AC theatre presents Sondheim’s popular musical ‘Into the Woods’

Anyone familiar with Stephen Sondheim’s dark comedy “Into the Woods” knows that it can be a daunting musical to present, but with help from some like-minded friends, the Amarillo College Theatre Arts program is up to the challenge.

AC’s presentation of “Into the Woods” will feature a collaborative cast comprised pretty much equally of AC theatre majors, community members, and theatre students from West Texas A&M University.

Performances for the six-day run begin at 7:30 p.m. April 28-29 and May 4-6. The sixth and final show is a 3 p.m. matinee on Sunday, May 7.

Location: Experimental Theatre on AC’s Washington Street Campus.

Tickets can be purchased online. Costs are $10 for adults and $8 for students (college or high school), senior citizens, and AC employees. Additionally, groups of 10 or more are entitled to $6 seats if purchased at least 24 hours in advance.

“Into the Woods” is a whimsical twist on such Brothers Grimm fairy tales as Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk and more, in which a witch tasks a young couple with procuring magical items to take a curse off their family tree.

The show’s director is Ray Newburg, assistant professor of theatre arts at AC, who says he was pleased big-time by the level of enthusiasm that followed his call to audition.

“Steven Sondheim musicals are difficult and take a lot of work to pull off,” Newburg said. “So, we decided to open it up to our friends at WT and throughout the community, and the response was amazing. We had 50-plus show up to audition.

“Not only do I feel confident that we’re in good shape to present this witty and charming yet somber show to full effect, but I think this is a beautiful marriage of AC and the community and the school (WTAMU) to which many of our AC students are planning to transfer.”