Millennial Theatre to Present a Timely ‘Into the Woods’

YOUNGSTOWN – The Millennial Theatre Company will present Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods” at The Hopewell Theatre for a two-weekend run beginning Friday, Sept. 30.

Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sundays.

The story, which uses characters from fairy tales, follows a baker and his wife who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the king’s festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk.

When the baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a witch’s curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse. Everyone’s wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results.

“Into the Woods” is currently enjoying a sold-out, multi-extension run on Broadway, and MTC  director Joe Asente said he is excited to bring the show. “We applied for the rights just a week before the Broadway transfer was announced,” he said.

“We really wanted to do a Sondheim musical this season after his passing late last year, but we figured everyone would have one of his shows on their season, so we announced our season without it. Once everyone else released their seasons, and no one had a single Sondheim musical slated for the stage this year, we knew this was our time. When we saw the massive success the show is having on Broadway right now, we knew we made the right call.”

Asente believes this is one of the most timely musicals MTC could present, given the current world situation.

“This is a show that helps us process strong emotions, just as any good fairytale story would,” he said. “Every time this show has been revived professionally, it has been connected to some sort of large, life-altering event in society. When it premiered on Broadway in the ”80s, that was the AIDS crisis. When it was revived in 2002, that was September 11. And now, in its 2022 revival, and our production, that is the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Asente said the characters are forced to face a giant who is causing mass-destruction in society.

“This show is both a cautionary tale and a way to help us process our own ‘giants’ in our own lives,” he said.

The cast includes Sarahh Kinser, Courtney Martin, Jacob Nash, Natalina Kazimir, Halina Bakeris, George Maillis, Daniel Gordejev, Emilio Santiago, Karlina Wander, Ben Doss, Tommy DeLuca, Roz Blystone, Ty Hanes, Samantha Hudzik, Hannah Stephens, Ryan Stewart, Daniel Chiaberta, Regina Rees, Briana Matijevic, Aubrey Vernon and Michelle Jalbert with direction and music direction by Asente.

Tickets are $20 and are available online at millennialtheatre.org.

The Hopewell Theatre is at 702 Mahoning Ave.

Pictured at top: Courtney Martin, Halina Bakeris and Jacob Nash star in Millennial Theatre Company’s “Into the Woods.’ 

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.