University Theatre ventures "Into the Woods" this month

Cast members of "Into the Woods" include, front row, Daniel Navabi as Jack, Adam Dominick as the Baker, Rosie Bresson as the Baker’s Wife, and Halla Henry as Little Red Riding Hood, and second row, Jessica Hirsh as the Witch and Haley Tura as Cinderella.

Youngstown State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance and Dana School of Music present Stephen Sondheim’s Tony Award-winning musical “Into the Woods” over the next two weekends in Ford Theater, Bliss Hall, on campus.

The show’s run is scheduled Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 12, 13 and 14, and Thursday, Friday and Saturday April 18, 19 and 20. Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances begin at 7:30 p.m., while the Sunday matinee performance is at 2 p.m. All seats are general admission.

Adult tickets are $16. Special rate tickets are: $8 for non-YSU students, YSU faculty and staff with valid ID, YSU alumni, senior citizens, Penguin Club members and groups of eight or more. YSU student tickets are free with valid ID. Call 330-941-3105 or go to www.ysu.tix.com to purchase.

“We are pulling out all the stops to bring the multiple Tony Award-winning ‘Into the Woods’ to the Youngstown area community,” said Matthew Mazuroski, chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance and director of the show. “The audiences who come to see this production will experience the magic of this wonderful tale.”

Mazuroski said the production marks the first fully collaborative musical co-produced by the Department of Theatre and Dance and the Dana School of Music in several years. “It has been a real joy to work so closely with colleagues from these two nationally-recognized departments in celebrating the Dana School of Music’s 150th Anniversary,” he said.

Cast members include: Tristan Kile, Ashtabula, Ohio, BFA Musical Theatre as the narrator; Haley Tura, Canfield, Ohio, Music Education, Vocal as Cinderella; Daniel Navabi, Haverhill, Mass., BFA Musical Theatre as Jack; AnnMarie Lowerre, Butler, Pa., BFA Musical Theatre as Jack’s Mother; Adam Dominick, Lancaster, Ohio, Musical Theatre as the Baker; Rosie Bresson, Canfield, Ohio, Musical Theatre, as the Baker’s Wife; Makenzie Moorman, Piketon, Ohio, BFA Musical Theatre as Cinderella’s Stepmother; Sara Eckenrode, Youngstown, Vocal Performance as Florinda; Maria Cicco, Mentor, Ohio, Musical Theatre as Lucinda; Ben Mowrer, Independence, Ohio, BFA Musical Theatre as Cinderella’s Father; Halla Henry, Ambridge, Pa., Musical Theatre as Little Red Riding Hood; Jessica Hirsh, Pepper Pike, Ohio, BFA Musical Theatre as The Witch; Anna Murcko, Napoleon, Ohio, Music Education, Vocal as Cinderella’s Mother/Granny/Giant; Jared Liscinsky, Damascus, Md., Music Education, Vocal as Mysterious Man; Malik Montgomery, Painesville, Ohio, Music Performance/Recording as Wolf; Jordan Hazy, Zelienople, Pa., Musical Theatre as Rapunzel; Noah Landry, Poland, Ohio, Music Education, Instrumental as Rapunzel’s Prince; Alex Kluchar, Canfield, Ohio, Vocal Performance as Cinderella’s Prince; Mac Callahan, Stoutsville, Ohio, Musical Theatre as Steward; Monique Lopez, Sharpsville, Pa., Musical Theatre as Snow White; Lexi Denney, Canfield, Ohio, Musical Theatre as Sleeping Beauty.

The pit orchestra, conducted by Kivie Cahn-Lipman, includes: Trumpet, Herbie Hunkele; French Horn, Sarah Schwenke and Ben Cross; Flute and piccolo, Mckenzie Cooper; Clarinet, Elliot Kwolek; Bassoon, Frances Clause; Piano, Emily Nicolette-Fantin; Synthesizer, Jeffrey Williams; Percussion, Evan McCreary; Violin, Brendan McEvoy, Fiona Flannery; Viola, Emilee Rogers, Cas Stanaford; Cello, Hannah Shively; Bass, Sean Williams.

Department of Theatre and Dance professional staff includes Properties Designer Wendy Akers; Lighting Designer Antonio Colaruotolo; Musical Director Maria Fenty-Denison; Scenic Designer Todd Dicken; Coordinator of Theatrical Productions Ryan Fitzpatrick; Costume, Wig and Make-up Designer Katherine N. Garlick, Rehearsal Accompanist Jan Crews, Choreographer Amy Wright and Sound Designer Johnny Pecano.

Parking is available in the Wick Avenue deck for a nominal fee.