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Messiah College School of the Arts stages Sondheim’s fractured
fairy tale, “Into the Woods”

	Abbie Getty (l), as the Baker’s Wife, encounters Jack’s Mother, portrayed by Kate Salsbury (r), in Messiah College’s staging of “Into the Woods.” Click on image to download print-quality version
	The Baker’s Wife (Abbie Getty (r)), tries to steal Cinderella’s (Stephanie Leh’s (l)) shoes in Messiah College’s staging of “Into the Woods.” Click on image to download print-quality version
	Abbie Getty (l), as the Baker’s Wife, follows Cinderella, portrayed by Stephanie Leh (r), through the forest in Messiah College’s staging of “Into the Woods.” Click on image to download print-quality version

GRANTHAM, Pa. (Jan. 11, 2006) — The Messiah College School of the Arts will stage the theatre production, “Into the Woods,” on Feb. 2-5 and Feb. 9-12 in Miller Auditorium in the Climenhaga Fine Arts Center on the college’s Grantham campus. Performances begin at 8 p.m. on all dates, and Feb. 5 and 12 also offer a 2 p.m. Sunday matinee performance. Tickets cost $10 and can be purchased in advance by calling the Messiah College ticket office at (717) 691-6036; tickets will also be sold at the door. This play has been rated PG by Music Theatre International. An audience "talk-back" with the director to discuss the play will immediately follow the Feb. 5, 2 p.m. performance.

Directed by Associate Professor of Theatre Edward R. Cohn, “Into the Woods” was written by James Lapine, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Through Sondheim’s Tony Award-winning score and Lapine’s mastery of wit, “Into the Woods” takes the audience through a journey of fractured fairy tales of a darker hue, deconstructing the Brothers Grimm using the familiar names and faces of Cinderella, Rapunzel and Little Red Riding Hood.

According to Cohn, “This play is deceptive in that audiences always find the play entertaining with its beautiful music and humor, but Sondheim and Lapine have offered much more for us to consider regarding how and what we teach our children.” Cohn, the cast and the production staff have undertaken the task of bringing those deeper insights to Messiah College audiences.

The cast of “Into the Woods” includes Timmy Metzner as the Baker, Abbie Getty as the Baker’s Wife, Kirsten Brooks as the Witch, Stephanie Leh as Cinderella, Ryan Reid as Jack, Landree Fleming as Red and Adam Brock as the Narrator.

Cohn received his doctorate in theatre from Bowling Green State University. He joined Messiah College in 2001, and teaches a variety of theatre disciplines including acting, directing, dramatic literature and drama-in-education. As a theatre practitioner, Cohn continues to work as an actor while his directing credits include theatrical styles ranging from grand scale musicals to experimental and postmodern productions.  Most recently, Cohn has directed “Once Upon a Mattress,” “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”and last season’s production of “Oxygen.”

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ARTICLE DATE: WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2006
ARTICLE NUMBER: MC-001-06