INTO THE WOODS, experience it live before the movies

INTO THE WOODS, experience it live before you see it at the flicks

Before Into the Woods arrives as a Disney film you can experience it live in Newtown this month.

The Stephen Sondheim musical, based on the book by James Lapine, is directed by Toi Whakaari alumnus Cameron Rhodes with musical direction by Mark Dorrell. It opens at Te Whaea on Friday 24 October.

“There’s nothing quite like seeing a show live,” says Rhodes. “Our set is inspired by the Spiegeltent and cabaret-style shows, and uses shadow play with elevated walkways. So it’ll be a really engaging experience for the audience.”

“The story involves characters inspired by Grimm’s Tales including Rapunzel, Cinderella, Red Riding Hood and Jack and the Beanstalk and follows a couple who want to lift a curse placed on them by their Witch neighbour,” explains Rhodes.

“The couple are just trying to earn a living and have a baby but in order to do that they have to interfere with everybody else’s fairy tale. Eventually the whole show is about community responsibility. Plus it has fantastic music, humour and pathos. And we’ve placed a very New Zealand stamp on it.”

Into the Woods is a fully-realised production involving the whole school, across all disciplines. Taking part are students from Year 1, 2 and 3 of the Bachelor of Performing Arts (Management); Year 2 of the Bachelor of Performing Arts (Acting); Year 3 of the Bachelor of Design; Year 1 and 2 of the Diploma in Entertainment Technology; and Year 1 and 2 of the Diploma in Costume Construction.

Visit www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz to book.

WHAT: Into the Woods: music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine, originally directed on Broadway by James Lapine. Presented by arrangement with Hal Leonard Australia Pty Ltd, exclusive agent for Music Theatre International (NY)

WHERE: Te Whaea: National Dance & Drama Centre, 11 Hutchison Road, Newtown, Wellington

PRICE: $25 (full); $15 (concessions); $10 (Toi Whakaari graduate and Toi Whakaari or NZ School of Dance student, in advance); $5 student standby on the night (subject to availability); $15 per person for group bookings of ten or more (except preview night)

TO BOOK: www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz or phone (04) 381 9250

To book for school groups please download and complete our group booking form.

Both shows on Saturday 25th October will be audio described with touch-tours at 11am (for the 12.30pm show) & 5.30pm (for the 7pm show). To book for the audio described sessions and touch-tours, please contact Marketing & Communications Team Leader, Craig Atkins at craig.atkins@toiwhakaari.ac.nz

Companion tickets are complimentary (free). Please indicate how many in your party require headsets.

Mobility car parking is available on-site and the toilets and theatre are wheelchair accessible.

WHEN: Friday 24 October–Saturday 1 November. Preview show Thursday 23 October. Both shows on Saturday 25 October are audio described with Touch-Tours at 11am (for the 12.30pmshow) and 5.30pm (for the 7pm show). Schools Matinee: 12.30pm, Wednesday 29 October

Cameron Rhodes is an actor, director and teacher who has appeared in more than 80 theatre productions and many film and television roles including Housebound, Mr Pip and Agent Anna. He recently co-directed Once On Chunuk Bair with Ian Mune, for Auckland Theatre Co. Raised in the Hutt Valley, he studied at Toi Whakaari in the late 1980s. Among his classmates were Kerry Fox, Robyn Malcolm and Jed Brophy.

Mark Dorrell has worked with Stephen Sondheim and on West End productions with Dame Judi Dench, Hugh Jackman and Sir Ian McKellen. He studied at Cambridge University with Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie and Emma Thompson. He is the Music Director of the Orpheus Choir and teaches at both Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School and Victoria University’s Te Kōkī: New Zealand School of Music.

The Disney film version of Into the Woods will open in U.S. theatres on Christmas Day and in New Zealand on Thursday 22 January, 2015.

ENDS

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