SAAC’s Drama Club presents the enchanting musical “Into the Woods, Jr.” from November 15 to November 17 and is sponsored by Southern Airways Express. This beloved adaptation of the classic fairytales, crafted by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, brings to life a unique blend of stories, exploring the complexities of wishes and the unforeseen consequences they can carry. The junior version concludes at the end of Act 1, ensuring a family-friendly experience free of the darker themes found in Sondheim’s original Act 2.
Directed by Lynn Gunter and featuring musical direction by Cassie Hickman, “Into the Woods, Jr.” carries the audience into an enchanting fairytale world. Cinderella (MaKenna Thurkill), Jack (Wiley Taylor), Jack’s mother (Audrey Henderson), the Baker (Parker Thomas), the Baker’s wife (Abbi Brewer), and the Witch (Zoe Pyle) all have wishes they hope to fulfill. Guided by the Narrator (Sydney Patterson), the story reveals the complexities of their intertwined desires. The Witch sends the Baker and his wife into the woods to retrieve four items needed to break her curse of childlessness on their family that the Baker’s father (Ethan Mixon) caused when he stole the witches greens.
As they venture from their shop, they meet Little Red (Abylee Padgett/Emma Odom), heading to visit her Granny (Eleanor Kriehn), but cross paths with a wolf (Bram Johnson) pursuing three little pigs (Mia Miller, Dani Legg, Fin Patterson). The wolf sees Little Red as his ultimate prize. Meanwhile, the Baker meets Jack, who seeks to keep his cow, Milky White (Cole Taylor), from being sold. They arrange a trade for the first required item—a cow—using magical beans Jack’s father took.
At the palace, the Baker’s wife meets Cinderella, who misses her mother (Aubree Matthews) and wishes to attend the festival despite her stepfamily’s restrictions, including her father’s (Luke Legg) vile wife (Addy Miller) and step-sisters (Heather Drummond, Hailee Lawrence). Destiny allows Cinderella to join the festivities alongside Snow White (Kayla Huynh), Sleeping Beauty (Lilly Bergeron), and Belle (Channing Lee), where she meets her Prince (John David Williamson). However, she loses her glass slipper at midnight, prompting a kingdom-wide search led by the Prince and his steward (Bennett Sandifer).
In a parallel tale, the Witch reconnects with her long-lost daughter (Carley Gilkey), while another Prince (Gideon Moncrief) falls for a maiden with golden hair. Familiar characters like Alice in Wonderland (Eva Johnson) and Hook (Emma Purifoy) also enrich the story, each chasing their hopes in the magical forest.
Hickman invites everyone to “Join the South Arkansas Arts Center Drama Club into the woods for this uproarious adventure where the wish that you wish, might come true.”
Performances will be held at SAAC on Friday, November 15 at 7pm, Saturday, November 16 at 2pm, and Sunday, November 17 at 2pm. Box office is open. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. To purchase tickets, please call SAAC at 870-862-5474 or visit SAAC’s online Box Office.
