MANSFIELD – A youth cast at the Mansfield Playhouse takes on the music of Stephen Sondheim with “Into The Woods Jr.” opening on Friday, Feb. 26.
The whimsical musical intertwines the plot of several Brothers Grimm fairytales, including Cinderella, Jack & the Beanstalk and Little Red Riding Hood. Music and lyrics were written by Sondheim, but the original story was penned by Mansfield native James Lapine.
Those familiar with the original story know it has dark undertones, which led director Doug Wertz to lean towards an older youth cast.
“It’s based on the Brothers Grimm so it is a little darker, so it was easier to cast an older show,” Wertz said.
What wasn’t easy, however, was the actual casting itself. Wertz said 72 local kids auditioned for only 16 available roles.
“I’m sure there were a lot of broken hearts,” Wertz said. “There was so much talent out there, but it got really competitive. It was tough.”
The cast is filled with both veterans of the Mansfield Playhouse and fresh faces, a mix Wertz prefers when casting shows. One newcomer to the Playhouse is 16-year-old Anna Schill, who plays the mother of Jack & the Beanstalk.
“It’s a lot smaller and more cozy, and since it’s a smaller cast you get to know everyone really well,” Schill said of the Playhouse. “Which is really nice because it feels almost like family.”
For all the competitiveness of auditioning, Wertz echoed Schill in saying the cast has bonded to become good friends. Together, they have also matured both vocally and physically.
“The awkwardness is getting comfortable with their own growth and understanding their physicality, and making them more confident about who they are as young adults,” Wertz said. “That’s probably one of the bigger challenges; vocally they’re just gorgeous.”
Directing the music for “Into The Woods Jr.” is Craig Green, who last appeared at the Playhouse for “Peter Pan Jr.” Green also works as a vocal teacher in the Madison Local Schools district, and is the teacher of 16-year-old Teresa Marhefka, who plays Cinderella.
“She starts off sad and dejected, but she gains confidence when she decides she wants to go to the ball and nothing is going to stop her,” said Marhefka of her character. “But when she realizes the prince wants to marry her she’s kind of like, I don’t really want to do that.”
Like many of the show’s classic fairytale characters, Marhefka said Cinderella’s storyline differs slightly in “Into The Woods Jr.” in that she flees the ball three times before ultimately letting the prince decide if he wants to marry her by leaving her slipper on the steps.
“It’s kind of cooler because she’s not all about the prince,” Marhefka said. “She’s more like eh, I could choose better.”
Also appearing from the Cinderella story is her evil stepmother and stepsisters. One of the stepsisters is played by 13-year-old Baeleigh Powers from Mapleton Middle School, who said she has enjoyed exploring her character.
“It’s really evil and rude and horrible, and it’s so fun,” Powers said. “As an actor I love being something that I’m not used to being, so I love getting out of my comfort zone and totally going crazy.”
Playing the role of the evil stepmother is 15-year-old Grace Riegel from Lexington, who is also enjoying her first villainous role. Riegel said she prepared for her role by thoroughly reading her script and taking her character description to heart.
“You don’t always have to be this positive character on stage; really know why you’re doing what you’re doing and the purpose behind what you’re saying,” she said. “Being able to play the villain in this show is a lot of fun and really different from anything else I’ve done.”
Ultimately this is the goal of Wertz – teaching younger casts about the true nature of theater, and watching them grow.
“My philosophy when working with the kids is to try to teach them as much as I can,” Wertz said. “The talent in this show – I’m envious. Vocally they’re a wonderful cast, and I think that is developing and showing more and more with their confidence.”
“Into The Woods Jr.” opens at the Mansfield Playhouse on Friday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. and runs Saturday, Feb. 27, Friday, March 4 and Saturday, March 5, plus a 2:30 p.m. matinee on Sunday, March 6. For tickets visit www.mansfieldplayhouse.com or call the box office at 419-522-2883 Wednesday through Friday between 1 and 6 p.m.
“It’s been a really fun show to be a part of,” said Marhefka. “I’m excited to see it all come together in the end.”
