VALDOSTA —
As an actress, Patti Cook has walked every inch of The Dosta Playhouse stage as a multitude of characters. But as the director of this week’s Theatre Guild Valdosta season-opening musical, Cook enters new ground on familiar territory.
As a first-time director, Cook admits she often felt she had taken a journey “Into the Woods.”
A fitting analogy given that is also the title of this production with music and lyrics by the legendary Broadway maestro Stephen Sondheim and the book by James Lapine. Cook uses one of the show’s song titles to illustrate how much support she’s received as a new director.
“One of my favorite songs from the ‘Into the Woods’ score is ‘No One Is Alone,’” Cook says in her Director’s Notes. “It pretty much sums up all of my thoughts about my first directing experience at TGV. The learning curve has been exponential and at times overwhelming, but this has truly been a blessing.”
Though she has been the director, Cook says she has never felt alone supported by the Theatre Guild community and a talented cast and crew.
However, choosing the cast was an early challenge.
More than 40 area folks auditioned. From that talented ensemble, Cook selected 20 performers to become
fairy tale characters. The cast includes some familiar faces, and some who have not appeared on the Dosta Playhouse stage in several years, but more than half of the cast is new to Theatre Guild Valdosta.
Another early decision involved an intriguing costuming and set design choice.
She opted for a “steam punk” tone for “Into the Woods.” Steam punk utilizes Victorian-era costuming but with a parallel-universe twist. Imagine the worlds of Jules Verne, H.G. Wells and “The Wild, Wild West” having actually existed with 20th and 21st century rockets, submarines and other technology constructed from cogs and springs and powered by 19th century steam, with a fashion sense that adds sunglasses and goggles to the Victorian vests and petticoats.
The costumes add nuance to the show’s mature themes. “Into the Woods” is an adult take on fairy tales. Audiences will meet Cinderella, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, along with the stepmother and stepsisters, the Witch, the Big Bad Wolf, and more.
While familiar, these characters are different than the old children’s stories. They cling closer to the original fierceness of the Grimm tales. They contain morals more for adults than children. All set to the brilliant music of Stephen Sondheim.
These characters make choices that allow their dreams to come true, but they learn if any means can justify the end, well, one is more likely to face rueful consequences than happily ever afters.
THE CAST: Stephenie Austin, Michael Brogdon, Brenda Brunston, Andy Conerly, Aubree Cooper, Karen Cutler, Deanna Dyal, Mike Etheridge, Abigail Harris, Victoriana Harris, Dexter Holiday Jr., Christie Jo Mayo, Autumn Miller, Molly Nemecek, Reatha Pavey, Leah Powers, Joshua Robertson, Ryan Swaims, Andrew Thomas, Brittany Trudell.
DIRECTION, PRODUCTION: Patti Cook, director; Mary Helen Taylor, assistant director; Ricardo Ipina, musical director; Michael Brogdon, technical director; Diane Brunston, stage manager; Josh Robertson, thematic design; Anita Amore, Mary Helen Watson, Mary Ann Green, Clay Lee, costumes; Lois Allbritton, Kaitlyn Allbritton, props; Kegan Davis, lighting design; Jamahri Johnson, lights; William Mahoney, sound; Danielle Costello, Bethanie Bass, Aubree Cooper, Christie Jo Mayo, David Bass, Michael Settles, stage crew; Michael Brogdon, Andrew Thomas, Clay Lee, Brenda Brunston, Lynnette Kenworthy, Danielle Costello, Patti Cook, Josh Robertson, Megan White, Stephenie Austin, Karen Cutler, Adrian Taylor, Mary Helen Taylor, Christie Jo Mayo, Autumn Miller, Kegan Davis, Aletha Bryan, Joey Delk, Derek Speights, Abigail Harris, Vickie Harris, Diane Brunston, Molly Nemecek, Grant Brown, Reatha Pavey, Dexter Holiday Jr., set construction; Aletha Bryan, created Milky White and the witch’s mask.
SHOWTIME
Theatre Guild Valdosta presents Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods.”
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Aug. 9-11; 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 12; 7:30 p.m., Aug. 16-18.
Where: The Dosta Playhouse, 122 N. Ashley St.
Reservations, more information: Call (229) 24-STAGE; or visit www.theatreguildvaldosta.com
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