A fresh to LBCC actress will be performing a reimagined version of the lead role of Little Red Riding Hood in this upcoming spring musical “Into the Woods,” hoping to inspire other disabled performers with her modified performance that represents her wheelchair use.
Freshman and theater major Charlie Banister was one of the few first-time actors at LBCC who was cast in this musical.
Banister is no stranger to performing theater as she has loved it since high school, and her passion continues to grow at LBCC pursuing a general theater degree that covers both acting and the technical side.
“I did the pathway at my high school for theater and fell in love both with acting and the technical side of it. I originally wanted to major in theater tech but hearing about the musical I wanted to dip my toes back into acting, and I love it,” Banister said.
Banister expressed that playing the role of Little Red Riding Hood is like a dream come true.
“It’s a role I wanted so badly. I grew up watching and listening to the Disney adaptation of the movie, and I was singing it all the time, so this is a show that I’ve held so close to me for so long,” Banister said.
The character’s story arc resonated with Banister, especially the themes of the character being preyed upon by her antagonist, the Big Bad Wolf. She hopes to present the character with a new interpretation due to the use of a wheelchair.
“I feel like (Little Red Riding Hood) works so well as someone disabled and using a mobility aid works well with her story as disabled people, especially women, always seem to be belittled. I think she and her sassy and outgoing attitude is something I want to especially highlight,” Banister said.
Throughout the show, Banister’s interactions with other cast members are modified, especially with actor Erik Morelos, who plays the Big Bad Wolf, during their song “Hello, Little Girl.”
Erik Morelos, left, who plays the Wolf, and Charlie Banister, right, who plays Little Red Riding Hood, do a tango-inspired dance move during their practice for the song “Hello, Little Girl” at a rehearsal for LBCC’s production of “Into the Woods” on Jan. 13. (Dom Maddan)
Morelos is working with Banister to nail the usual exaggerated and sly expressions of the wolf along with the movements that occur during the song, while also working to emphasize Banister’s wheelchair use throughout the number.
“I will be grabbing her wheelchair without her (Little Red Riding Hood’s) permission and spinning her around throughout the performance,” Morelos said.
These changes were all Banister’s idea, adding that “we are focusing on the aspect of Little Red (Riding Hood) and the real-life scenario of disabled people being overlooked and overtaken. The Wolf touches her wheelchair and moves her around, she doesn’t really know how to deal with that.”
Cathy Crane, who plays Little Red Riding Hood’s grandmother, said that working with Banister is the same as working with a non disabled student.
“She comes to rehearsal very prepared and it’s great! She isn’t different from really any other student and I like it that way. We do have some concerns for a major scene in the second act, though, we’re trying to figure out the technical side really,” Crane said.
Overall, Banister hopes that her depiction of Little Red Riding Hood will open doors for other actors with disabilities looking to perform both at LBCC and beyond.
“You don’t often see wheelchair users in live theater, it’s barely authentically happened. So to be able to bring that to LBCC, I’m excited to do it for the performance aspect. I really hope that this shows that other disabled performers really could audition and perform,” Banister said.
Outside of acting, Banister also performs on stage as part of the junior division for the Rollettes, a premier dance group in Los Angeles with exclusively wheelchair-using performers.
She shared that working with the group helped boost her confidence in herself in both performance and her personal life.
“Into the Woods” will open on Friday, March 13 and run over the course of two weekends for six shows.
Tickets for purchase are currently available online at this link, along with the full schedule.
Students cost $10, while staff, senior and veteran tickets are $15, and general admission is $20.
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