Into the Woods
Press Release
May, 2014
The Belleville Theatre Guild,
256 Pinnacle Street, Belleville
(613) 967-1442
Back Row (L to R): Brayah Pickard (Sleeping Beauty); Natasha Mullins (Snow White); Cooper Gazley (Rapunzel's Prince); Katie Gordon (Rapunzel); John O'Connor (Cinderella's father); Nancy Garrod (Granny); Tom Higginbottom (Mysterious Man); Braelyn Guppy (Cinderella); John-Ross Parks (Cinderella's Prince); Wesley Weese (Steward); Dave Kidd (Narrator).
Center Row (L to R): Danielle Dettlinger (Lucinda); Al Zaback (Baker); Moira Nikander-Forrester (Baker's Wife); Alison Brant (Witch); Alyssa Ross (Jack's Mother); Erin Girard (Cinderella's Step-Mother).
Front Row (L to R): Kasandra Bateman (Florinda); Jaime-Kristal Lott (Little Red Riding Hood); Eric Lucas (Jack)
Selected Scenes
Photot 1: Cast members
Photot 2: Eric Lucas (Jack the Giant Killer) & Alyssa Ross (Jack's wife)
Photot 3: Nancy Garrod (Cinderella's Mother)
Photot 4: Jaime-Kristal Lott (Little Red Riding Hood)
Photot 5: Alison Brant (the Witch)
Photot 6: John O'Connor (the Wolf) & Jaime-Kristal Lott (Little Red Riding Hood)
Photot 7: Marion Stratton (violin) & Tom Dietzel (keyboards)
Belleville: Do characters in Grimm’s fairy tales really ‘live happily ever after’? The musical comedy, Into the Woods, by Stephen Sondheim is the last production for this season by Belleville Theatre Guild. It premiers on May 29 and runs until June 14 at Pinnacle Playhouse in Belleville. Tickets cost $25 a piece. For those looking for a bargain there will be a preview on May 27 with $10 tickets.
Into the Woods explores some of possibilities of what happens to fairy tale characters in the next chapter of their lives. Act 1, introduces fairy tale favourites Cinderella, Rapunzel, and their princes, Little Red Riding Hood, the Baker and his wife, Jack, the giant killer, and his mother; the wicked wolf and the ubiquitous scheming witch.
In Act II, things start to get grimmer as those who got their heart’s desire in the first act discover that the quest was more exciting than the prize and those who were wronged come back to seek their revenge, including the giant’s homicidal wife. The play is alternately hilarious and thought provoking.
The play is directed by Steve Forrester with musical direction by David Farmer, and choreography by Amy-Lyn Van Londersele. Dave Henderson is the producer; Darren Cole, stage manager; Dave Alexander, set design; Sean Scully, set construction and props; Beth Callwell, costumes and Donna Douglas, rehearsal pianist.
Forrester said that although there are several veteran actors from the Theatre Guild Roster, the production is predominantly young actors and actresses who are still in school or in their twenties.
Among the veterans are Al Zaback as the baker, Moira Nikander-Forrester as the baker’s wife, Nancy Garrod playing a variety of roles including Cinderella’s mother, Red Riding Hood’s Granny and the giant’s wife, Wes Weese as the steward and John O’Connor as the Big Bad Wolf and Cinderella’s father. Erin Gerard plays Cinderella’s stepmother, David Kidd plays the Narrator, and Tom Higgenbottom the Mysterious Man.
Forrester said he thoroughly enjoys doing musicals as they provide the opportunity to bring in young people who often return to try out for subsequent musicals in later years.
Among the veteran young actors are Braelyn Guppy (Cinderella), Eric Lucas (Jack the Giant Killer) John Ross Parks, (Cinderella's Prince Charming) and Katie Gordon (Rapunzel) and Allison Brant (the wicked witch) who are familiar faces on the Pinnacle stage. Newer youth performers include Cooper Gazley, Repunzel’s prince, Jaime Kristal Lott as Red Riding Hood. and the ugly step sisters, Cassandra Bateman and Danielle Dettinger. Three young teens, Kenzie McGuire, Natasha Mullens and Brayah Pickard play wood elves and set movers.
Forrester describes Stephen Sondheim’s music as complicated but brilliant. “It has some of the wittiest lyrics I’ve ever heard.”
Into the Woods has a special meaning for Forrester himself, who suffered serious injuries at the theatre during the winter when he fell off a ladder, he has struggled hard with his own personal quest to get back on his feet and mobile enough to take the responsibilities of directing the play. In fact, he has fared far better in his quest, than a number of characters in the play who don’t make it to the finale.
Tickets are $25.00 and we offer thirteen performances including two Sunday matinées. Contact us through or call the box office at 613-967-1442 to order.
The Belleville Theatre Guild offers elevator service right in to the theatre, a barrier-free washroom and room in the front row for wheel chairs and other mobility devices. See you at the Pinnacle Playhouse!
Submitted by Steve Forrester, Director, Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods, Belleville Theatre Guild
