Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Associate Vice President, Marketing Communications, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

3/31/09
Story by Peggy Graham

JCCC theater department presents ‘Into the Woods’

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Johnson County Community College theater department presents Stephen Sondheim’s musical Into the Woods at 7:30 p.m April 23-25 and May 1-2 and at 2 p.m. May 3 in Polsky Theatre of the Carlsen Center, Johnson County Community College. Admission is free and open to the public.

An intertwining of several Grimm Brothers’ fairy tales, the musical premiered on Broadway in 1987. JCCC’s Into the Woods is directed by Steven Eubank, artistic director, Eubank Productions. The Kansas City resident is known for his edgy productions of Reefer Madness, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Rocky Horror Show and Zanna, Don’t at the Just Off Broadway Theatre.

Fun will be had in seeing Eubank’s interpretation of an ambivalent Cinderella, a blood-thirsty Little Red Riding Hood, a Prince Charming with a roving eye and a Witch who raps.

"It’s exciting to approach each new production with a fresh, fun and enthusiastic perspective, but Into the Woods is one of those masterpiece shows that demands very little re-imagining,” Eubank said. “My objective with the team has been to explore the fun and irreverent fractured fairy tale structure but also to invest in the naturalistic, humanizing question: what happens after happily-ever-after?"

In this once-upon-a-time story, a Baker and his Wife learn they've been cursed with childlessness by the Witch next door. So they embark on a quest for the special objects required to break the spell —  swindling, lying to and stealing from Cinderella, Little Red, Rapunzel and Jack (the one who climbed the beanstalk). Everyone's wish is granted at the end of Act One. Act Two, however, deals with the consequences that traditional fairy tales conveniently ignore. What begins as a lively irreverent fantasy of Grimm tales becomes a moving lesson about community responsibility and the stories we tell our children.

Songs include favorites like Hello Little Girl, Giants in the Sky and Children Will Listen.

For more information call 913-469-8500, ext. 3245.