Theatre Horizon's INTO THE WOODS Begins Tonight

Theatre Horizon is kicking off 2015 with a re-imagining of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's classic Into The Woods. The show runs tonight, February 5-March 1, 2015. Opening Night is February 12 at 7:30 p.m. The theatre has assembled a cast of local all-stars to tell this timeless tale about the sacrifices we make to see our dreams come true. Tickets cost $25-$43 and are available online at www.theatrehorizon.org.

Theatre Horizon's production will be filled with new ideas and some inventive staging. In the theater's intimate space, they will tell this classic story through a group of traveling actors. The cast of 10 will "arrive" at Theatre Horizon and tell the story with the help of a four-piece orchestra. Cast members will also play instruments and be part of the orchestra. The props, costumes, and set will be what would typically be found in a theater.

In Sondheim and Lapine's piece, a baker and his wife journey into the woods to reverse a curse cast by the Witch that lives next door. But when they encounter Cinderella, Rapunzel, Jack, and Little Red Riding Hood, fairytales collide on this quest that reveals that wishes do come true, but at a price. Theatre Horizon's inventive new take on this legendary musical tells the story of what happens after happily ever after.

"At its core, this is a play about fairytales, and how we tell stories. So the concept of our production lies in the way that fairytales were originally told - by people around a fireside as way to escape the tedium of their chores. Those versions were not so much stories as oral traditions, with every narrator getting a chance to reinvent the tale," said Matthew Decker, Theatre Horizon's Resident Director and Director of Into The Woods. "So, we've decided to take that idea a step further and reinvent this production around this incredible ensemble. We will utilize their skills not only as actors and singers, but also as instrumentalists, puppeteers, and creative spirits. We will build a version of this story that celebrates the power of these particular performers who are getting their own chance to reinvent the tale."

Audiences can expect this production to be no frills. It will appear that the actors have built the set themselves and gathered props and costumes from their closets, kid's toy chests, flea markets and basements.

Added Decker, "I think that lends the production to be full of a lot of artistic inventiveness, imagination and creativity. Plus, in Theatre Horizon's intimate venue - where the play will "take place", with Theatre Horizon's space serving as the set - it will feel like the actors are singing those glorious Sondheim soliloquies right in the laps of the audience members. It will feel like the Giant is crashing through the audience! The thought of exploring this incredible story with those opportunities of actor/audience intimacy is thrilling to think about. The audience will be invited to be an active participant in the telling of this tale, engaging their own imaginations and evoking that exhilarating feeling of hearing a story around a fireside."

Theatre Horizon has gathered an ensemble of several Theatre Horizon regulars and some of the top musical theater performers in the region. Recent Barrymore Award Winner Charlie DelMarcelle is the Narrator/Mysterious Man. Ben Michael is playing Cinderella's Prince/Wolf. Michael Doherty is cast as Jack. 2014 F. Otto Haas Award winner Liz Filios is Cinderella. Leigha Kato is Little Red Riding Hood/Rapunzel. Kristine Fraelich will play the Witch. Steve Pacek and Rachel Camp are the Baker and the Baker's Wife. Kala Moses Baxter is Jack's Mother. Alex Bechtel is Rapunzel's Prince.

Amanda Morton is the Music Director for the show. Nick Kourtides is designing sound. Maura Roche is the Set Designer. Mike Inwood is the Lighting Designer. Lauren Perigard is the Costume Designer. Stephen Hungerford is the Technical Director. Molly Braverman is the AEA Stage Manager. Melissa Erlick is the Non-Union Stage Manager. Toby Pettit is the Sound Engineer. Eric Baker is the Master Electrician.