First Look: INTO THE WOODS, Opening Tonight at the Westchester Playhouse

By: Nov. 14, 2014
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Kentwood Players presents the Tony Award winning musical "Into the Woods" with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine, from Friday, November 14 to Saturday, December 20 with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm, with two Thursday night performances at 8pm on December 11 and 18 at the Westchester Playhouse, located at 8301 Hindry Avenue, Westchester, CA 90045. The production is directed by Shawn K. Summerer with musical direction by Catherine Rahm, produced by Lori Marple-Pereslete and Tony Pereslete by special arrangement with Music Theatre International.

The original Broadway production won the 1988 New York Drama Critics' Circle Award and the Drama Desk Award for Best Musical, and the original cast recording won a Grammy Award. The show was nominated for ten Tony Awards, and won three: Best Score (Stephen Sondheim), Best Book (James Lapine) and Best Actress in a Musical (Joanna Gleason).

"Into the Woods" is tied together by an original story involving a childless baker and his wife and their quest to begin a family, their dealings with a Witch who has placed a curse on them, and their interaction with other storybook characters during their journey. Join Cinderella, Little Red Ridinghood, Rapunzel, Jack the Giant Slayer, and many other famous storybook characters as they each venture into the foreboding woods in search of magical items, love, money, or simply a purpose in life. This classic mash-up of Grimm's fairy tales teaches all of us the true consequences of what it means to "get your wish."

Featured in the cast are: Matthew Artson, Heather Barnett, Samantha Barrios, Jenna Bergman, Elizabeth Bouton, Erika Brauer, Patricia Butler, Amy Coles, Terry Delegeane, Harold Dershimer, Brad Halvorsen, Brandie June, Carly Linehan, Ben Lupejkis, Roy Okida, Kim Peterson, Catherine Rahm, Alicia Reynolds and Jon Sparks.

Tickets are $25.00 with a $2.00 discount for seniors and students, To purchase tickets, please call (310) 645-5156 during box office hours, Wednesday through Saturday from 4-7 PM. You may also purchase tickets online at www.kentwoodplayers.org. For group ticket sales, please call Lori Marple-Pereslete at (310) 216-9094 or the box office. The show is appropriate for all ages. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult in the theater.

During the run of "Into the Woods" Kentwood Players will hold its second annual Kentwood Kares Coat Drive, collecting new and gently used coats, jackets and sweaters to be donated to the Union Rescue Mission located in downtown Los Angeles on San Pedro Street, a group that provides emergency and long term services to men, women and children trying to escape living on Skid Row. Founded in 1891, the Union Rescue Mission is the oldest mission of its kind in the City of the Angels.

Kentwood Kares, organized by Kentwood Players President Kathy Dershimer, gives the community theater group the opportunity to lend a hand to those in need in our city. So be an angel and please donate a new or gently used coat, jacket or sweater to the Kentwood Kares Coat Drive at the Westchester Playhouse during "Into the Woods."

For more information about Kentwood Players including our current productions or upcoming auditions, please visit the Kentwood Players website at www.kentwoodplayers.org. You can also find Kentwood Players information on Facebook and Twitter.

To meet the "Into the Woods" production team and learn more about Kentwood Players and what goes on at the Westchester Playhouse, the public is invited to attend our general membership meetings, which are free and held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30pm at the Westchester Playhouse, located two blocks west of the San Diego Freeway and two blocks north of Manchester at 8301 Hindry Avenue in Westchester, CA 90045.

Photos by Gypsy Foster


Cinderella, her Prince, the Baker and his Wife find out what it means to get your wish. (From left: Heather Barnett, Jon Sparks, Amy Coles, Terry Delegeane)


The Witch casts a spell on Rapunzel. (From left: Alicia Reynolds, Elizabeth Bouton)


Cinderella (Heather Barnett) takes her place on the royal throne.


The Baker attempts to get Little Red Ridinghood's cape for the Witch. (From left: Carly Linehan, Terry Deleageane)


Cinderella and her Prince. (From left: Heather Barnett, Jon Sparks)



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