BWW Blog: Clarissa Moon - A Journey INTO THE WOODS at West Orange High School  

A forest has sprung up in Winter Garden, FL as West Orange High School's production of Into the Woods approaches opening night. The fairy tale musical, written by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, is being presented April 29-30 and May 5-8.

The enormous crew of students who are creating the sets, costumes, props, and lighting for the show is headed by Ken Rush. These students have been working tirelessly over the past few weeks to make the woods come to life onstage. Charlie Patterson, costume chief, expressed her joy of watching it happen. "Every day, you can see the progress," she said. "It goes from chicken wire and some wood to a tree that's like fifteen feet tall the next day."

Rush comments on the technical difficulties of the show, "The hidden problem with this show is that there are many large pieces of scenery that are only used for very, very short scenes." West Orange's theatre department has taken care to ensure these pieces, such as the carriage, beanstalk, and Rapunzel's tower, are perfect.

"It doesn't look like a big tech show," says Brittany Posso, lighting chief. "Then you get into it and you realize just how much detail and effort and little, little things you've got to put in that are very time consuming."

Director Tara Whitman has focused on the depth of Lapine's script, breaking down and discussing each scene with the actors. "It's like a play with music," comments Matt Guernier, who plays Jack. "It's the same intensity, the same emotion that a play emits, but it's a musical."

With the show opening in just a few days, excitement is running high among the cast and crew as the final touches are being added. "I think when we bring all of the aspects of the show together, the audience is going to be wowed with the overall professionalism of the production," said Rush with a smile.

The show runs April 29-30 and May 5-8, with show times at 7:00pm on Thursdays through Saturdays and 2:30pm on Sundays. Tickets are $10 for students, $12 for general admission, and $15 for reserved seating. Call the box office at 407-905-2462 or go to www.wohstheatre.com for tickets.