High school musical takes 'Into the Woods' specials

Emma Popper sings while playing the role of the witch in the production of “Into the Woods” by Steamboat Springs High School during a dress rehearsal on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. The musical is the first in high school since fall 2019. The show opens at 6 p.m. Thursday with more performances on April 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9th. Ticket sales at the high school will be available at the door for $ 8 for students, $ 10 for general admission and $ 20 for VIP.
John F. Russell / Steamboat Pilot & Today

For the first time since fall 2019, Steamboat Springs High School will take the stage to host a musical.

“Into the Woods” will open on Thursday, March 31, and will welcome 55 students – including a cast of 27 – back on stage to the musical for the first time since the school staged the 2019 production of The Adams Family. “High School Musical” was scheduled to arrive in the spring of 2020 before COVID-19 forced its cancellation.

“It’s exciting because the last musical High School did was my first year,” said Alibia Warren, who plays Little Red Riding Hood. “My first musical was ‘The Adams Family,’ but it’s the first musical she led, so it’s pretty cool.”

The production is a collection of living legends. He follows the characters as they travel into the forest to face an agitated giant, and the musical adds a twist to the fairy tales that many people are familiar with.

The cast includes a long list of characters including Little Red Riding Hood, Jack from “Jack and the Bean Stalk,” Rapunzel and Cinderella, as well as the story of a baker and his wife who join the quest.

“Somehow all their stories intertwine until they all meet and everyone knows each other,” said senior Emma Popper, who plays the role of the witch. “Everyone has their problems to solve, and it’s just a complex storyline of how everyone deals with their own problems, but helps each other at the same time.”

Senior Isabella Brinkman sings while rehearsing a scene on Tuesday, March 29, 2022 from the Into the Woods production of Steamboat Springs High School. The show will take place at 6pm on Thursday evening, as well as on 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9 April. Ticket prices are $ 8 for students, $ 10 for general admission and $ 20 for VIP and can be purchased at the high school or at the entrance on the eve of the show.
*John F. Russell / Steamboat Pilot & Today.*

Popper’s student directed the production of “Shakespeare in Love” in high school, which took place in November 2021, and she is excited about the opportunity to play a major role in her senior year.

“I’m kind of one of the main antagonists,” Popper said. “It’s super cool because there are a lot of different approaches. The witch has a lot of character development. She goes through a lot during this musical, and it’s super exciting to play her.”

The cast is led by drama teacher McCormick Lace, who likes to call himself the director of morale. He said he decided to enlist the help of Dina Selco to help with the game while Shondi Dillon works with the young singers.

“It’s a deeper look at each of these characters, and since they’re complex together, you get to see each character’s development a little bit more, so it’s really fun,” Selco said of “Into the Woods.”

The lyrics and melody were created by Stephen Sondheim for the legend of James Lapin.

“Every character in it, whether she has a lot of lines or not a lot of lines, everything is necessary for this story,” Selko said. “Music in particular – which is very difficult to read and our musical director, Wendy Dylan, has done an amazing job with these kids – also has all of these themes along the way that really tell the story and pull it all together.”

This hard work will come along with performances on the 6th evening, March 31st, 1st, 2nd, 7th, 8th and 9th April. Tickets cost $ 8 for students, $ 10 for general seating and $ 20 for VIP seating. High school tickets are available during the week or at the door.

“I look forward to performing. I haven’t performed for a long time … and I’m just excited to be on stage and feel the energy of the audience,” said Robbie Frank, a freshman. “I’m also excited to see all the kids who come to see the show, because by playing a Disney princess, you get to inspire the kids in the audience, and that’s adorable. That’s why I do what I do – it’s amazing, and it’s magical.”