Korah students ready to dazzle with 'Into the Woods'

It’s rehearsal season at Korah Collegiate as students and staff are gearing up for this year’s musical production of Into the Woods.

Cast members were at Sault College today getting their hair and makeup done ahead of this afternoon’s rehearsal.

Just like in past years, the college’s hair and makeup students will be at Korah to help with every show from Feb. 22-25.

“We’re very fortunate for them,” show director Denine Williams says. “They’re a huge help.”

Williams last put on the production of Into the Woods in 2008, and she says this year was an appropriate time to revive the musical.

“I really love the music in it, and I knew the voices some of the kids had,” she says. “You have to have some strong voices for this. It’s a very moving show.”

“The prologue alone is 16 minutes of just singing. It just goes from one character to the next.”

From cast members and the pit band to backstage and sets crews, Williams estimates there are more than 80 people involved in this year’s musical, with many of the lead roles double and triple casted.

She expects around 4,000 elementary school students to fill the auditorium throughout show week, and thousands more for the evening shows.

“It’s always a great opportunity for the kids to see live theatre,” she says. “That’s what the arts are there for; to bring you to different worlds where you can imagine things.”

“It’s great for the kids because they know all the characters: Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, the stepsisters and stepmother, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, the wolf, granny – it’s all these books they know mashed up in the woods.”

Williams says they’ll only be putting on the first act of the show to accommodate the children who will be watching the production, which still comes out to an over 90-minute show plus intermission.

Since the show is scheduled during reading week, Williams is also expecting lots of grads and former musical theatre students to come back and help with the show in a variety of capacities.

Into the Woods runs from Feb. 22-25 at Korah. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the shows begin at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $30 for adults and $20 for students and seniors.

Friday, Feb. 24 pasta dinner and show tickets are $40 adults and $25 for students and seniors. Dinner is at 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 25 matinee show is at 1 p.m.

Tickets are available at Korah, the Station Mall box office, or at the door.

Producers: Paige Simonen and Emma Marttinen

Stage manager: Elizabeth Moran

Sound and lights: Jesse Cooks

Choreographer: Kendra Ricard

Set design: Craig Pierman, Dean Williams, Ian Ganton, and the Schwartz family

Costumes: Shereena Campbell