First performance of ‘Into the Woods’ impresses crowd and causes laughter

After two and a half months of preparation and rehearsals, LBCC’s spring musical “Into the Woods” made its debut on Friday night at LAC’s Bob and Barbara Ellis Auditorium, with the audience filling more than half the seats.

“What makes ‘Into the Woods’ so special is its ability to look beyond traditional fairytales and explore the deeper truths within them. Beneath the magic and humor is a real opportunity to reflect on the consequences of our choices,” said Director Andre Brown in the play’s program. 

^{The character Little Red Riding Hood, confronts trouble as she finds the Wolf pretending to be her grandmother during a dress rehearsal for LBCC’s production of “Into the Woods” on March 9. Her being so trusting with him and sharing the location of her grandmother’s house led to this moment. Little Red Riding Hood, right, is played by actress Charlie Banister and the Wolf, left, is played by actor Erik Morelos. (Tien Nguyen)}

The play opened with a narrator who enjoys browsing through social media more than reading a hardcover book. This moment was relatable to the audience, as they laughed watching him scroll through videos and as he danced along to the music, before he took the dusty book from his backpack. 

^{The narrator, played by actor RJ Dawson, does a hip-hop move during a dress rehearsal for LBCC’s production of “Into the Woods” on March 9. (Sam Villa)}

“There’s a lot of different ways that the narrator can be portrayed, and I really like how it’s kind of a schoolboy,” audio tech member Abi Diaz said. 

Ronin Peralta, who is part of the production’s lighting staff, brought attention to the show’s large orchestra size. 

“The biggest thing is we have a 16-piece orchestra, which, like, almost never happens at productions. They usually end up having a cut-down, like nine-piece orchestra… (The 16-piece orchestra) allows us to do songs that are usually cut out of other productions,” said Peralta. 

In addition to music and sound effects, a dance ensemble added more layers of mystery to the story through choreography and visual effects on stage, where dancers represented extensions of characters and the woods themselves. 

Shell Grossman, a trustee of Musical Theatre West, was in attendance and enjoyed the performance. 

“What I loved about this performance was the talent and the spread of age from the youth to the elderly. (The dancers) were men and women of different sizes, and it was beautiful just to watch the dancing along with the singing and the storyline. I really think they did a beautiful job,” Grossman said.

Connie Mistretta, a friend of Grossman who loves musicals and theater, also admired the performance and expressed her support for LBCC.

“What I loved about it was just how professional it was for (the students) being young. And I loved the costumes. It was happy, and it was funny,” Mistretta said.

^{The cast of “Into the Woods” tilts their heads and looks up as they are bewildered by the Giant’s voice during the dress rehearsal on March 9. (Tien Nguyen)}

^{Actor Aden Cajudo, left, as Jack bids farewell to his pet cow Milky White, while Stephanie Ramirez, right, as the Baker’s Wife, waits to take the cow home, during a dress rehearsal for LBCC’s production of “Into the Woods” on March 9. (Tien Nguyen)}

She added, “I’m very, very impressed with what the college and the department is doing.”

At the end of the play, three winners of the Daisy Johnson Memorial Scholarship were announced with each winning $1,000. 

The recipients, respectively, come from the orchestra, crew and cast: Michael Duncan, who plays percussion; Jade Leilani Moxi Abbott, who is the production stage manager and Phyre Romero, who plays the role of the Witch.  

The last show of “Into the Woods” this weekend is on Sunday at 2 p.m. at LAC’s Bob and Barbara Ellis Auditorium. This show will have ASL interpreters. 

The show will also run for three more shows next weekend before it closes. 

The full schedule and tickets are available at this link, or tickets can also be bought at the box office before each show, cash and card is accepted.

Students who present their ASB sticker in person can get in for free to as many shows as they want.

Students, even from other colleges who show their ID in person, can get tickets for $10, while tickets for staff, seniors and veterans are $15 and general admission is $20.