McGill's AUTS To Present INTO THE WOODS

McGill's only musical theatre company, the Arts Undergraduate Theatre Society, is gearing up to present the classic musical Into the Woods from January 25 to February 3. Into the Woods, which features music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Lapine, premiered on Broadway in 1987, and was more recently adapted into a Disney movie starring Meryl Streep.

Fairy tales come to life in the classic tales of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel-all tied together by the journey of a baker and his wife, their wish to begin a family and their quest to lift the witch's curse. But in real life, fairy tales don't always go according to plan, and not everyone gets their happily ever after. Into the Woods is a fairytale for the modern age, showing us that perhaps these classic stories are more relevant than ever.

"When the Baker and the Baker's Wife discover they cannot bear a child because of a Witch's curse long ago, the couple set off on an epic adventure to lift the curse. Although everyone's wish is granted at some point, the consequences of their actions come back to haunt them with catastrophic results," explained the show's director Devin Sunar, a second-year McGill student. "As one of Sondheim's most popular works, the musical at its core questions the one thing we have always taken as a given with fairy tales: are there really any happy endings?"

AUTS is a student run company, and the only one on campus that exclusively produces musicals. But the group is not exclusive to McGill students, and Into the Woods even features several students from Concordia's theatre program, both in the cast and on the production team. At the end of the day, AUTS showcases the work of extremely dedicated students who oversee every aspect of the production, from fundraising to the design and direction.

Presenting one show a year, AUTS is a proud part of McGill's vibrant student theatre scene. The production team has been working on Into the Woods since the end of the previous school year, and the cast has been rehearsing since October. The cast is made up of both aspiring actors and students with other focuses. Starring as the Baker and the Baker's Wife are Cathal Rynne, a McGill Mechanical Engineering student, and Emma Corber, currently in her fourth year of Concordia's theatre program.

"We are part of a community full of creative and intelligent people all working towards the same goal and ultimately making art," said Kenzia Dalie, AUTS's producer. "We are given the opportunity to bring together so many different faculties and skill sets and learn from each other. Our goal is not only to learn about the arts, but also to teach about the arts through the message of our productions. Theatre helps us grow as a community."

Into the Woods is presented at Moyse Hall from January 25 - 27 and February 1 - 3, with performances beginning at 7:00. Tickets can be purchased online at autstheatre.ca. A press preview will be held on January 23.

ABOUT AUTS

The Arts Undergraduate Theatre Society (AUTS) is an independently run student group operating out of McGill University. With a long and vibrant history as McGill's resident musical theatre company, AUTS has cemented its position as an integral part of the arts community at McGill and in Montreal as a whole. Our productions aim to appeal to the general public while challenging our artists to strengthen their skills accordingly. We are dedicated to fostering a collaborative and dynamic creative experience for our members, which in turn creates awe-inspiring performances for our audiences. autstheatre.ca

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