Dan's Papers - July 3, 2009

Opening July 9 and running through July 26, Center Stage at the Southampton Cultural Center will present Stephen Sondheim's Tony award-winning work, Into the Woods.

Into the Woods is a unique musical that brings together the main characters from several Brothers Grimm fairy tales - Little Red Ridinghood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel and Cinderella - interweaving their plots as each character embarks on a quest to make their respective wishes come true, and then also deals with the consequences of these wishes. These characters are brought together in an original tale involving a baker and his wife, who desire to have children. Typically, says Director and Choreographer Michael Disher, whenever Into the Woods is performed, a version featuring only Act 1, which is usually licensed by high schools and junior high schools and ends with happily ever after, is staged. "I think children like to hang onto their dreams, as well they should," Disher said of why schools typically focus on the more positive Act 1 when performing Into the Woods.

But Center Stage's production of Into the Woods will include Act 2, which focuses more on the consequences of the characters' actions, and appeal more to adults. "It becomes more profound," he said, "and much more intriguing."

He added, "It's a really great concept. There's very little attention paid to what happens after happily ever after. ... It's thought provoking in the sense that you can take something as simplistic as a child's fairytale and turn it into a modern parable for adults."

And this year, Disher says he is working with his strongest cast ever, which comes from all over Long Island, from the East End to as far west as New Hyde Park. "I can only imagine the collective miles [the cast] racks up," he said.

Also, he said you don't often see musicals performed in the Hamptons during the summer, so he's looking forward to seeing how the SCC's production of Into the Woods will be received. "I guess I made a wish and now we get to see if it comes through," he said.

Running July 9 through 26, performances of Into the Woods will be held Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. with Sunday matinees at 5 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for students under 21. For more information or to reserve a seat call 631-287-4377 or go to southamptonculturalcenter.org.