Find out why getting what you wish for doesn’t necessarily mean “happily ever after”

The Cleveland State University Department of Theatre and Dance opens its theatre season with the Stephen Sondheim / James Lapine musical INTO THE WOODS. The show runs on the Allen Theatre Mainstage at Playhouse Square Oct. 24 through Nov. 3, 2019.

Directed by Russ Borski, and with musical direction by Maria DiDonato, this Tony Award-winning musical begins with “Once upon a time…” and tells the intersecting stories of several Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault fairy tales. Just when everyone’s journey seems to be resolved, the characters’ worlds are shattered, only to be recombined to show that nobody really lives “happily ever after.” Audience members will recognize characters such as Jack and his beanstalk, Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Little Red Riding Hood. The story also has a Mysterious Man, a Witch, and a Narrator, among other colorful characters.

“The musical features a cast of 22 undergraduates, based in the Department of Theatre and Dance, and the cast is inclusive of other departments such as Film, Music, and Education,” says Borski. “Besides the brilliant music and lyrics of Mr. Sondheim, the story explores deeper issues between parent and child, and shows how personal decisions of desire and greed can cause collateral damage in the ones we love the most.”

The CSU cast includes Erin Ashdown (Lucinda), Tasha Brandt (Witch), Machala Comenschek (Jack’s Mother), Kierstan Conway (Florinda), John Cox (Steward), Claudia Cromly (Baker’s Wife), Chan Cunningham (Jack), Sonia Fonseca (Granny), Jaren Hodgson (Narrator), Emily Kendzerski (Cinderella), Alexander Koler (Cinderella’s Prince), Zavier McLean (Wolf), Brooke Myers (Cinderella’s Mother), Carter Nagy (Rapunzel’s Prince), Emmett Podgorski (Milky White), Maggie Raiff (Rapunzel), Sullivan Ratcliff (Baker), Mia Snyder (Giantess), Suzanna Szabados (Cinderella’s Stepmother), Jarrod Vullo (Cinderella’s Father), and Katelyn Zeitz (Little Red Riding Hood).

Show times are Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. $5-$15 tickets are available by calling 216.241.6000, visiting playhousesquare.org or at the State Theatre Ticket Office, located at 1519 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44115. Tickets are also available 60-minutes prior to performances at the Allen Theatre Complex. $25 Dinner and a Show tickets are available by pre-reservation only at Playhouse Square for the Friday, Oct. 25 performance, with dinner prior to the performance presented at Elements Bistro on Euclid – use code DIN when reserving. Thursday, Oct. 31 will be an American Sign Language (ASL) supported performance – use code ASL for a $5 rate.