Children go 'Into the Woods' with fairy tale farce at BPP

For the last three weeks, local children ages nine through 15 have had the opportunity to experience the feeling of performing in a professional show as have been rehearsing from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day in preparation for this weekend's premier of Stephen Sondheim's "Into the Woods" at the Bloomington Playwrights Project.\n"They're here all day. It's actually like a professional company," Artistic Director Richard Perez said. "It's comparable to a professional experience."\nEach year the BPP, 312 S. Washington St., offers two intensive theater camps for children through the Youth Theatre Ensemble. Earlier this summer, participating children performed in William Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night." For the past four years, Sandra Freund has directed the ensemble each July.\n"We strive to have a quality product. The expectations are very high," Freund said. "The students understand the difference between a kiddie show and a professional show."\nThis year the Youth Theatre Ensemble decided to perform a version of "Into the Woods" that was adapted for children by Music Theatre International. The production company condenses musicals to make them easier for children to perform. In this production, Music Theatre International removed some of the more adult themes children wouldn't be able to perform. \nMarketing Director Candace Decker said, despite the changes, the basic premise of the show remains intact and none of the songs were removed.\n"Into the Woods" is a musical comedy that takes a cock-eyed view of the Brothers Grimm's classic fairy tales. After learning they have been cursed with infertility by their next door neighbor, a witch, a baker and his wife embark on a hunt for special objects needed to end the spell. Along the way, they swindle, deceive and steal from Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and other fairy tale favorites.\n"Sandra picks the musicals," Decker said. "She was going through it and thought the kids would really like it."\nDecker said one of the best things about the play is that it is an ensemble piece. There is no lead character, and everyone in the show has equal status.\n"I think the kids really appreciate that because they all get to participate, and they are all on the stage for an equal amount of time," Decker said.\nFreund said one of the more gratifying parts of working with the Youth Theatre Ensemble was working with the children as they grow up. A few of the actors she has worked with when they were children in the ensemble are now helping her put on the show. She said she has been working with Allyson O'Connor, a 20-year-old set designer, for the past 10 years.\n"That's really an exciting thing for me to have worked with many of these staff people and seen them develop from third or fourth grade to running the show," Freund said.\nFreund said having a young staff is great when working with children.\n"It's interesting to see the young people relate to the college students," Freund said. "A very special bond develops. The cast adores the staff."\nFreund said the children can look to the staff for role models. They can see theater is a passion for others and realize they can be excited about the future, too.\n"It's a great learning process for the young people who are interested in pursuing theater as a profession to get their feet wet," Freund said.\nDecker said the children seemed to enjoy the production process as well as Sondheim's music.\n"The kids, even on their breaks, are singing the songs," she said.\n-- Contact Arts Editor Jenica Schultz at jwschult@indiana.edu.