“Into The Woods,” Now at Axelrod Performing Center

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DEAL – A hilarious romp through familiar fairy tale territory, Stephen Sondheim’s beloved modern-day classic “Into the Woods” has opened at the Axelrod Performing Arts Center.
The show times are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 7-8, and 3 p.m. Sunday, March 9.
Originally starring Bernadette Peters and Joann Gleason, the Broadway production of “Into the Woods” won numerous Tony awards and the Pulitzer Prize for its creators, Sondheim and James Lapine.
The Axelrod Performing Center’s production of the musical is directed by Andrew De Prisco of Interlaken, who won a Basie award for directing the show in 2012. The choreographer is Jose de la Cuesta, the APAC’s Perry award-winning director-choreographer of “42nd Street.”
The show features talented performers from the area with musical direction by Dr. Jeff Unger of Wall. A timeless and beautiful score with comical and sometimes heart-wrenching lyrics by Sondheim, arguably America’s greatest living musical theater composer, and a book by Lapine, “Into the Woods” seamlessly merges four beloved fairy tales with the new story of a childless baker and his wife, who set out on a journey to reverse a family curse set upon their house by the evil Witch. They frantically encounter all of these characters….and “wolves and giants and humans, top.”
“Into the Woods” is a musical for adults and families about our most precious resource, our children. From the score comes the soaring ballad, “Children Will Listen,” recorded by Barbra Streisand, Betty Buckley and many others.
Leading the cast are Bre Cade of Belmar as the Witch, Jeff Price of Monmouth Junction and Andrea Brooks-Pica of Bradley Beach as the Baker and the Baker’s Wife, Jessica Magdosko of Avon-by-the-Sea as Cinderella, Jessica Turk of Manalapan as Little Red Riding Hood, Eddie Rogers of Long Branch as Jack and Ben Menahem, Plainsboro resident, as Cinderella’s Prince.
In supporting roles are Benjamin Weiss of Ocean, Christine Jay of Freehold, Ryan Sabatos of Asbury Park, Emma Ferrie of Point Pleasant, Laura-Beth Wonsala of Manasquan, Emily Niesen of Beachwood, Eric McDonough of Point Pleasant, Jennifer Townsend of Oceanport, David Fusco of Howell, Kaitlin Leddy of Spring Lake, Scott Brady of Monmouth Beach, Natalie Hayes of Long Branch and Alexandra Boyer of Long Branch.
Executive Producer Jess Levy leads the APAC award-winning production team, including Fred Sorrentino for set design, costumers Fred Mayo and Debra Thime, lighting designer Robert Rutt sound designer Gerry Gironda and Sue Bloir for properties.
Tickets are available for $32 for adults, $28 for seniors and $25 for groups and students. Ticket information online is available online at www.axelrodartscenter.com or by calling 732-858-8106.
The Axelrod Performing Arts Center is located at 100 Grant Ave. The state-of-the-art venue has wheelchair seating, hearing-assisted devices and free, onsite parking.