Pomona High School students are taking the stage in Stephen Sondheim's musical, Into the Woods. With a plot involving well known fairytale characters including Cinderella, Rapunzel, Red Riding Hood and her wolf, Jack (of beanstalk fame), and the requisite princes and witch, the show is a blend of adventure, suspense, romance, and music.

Into the Woods is inspired by child psychologist Bruno Bettelheim's book The Uses of Enchantment (1976). Using Freudian thought, he analyzed the use of fairytales and their significance. Sondheim and librettist James Lapine bring to life the use of these stories as morality tales in a clever, creative presentation. Pomona director Gavin Mayer describes the show this way: "All of the famous fairytale characters encounter each other in the woods and have to work together to find 'their happy ever after.'"

Since this is a musical, the cast of 22 have put in long hours and a lot of energy working on music, choreography, and dialogue. And, it's not just the actors on stage, but the backstage crews as well who are dedicating their time and talent. The directors, Gavin Mayer, Debbie Miller (Music Director) and Beau Augustin (Technical Director) have modeled a strong work ethic for the students that seems to resonate in the rehearsals. It's not all work though, as the performances draw near this cast and crew are a company of students who really enjoy what they're creating.

Into the Woods
November 6,7,8
Pomona High School