The Mansfield Playhouse’s upcoming youth production – “Into the Woods JR.” – will feature three people from Bellville: Evan Wertz will play the part of the Baker; Katie Troyer will play the Baker’s Wife; Samuel Brandes will play the Mysterious Man/Wolf.
Into the Woods JR. will be presented on the Main Stage of the Mansfield Playhouse beginning Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. Future productions will be performed on Feb. 27, March 4 – 5 at 7 p.m. and March 6 at 2:30 p.m. The musical will be the youth theater’s opening production.
A playhouse news release states that Into the Woods JR. has a “whimsical original story” which is described as The Brothers Grimm “go Broadway” in a “cockeyed fairy tale.” It is based on a book by James Lapine with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. An adaptation of one of Sondheim’s most popular works designed especially for young performers, it features characters such as Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack (and his beanstalk) and the Witch. The musical centers on a baker and his wife who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the king’s festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a witch’s curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse and wind up changed forever.
The production will be directed by Doug Wertz, with musical direction by Craig Green. The cast includes Narrator, Cassandra Kurek, Bucyrus; Baker; Witch, Kristin Kaufman, Mansfield; Cinderella, Teresa Marhefka, Mansfield; Cinderella’s Mother/Stepmother, Grace Riegel, Mansfield; Cinderella’s Father/Steward, Bryan Tibbs, Ashland; Florinda/Granny, Baeleigh Powers, Ashland; Lucinda, Elizabeth Harris, Galion; Cinderella’s Prince, Adin O’Brien, Mansfield; Jack, Christian Shepherd, Mansfield; Jack’s Mother, Anna Schill, Mansfield; Little Red Ridinghood, McKenna Stoffer, Ontario; Rapunzel, Ellie Nickoli, Mansfield; and Rapunzel’s Prince, Gavin Beck, Mansfield.
Tickets can be purchased at www.mansfieldplayhouse.com or by calling the box office, 419-522-2883, 1 to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.
