Costume Designer: Sara Clement Lighting Designer: Benjamin Weill Sound Designer: Sam Lerner Stage manager: Deborah Chesterman
Fairytales usually begin “once upon a time” and end “happily ever after,” but after all the dreams come true in this Tony Award-winning musical masterpiece, everybody returns to the woods for a reality check.
Dates: Saturday, August 6 and 13 and Sunday, August 7 and 14 at 1 and 5pm
Tickets: $12 (may be purchased through the SCR Box Office at (714) 708-5555 or online at www.scr.org)
Cast by City
Aliso Viejo: Chaney Lieberman (The Three Little Pigs/Cinderella’s Birds) Anaheim Hills: Kailyn Dunkelman (Cinderella) Costa Mesa: Chase Anderson-Shaw (Cinderella’s Father); Lauren Cocroft (Granny); Huntington Beach: Brianna Beach (Witch); Kelsey Kato (Jack); Alyse Russell (Giant/Magic Harp); Rachel Teague (Baker’s Wife) Irvine: Sophia Falmagne (Florinda); Sidney Lester (Sleeping Beauty); Akshay Sharma (Baker) Laguna Niguel: J ordan Bellow (Cinderella’s Prince); Blaze Whiting (The Three Little Pigs/Cinderella’s Birds) Long Beach: Catherine Hass (Little Red Riding Hood) Los Alamitos: Jamie Ostmann (Hen that lays golden eggs); Julia Ostmann (Jack’s mother) Newport Beach: Allison Baayoun (Snow White); Claire Dwyer (Cinderella’s mother); Christopher Huntley (Steward); Mitchell Huntley (The Three Little Pigs/Cinderella’s Birds); Jasmine O’Hea (Lucinda) Rancho Santa Margarita: Connor Dugard (Wolf); Grace O’Brien (Milky White, Jack’s cow) Rossmoor: Nick Slimmer (Rapunzel’s Prince/Wolf #2) Santa Ana: Luke Tagle (Mysterious Man); Lindsey Wiercioch (Rapunzel) Seal Beach: Allie Mgrublian (Cinderella’s Stepmother) Tustin: Valentina Gehley (Narrator)
