VALDOSTA – The secret for Mark and Jennifer McQuade’s happily ever after may be working together on a big Broadway musical production.

Dr. Mark McQuade is the Lowndes High School director of theatre. Dr. Jennifer McQuade is the LHS director of chorus. They have been a couple for 21 years, have three children and work the long hours of preparing for a school production together.

The husband and wife team helm the LHS Off-Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim’s musical “Into the Woods,” playing March 20-22, at the school’s Performing Arts Center.

Once upon a time, the McQuades worked independently and together in other theatre troupes. The LHS show marks the third time the couple has been involved with a production of “Into the Woods,” including working with an Oklahoma community theatre troupe.

“Into the Woods” features a cast of familiar characters from popular fairy tales.

In recent decades, audiences have been introduced to twists to these fairy tales. While most of these twists are parts of light-hearted spoofs, such as “Shrek,” “Into the Woods” takes a darker look into the lives and motivations of fairy tale characters.

In the first act, the characters act in a traditional manner. In the second half, as Mark McQuade said, the characters get “a reality check.”

The second act takes the characters on a darker, less traditional journey.

“Into the Woods” is a challenge for a young cast and a high school production.

The themes are complex with a wealth of emotional range. Unlike most musicals that are a mix of spoken dialogue interspersed with songs, the music runs throughout “Into the Woods,” with only a small number of lines spoken outside of a song.

The cast features about 30 students. They include Brody Sturgill playing Cinderella’s prince, Jayden Terry playing Rapunzel’s prince, Tanner Hager playing Jack, Maddy Roy playing Little Red and Samuel Butler playing the Mysterious Man.

The students discussed their roles while on the stage of the LHS Performing Arts Center.

They discussed preparing for the show independently and in formal rehearsals. Some have watched recordings of other performances to find inspiration for the characterizations of their roles. They have different ways of dealing with opening night jitters, which includes Terry watching musicals and Roy praying.

As for next school year’s musicals, Mark McQuade said he probably won’t think about the 2025-26 schedule until he’s on break, sitting beside the pool this summer. Right now, he’s too deep “Into the Woods.”

CAST: C.J. Florig, Joni Olson, Rebecca Keown, Kinnon Dickson, Jordan Dawson, Riley Rentz, Jayla Robinson, Mariah Fowler, Brody Sturgill, Trey Brown, Tanner Hager, Tierney Walton, Maddy Roy, Tae Foreman, Nicholas Rozier, JePrey Pye III, Mackenzie McMichen, Lucy Kumpel, Jayden Terry, Brayden Burch, Samuel Butler, Tae Foreman, Madison Bodden, Maggie Willis, Alondra Roblero-Hernandez, Marilyn Lockwood, Maelee Baltrus.

Lowndes High School Off-Broadway presents “Into the Woods,” 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 20-22, Lowndes High School Performing Arts Center, off Norman Drive. More information: Visit  https://lowndes.revtrak.net/clubs-and-organizations/drama-club/drama-club-performances/into-the-woods/#/list