VERO BEACH — Riverside Children’s Theatre opens its summer season of shows with Into the Woods, Jr. presented by the Next Stage program. Performances are June 25, 26, 27, July 2 and 3 at 1:30 p.m. and June 25 and July 2 at 7:30 p.m. The show is directed by Kevin Quillinan with music direction by Debbie Quillinan and will be shown on the Waxlax Stage at Riverside Theatre.
Building on the success of last year’s Honk Jr, this year’s Next Stage show offers a much bigger challenge for the students actors, ages 8 and up. Based on Stephen Sondheim’s popular show Into the Woods, the Junior version of the show gives the cast a chance to work with the tricky music and thought-provoking lyrics that make Sondheim a music theatre legend. Into the Woods Jr. is a complex musical that weaves together several classic fairy tales to underline the stories’ morality lessons in deep ways not often seen in the Disney versions.
For most of the students, this is their first opportunity to work on a Sondheim show and it is important for performers of any age to experience challenging material such as this. Performing on the Waxlax Stage at Riverside Theatre is another unique opportunity that is not available to most performers. Professional scenery, lighting, and costumes are provided by the Riverside Theatre designers, and give the students a rare opportunity to be treated as professional actors. Many of the cast members are interested in pursuing a career in theatre, so experiences like those offered by RCT uniquely help prepare them for their futures in college and beyond. In addition to using this workshop to expose the performers to Stephen Sondheim, it is also a great way to introduce younger audiences to this intelligent, creative composer.
Audiences of all ages will be astounded by the level of talent onstage and will also be greatly entertained by this show. This show is recommended for ages 5 and up.
Tickets are $8 and are on sale through the theatre box office at 772-231-6990 or on the website at www.riversidetheate.com.
