Date posted: 2-14-01

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Children's Tale Comes to the Stage

By LeAnna Hart

DeKalb News Service

KIRKLAND -- Children's fairy tales and music combine for a night of entertainment when Hiawatha's Mid-Winter Play presents "Into the Woods Jr." at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday [Feb. 16 and 17].
Students from Hiawatha Elementary make up the cast in this special children's adaptation of the Broadway musical "Into the Woods" with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine.
"Into the Woods Jr." tells the story of a baker and his wife, who have been cursed with childlessness by the witch next door, and their quest to reverse the spell. Their tale is woven together with those of Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Ridinghood and others as each character goes "into the woods" to get their wishes by whatever means necessary.

This is not director Diane Parness' first experience with "Into the Woods." She also directed the show for StageCoach Players in DeKalb. But working with children instead of adults put the show into a new light.

"The children's version accentuates the fairy tales," Parness said. "It actually becomes a different story."

Sixty students, ranging from third grade to seventh grade, auditioned for the 20-member cast. Most of the cast had no prior theater experience, but found a bright side to their individual situations.

"I don't mind having a small part," said Megan Haag, a fifth grader playing Cinderella's mother, "because if I had a big part I might not remember everything."

Stephane Lorenz, a seventh grader cast as the Narrator, found one thing to be thankful for with her character. "I don't have to do much up there or make a fool of myself," she said. "I just talk."

Parness decided to use elementary students for a reason. "I wanted to try to build up the program at a younger level," she said. "If they are exposed to [theater] when they are young, they are more likely to stick with it."

Featured performers include Ryan Kirby as the baker, Brenna Cassidy as the baker's wife, Samantha Webster as Cinderella, Kyle Mattis as Jack and Alice Frankowski as Little Red Ridinghood. The musical director is Aleia Becker, a senior at Hiawatha.

This performance is the debut of the Mid-Winter Play at Hiawatha. It will alternate yearly with student-directed one-acts. The Mid-Winter show will always be geared toward children, Parness said, even if the cast is made up of junior-high and high-school students.

Performances will be held in the Hiawatha High School auditorium. Tickets are $5 for adults and $4 for students and children. They can be purchased at the high school office beginning Feb. 12 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. or by calling (815) 522-3335. Tickets will also be available at the box office outside the auditorium one hour prior to performance.

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Source list:
· (Diane Parness, director, Hiawatha High School 522-3335)
· (Megan Haag, actor)
· (Stephane Lorenz, actor)
· www.broadwayjr.com