There's something incredibly special about discovering a theater you didn't even know you were missing, and that's exactly how I felt walking into Backstage Performing Arts production of "Into the Woods". Backstage is best known for their children's productions, and this show marked their first production featuring an adult cast, and what a way to make an introduction! Tucked away like a little hidden gem, this theater created an intimate, welcoming space that felt like the perfect home for this beautifully complicated fairytale. From the moment the lights came up, it was clear that this was a production created with a genuine love for theatre, and I couldn't wait to see what they had in store!
The talent in this production was truly something to talk about. There was a wonderful mix of strong, confident performers and little unexpected moments that made each character feel completely their own. The cast handled Sondheim's notoriously challenging score with impressive vocal control, while still bringing plenty of personality, humor, and emotional depth to their performances. The whole cast worked so well together, maintaining the comedy and suprisiningly dark and emotional material. They truly navigated those shifts beautifully. Cinderella, played by Maddie Paige Lytle, had a wonderful understanding of the character. She portrayed the perfect inner monologue/debate in "Steps of the Palace" while showing off beautiful vocals, and strong acting throughout the entire show. The chemistry between The Baker's Wife (Abrielle Hambleton) and The Baker (Logan Stacey) was even more genuine as they are partners in real life. This created an even greater bond between the characters and added the perfect addition to the journey of them working together in the song "It Takes Two". Alongside the great chemistry between Hambleton and Stacey, they both had great voices that were shown off in solos as well as voices I could pick out in full ensemble numbers that added so much to the story telling. The Witch, played by Makayla Barlow, was an absolute standout, commanding the stage with a powerful presence and a vocal performance that perfectly captured the character's intensity, humor, and darker edge. Jack, played by Noah Gentry Dixon, brought such a lovable, wonderfully awkward energy to the role that captured the mix of innocence, impulsiveness, and childlike wonder that makes the character so endearing. Watching Dixon onstage, it was like watching all of this passion seep out of every pore in their body giving me chills in standout moments such as "Giants In the Sky" and "No One Is Alone". It was beautiful, and the comedic timing and love shown throughout the whole show with Little Red (Anne- Marie Kate) in every scene shared together was the perfect heart warming addition to the show.
The supporting cast brought so much personality and charm to the production. Jack's Mother (Ashley Jensen) was delightfully dramatic and wonderfully committed, while the Princes (Spencer Dearinger and Nate Coleman) brought plenty of humor, confidence, and theatrical flair to their roles. Rapunzel (Melia Porter) brought a beautiful sincerity to her character, and the Stepmother (Sage Doman) and Stepsisters (Brooklyn White- Maynard and Elisabeth Gardner) were an absolute joy to watch, balancing their large personalities with some genuinely funny moments. The Steward (Evan Shirts) added a great dose of comedy, while the Narrator (Sophia Fendrick) helped guide the story with a strong presence and clear storytelling. The Mysterious Man (Nathan Sachs) brought exactly the right amount of intrigue and intensity to a character who leaves you wanting to know more and more while adding a lot of emotion I've never seen before from the Myserious Man. Together, they added so much color and life to the world of "Into the Woods"!
Behind every great cast is a production team that makes the world around them come to life. The direction (Shelby Hovley) gave the show a strong sense of purpose while also still allowing the actors to shine, and the music direction (Emily Smith) handled Sondheim's intricate score with care and confidence. The choreography and costuming was also done by Hovley and added the perfect amount of movement and personality without ever feeling out of place. The costumes also helped distingiuish each character and brought the fairytale world into focus. Continuing with all that Hovley contributed to this show, the set design transformed the space into an intimate, charming, and immersive little corner of the woods. Light design (April Bisek), and sound design (Matt Stokes) worked together beautifully to support the mood and atmosphere of each scene. The prop design was also done by Hovley, and they were another wonderful touch, adding those little details that made the world feel lived- in and complete. For a theater taking on its first adult production, the amount of thought and care that went into every element behind the scenes was genuinely impressive .
Overall, "Into the Woods" was such a wonderful introduction to the adult side of Backstage Performing Arts. What could have simply been a first attempt at something new felt like the beginning of something really exciting. From the talented cast and thoughtful direction, to the charming design and intimate atmosphere, there was so much heart behind this production. Backstage truly feels like one of those hidden gems that you're lucky to stumble upon, and I'm so glad I got the chance to experience it. If this is what their first adult production looks like, I can only imagine what they'll do next, and I'll absolutely be looking forward to it!
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