Spring Musical “Into The Woods” A Huge Hit

When someone invites you into the woods, you should be careful before you go. That is, unless the characters from Ranney School’s 2009 spring musical production of Into the Woods are doing the inviting! For three performances on March 19, 20 and 22, the 32 member cast and crew of Into the Woods led audience members on a delightful journey through the fairy tale woods of Stephen Sondheim’s American musical classic. From the lecherous Big Bad Wolf, played by eighth grader Ben Puvalowski, to the self-confident Cinderella, played by ninth grader Evelyn Giovine, to the conniving, but somewhat sympathetic Old Witch, played by senior Sophie Richards, the student performers commanded the stage, offering convincing, and often-humorous interpretations of the fictional characters they portrayed. For the entire production, audience members remained glued to their seats as they awaited the outcome of this fanciful turn of events, based on the tales of The Brothers Grimm.

Winner of three Tony Awards and a drama desk award, Into the Woods was the perfect choice for the first musical theater production staged in Ranney’s new RSPA Panther Hall. Director John Doyle took full advantage of the larger Robert’s stage and state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems to incorporate a variety of theater techniques. Tess Nielsen provided musical direction. Dramatic lighting, vibrant costumes, whimsical scenery and a live seven-piece faculty and student pit orchestra, under the baton of Kevin Cotter, gave the production a professional Broadway quality. Kudos to the entire cast and crew for an outstanding musical performance!

Cast
CINDERELLA --- Evelyn Giovine
CINDERELLA'S FATHER --- Mike Marlys
CINDERELLA'S PRINCE --- Renzo Severino
CINDERELLA'S STEPMOTHER --- Lauren Resnikoff
GRANNY --- Lauren Waters
JACK --- Danny Egan
JACK'S MOTHER --- Linda Dayan
MILKY WHITE --- Will Miller
LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD --- Sarah Bartosh
LUCINDA --- Morgan Lennon
NARRATOR --- Ben Mooney
RAPUNZEL --- Hannah Simpson
RAPUNZEL'S PRINCE --- Matthew Simpson
THE BAKER --- Peter Giovine
THE BAKER'S WIFE --- Anna McGinty
THE WITCH --- Sophie Richards
CINDERELLA'S MOTHER --- Allie Demarco
FLORINDA --- Alex Seneca
MYSTERIOUS MAN --- George Timmins
SLEEPING BEAUTY --- Charlotte Demarco
SNOW WHITE --- Chloe Triolo
STEWARD --- Liam Wall
WOLF --- Ben Puvalowski

Crew
Stage Manager: Hannah Goldstein
Props, Crew: Anike Oladeji, Christina Henricks, Sam Springsteen 
Sound Engineers: Jeremy Lessing, Michelle Yau,
Lighting Engineer: Melissa Kowalski 
Image Design/Set Painting: Stephen D’Onofrio

Pit Band
Kevin Cotter, Conductor
Faculty Musicians:
Tess Nielsen, Piano
Lorraine Jansen, Flute
Janet Bender, Trumpet
Dorothy Sobieski, Viola
John Gronert, Percussion

Student Musicians
Christina Henricks, Flute
Sophia Lee, Flute
Eric Chiang, Keyboards

For additional information on all Ranney School news, please contact the Communications Department at communications@ranneyschool.org.