N. Buncombe – It’s spring high school play season again! North Buncombe High will present Into the Woods in the school theater at 890 Clarks Chapel Rd., Weaverville, this year. Based on the fairy tales Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Cinderella, Into the Woods delighted audiences on Broadway, London’s West End, and tours around the world. It has won five Tony Awards and one Grammy Award.
The play begins with a montage of familiar fairy tale characters and stories. Cinderella wishes to attend the prince’s festival, but her cruel stepmother and stepsisters are trying to prevent her from going. Jack (of Beanstalk fame) wishes for a better life, but his mother, desperate for money, makes him take his beloved cow into the woods to sell her. Little Red Riding Hood visits the Baker and his wife to buy bread to take to her sick grandmother’s house in the woods.
Meanwhile, the Baker and his wife lament the fact they are childless. The witch from next door visits and assigns them a quest in exchange for a child. As they fulfill the witch’s demands, they encounter Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Cinderella, and numerous other fairy tale figures in the woods. Each story is altered and intertwined, and most eventually work towards the same goal, but not until they each realize the consequences of their desired “Happily Ever After.”
The North Buncombe High School Theatre Department has a long tradition of producing plays to entertain, move, and delight the community. This is Director Rick Webb’s 27th musical, bringing a taste of Broadway to the high school stage and developing the talents of a new generation of students.
Junior Andy Bowman says, “Playing Jack is great! The role is fun, and everyone on the cast is very supportive of each other. It’s been a great experience at North Buncombe High.” Sophomore Meadow Willis observes, “This show draws from the original material and is surprisingly gory!” Junior Madelynne Wachtel adds, “There are a lot of darker elements, but at the same time, it’s based on the classic stories everyone knows and loves and will find a connection to it.” Sophomore Nick Buckner concludes with, “Something is always happening, and there’s never a dull moment!”
Into the Woods is an enchanting mixture of irresistible stories, unforgettable songs, non-stop action, and astonishing stagecraft. You are invited to enjoy the talents of the young performers and share in this unforgettable experience. There will be four shows: Thursday and Friday, April 25-26th, at 7 pm, and Saturday and Sunday, April 27-28th, at 2:30 pm. Tickets are available at: https://our.show/nbhsintothewoods, or at the door before each show.