Once upon a time on a Yuma stage

If someone's ever needed Snow White, Rapunzel and Little Red Riding Hood all in the same spot - hanging around some beanstalk, for example - they'll be in luck June 25-27.

That's when Desert Pointe Productions presents "Into the Woods," a fantastic musical mishmash of fairy tales. The musical, which was a big hit on Broadway, weaves comedy, drama and intrigue all into one show, featuring a who's-who cast list of fairytale favorites.

"Everyone is in this show!" said Shawna Perkins, executive director for Desert Pointe. "That's why it is so hard to figure out who your lead is with this show. There are so many iconic moments. All the characters have a wish and they all meet in the woods. The story is how one person affects the other."

"Into the Woods" was actually born not far from Yuma. The musical debuted in San Diego at the Old Globe Theatre in 1986. "Into the Woods" saw its Broadway premiere just a year later. The show won several Tony Awards and earned praise for stars ranging from Bernadette Peters to Joanna Gleason.

The music and lyrics behind the musical are the work of famed musician Stephen Sondheim.

Desert Pointe Productions will stage its version of "Into the Woods" June 25-27 at the Gila Ridge Auditorium, 7150 E. 24th St.

Show times are 7 p.m. each night, with Saturday also offering a 1 p.m. matinee.

Tickets, which are on sale now, are $15 for ages 3 and up. Tickets can be purchased at Dillard's.

"Into the Woods" marks the second show for Desert Pointe Production, a local theater company that Perkins and some friends created last summer. The company's first show was "Beauty and the Beast," which was well received by the community.

After "Into the Woods," the theater company plans to stage "Forever Plaid" as dinner theater at Julieanna's Patio Cafe. For the Christmas season, the company is considering a performance of an opera called "Amahl and the Night Visitors." For more information on the company, go to DesertPointe.org.

Perkins raved about her cast and crew for "Into the Woods" and predicted that Desert Pointe is going to have a real hit on its hands.

"The people involved in this are truly phenomenal. They have brought talents and skills, and have multiplied them. They have really developed characters which are believable and touching. They draw you into who they are, what they are wishing and how they truly feel. They take you from the audience and take you right onto the stage."

"Into the Woods" will boast 25 people on stage and about 15 folks making the magic happen behind the scenes.

The big stars in the show will be:

• Cinderella: Gigi Cook
• Baker's wife: Kris Smith
• Baker: Nate Bigler
• Witch: Amy Van Wagenen
• Little Red: Angela Titensor
• Jack: Jordan Rogers
• Rapunzel: Brittany Peare
• Big Bad Wolf: Jeremy Claridge
• Cinderella's prince: Jeremy Claridge
• Rapunzel's prince: Bob Rammelt
• Narrator: Mack Monty

At the helm of the show are music director Nate Bigler and director Valerie Hall.

Bobby Lemmon agreed to build sets for the show, as he did for "Beauty and the Beast."

"We have a bigger-than-life forest," Perkins raved. "These trees are huge. We have trees on stage that are bigger than anything I've seen in town."

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Darin Fenger can be reached at
dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.