Into the Woods
- May 5
- 3 min read
Updated: May 7
CSU’s School of Music and Department of Theatre and Dance presents their production of the classic Stephen Sondheim show this spring.
Written by Faith-Ann G. English
For their spring production this year, Cleveland State University (CSU)’s School of Music and the Department of Theatre and Dance put on “Into the Woods,” the 1986 musical by Stephen Sondheim.
Sondheim combines the enchanting stories of “Jack and the Beanstalk,” “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Cinderella,” “Rapunzel” and other popular Brothers Grimm fairy tale characters. The plot is stitched together by a story of a baker and his wife as they try to have a child, tying different perspectives together into one spellbinding narrative.
The story starts with each character having a deep desire: to attend the ball, sell a cow, have a child and deliver bread to Grandma. Each character struggles to fulfill their wishes but seemingly reaches a happily ever after… until they don't.
The fairy tale heroes experience momentary happiness before the villains return for revenge. Each character faces more challenges to reach their desired ending, but instead, they take responsibility for their mistakes and learn the importance of family.
It is only natural that one would become very close to their castmates as they rehearse and practice for such a complex production.
Kendall Guthrie is a music education major at CSU and played The Baker’s Wife. Despite “Into the Woods” being her first production at CSU, she got to know a lot of the cast members through putting on the show together.
“I maybe knew one person going into this,” Guthrie said. “I had seen a few people around the music building, but I didn't even know the majority of the casts’ names. I didn't know their majors. I didn't know who any of them were. So, I've really enjoyed getting to meet a bunch of new people and become closer with some of the ones that I did know.”
Guthrie has a special relationship with “Into the Woods.”
“I just love this show and I've grown up with it,” Guthrie said. “When they announced they were doing it, I was like ‘I have to audition.’”
Michael Wellendorf, who played The Wolf, shared similar excitement about auditioning.
“For me, I just love [Stephen] Sondheim, and I've never done a Sondheim show before. I've been waiting to get the chance to do one,” Wellendorf said. “‘Into the Woods’ was one of my favorite shows as well, and The Wolf was one of my favorite parts. Everything about this was just so perfect, and it's been really fun.”
Wellendorf, a vocal performance major, has participated in several other productions at CSU, including the School of Music’s opera and “Poe is Dead.” They are always thrilled to participate in different productions but believe that there is something special about “Into the Woods.”
“I’ve been doing musicals forever, and this is just one of those shows where the music is just so iconic and good,” Wellendorf said. “It’s telling the story of real human experiences but in a fantastical way.”
Similarly, Hannah Schade, a freshman theatre major at CSU, participated in the opera performance last fall and played Cinderella in “Into the Woods.” While this is only Schade’s second performance at CSU, she expressed her excitement to be involved.
“I think my favorite part has been connecting with the cast and growing closer with them,” Schade said. “We are getting to put on such a wonderful show together as a group.”
Schade also explained that, before auditioning, she had never seen the movie adaptation of “Into the Woods,” however, that did not prevent her from jumping in head first.
“I think it really has grown on me as such an empowering show that really can be for everyone, not just someone who likes theater,” Schade said. “There are so many different aspects of this show that make it so interesting and fun. I love that.”
For me, “Into the Woods” holds a special place in my heart. We would always turn on the movie adaptation whenever we had a substitute teacher or a lazy day in orchestra class. The soundtrack is incredibly iconic as Wellendorf explained. There is truly something for everyone to find interesting in this production.
“Into the Woods” was shown on April 11 and 12 in the CSU Music and Communication building’s Waetjen Auditorium. To keep track of future productions, follow @csu_voice and @csutheatredance on Instagram. Also, check out the College of Arts and Sciences calendar of events on CSU’s website!
