La Sierra to stage “Into the Woods” musical with 20-member cast, orchestra

  College of Arts & Sciences   Arts+Culture  

RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- Featuring a cast of 20 including community audition winners, La Sierra University’s Department of Music will stage the Tony Award-winning musical “Into the Woods” this weekend.

<p>Dr. Raejin Lee, director of vocal studies and general director of the music department's production of "Into the Woods," a musical by Stephen Sondheim.&nbsp;</p>

Dr. Raejin Lee, director of vocal studies and general director of the music department's production of "Into the Woods," a musical by Stephen Sondheim. 

The production, directed by vocal studies professor Raejin Lee will include the La Sierra University Orchestra led by maestro Dean Anderson, director of orchestral studies. The story follows the travails of a baker and his wife as they seek to start a family and explores the consequences of wishes granted. The couple’s adventures are interwoven with elements and characters from several fairy tales including “Cinderella,” “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Rapunzel,” and “Jack and the Beanstalk.”

“‘Into The Woods’ is a brilliantly conceived exploration of what happens after ‘happily ever after,’” said Lee. “This show is a magical imaginative adventure with a moral and political point of view.”

The musical will be staged at Hole Memorial Auditorium on Saturday, March 2 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 3 at 3 p.m. The production stars La Sierra University senior biomed major Nathan Silao as the baker and alumna Marjorie Ellenwood as the baker’s wife, with vocal performance major Kyana Holland as the witch, vocal performance senior Daphne Leon as Cinderella, mathematics alum Royce Olarte as Prince Charming, and freshman music major Hannah Chang as Little Red Riding Hood. Vocal performance sophomore Mark Cimino serves as narrator.

Vocalists from the community were selected through competitive audition. They include award-winning Riverside students, John W. North High School junior Rena Maduro as Rapunzel and Sarah Gediman of Encore High School for The Arts in multiple roles as Mysterious Man, Giant, and Granny; Karenna Brand, a 7th grader at La Sierra Academy as Sleeping Beauty; and Lia Kritzinger and Aydin Mallery, both homeschool students, respectively as Snow White and Jack.

Shane Wood is stage director and set designer, Sara Pinto da Silva is stage manager, Judith Leon is costume designer and Paul Cardon is sound manager.

Stephen Sondheim penned the music and lyrics for “Into the Woods” which debuted in 1986 in San Diego. It played on Broadway in 1987 where it received several Tony Awards. Sondheim teamed with James Lapine who wrote a book of the musical. In 2014, Disney released a film adaptation of the story which received three Academy Award nominations.

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