BREWER — The Next Generation Theatre will present the junior production of Stephen Sondheim’s and James Lapine’s “Into the Woods” Dec. 5 through 7. It will mark the directing debut of its newest adult supervisor, Rebecca Young. A native to Brewer and Orrington, she left Maine after graduating in 1997 to attend the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. She performed in numerous off-Broadway performances before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in media. She is happy to be back in Maine assisting the next generation of actors reaching for the stars.
Helping Young is her team of teen directors Elliot Tuttle, Kate Fogg and Emily Hughes. Another student director, Laura Gordon will appear in two performances as the Baker’s Wife. The cast is composed of 34 local teens who will exhibit their vocal talents.
“Into the Woods Jr.” is a spellbinding musical full of danger, enchantment, lost things and wishes It tells the story of the Baker and his Wife who wish for a child they cannot have. Hope comes in the form of an ugly witch who can reverse the curse, for a price. Along the way, they meet other characters from the beloved Grimm’s fairy tales, characters who are out to fulfill their own wishes.
Tracey Marceron, Next Generation Theatre artistic director said, “For many of these students this will be their first exposure to Sondheim. He is one of the best composers and lyricists of our time and I feel that it’s important that our students experience modern musicals as well as traditional ones. Sondheim’s music is intricate and complicated, which is what makes it beautiful, and I have every confidence that our students are rising to the challenge of the performance. This is the perfect musical to stretch their talents with.”
“Into the Woods Jr.” performances will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec.5; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7.
Tickets are $7, $4 for students 17 and under. Tickets may be purchased at the gift shop at Between Friends Art Center or reserved by calling 989-7100.