Into The Woods: Sets and Troubleshooting

Into the Woods sets are especially challenging, so it takes true dedication to create quality sets. with four simultaneous fairy tales and corresonding sets, our production requires quick set changes and pieces that are durrable enough to stand up to constant movement. Because of this, our set team was constantly experimenting and adjusting peices to figure out what worked best both asthetically and logistically. Some of the more complex set peices inclue a tree fit for humans to appear and re-appear in and around it.

A Narrator's Point of View

Hello!
What is the only part in the play that does not require movement, has intense and interesting turtlenecks, and is onstage in comfy chairs for the entire play? THE NARRATORS! We (William and Elena) have had the honor of being the narrators in our production of Into the Woods. This experience has changed the way we look at acting and the theatrical experience. We also have very fun costumes; Elena sports a tweed coat and pipe, and William has a fun brown turtleneck and glasses. We also have very interesting lines, which can have as many as five commas in one sentence! Narrating is fun! We hope you enjoy the play when you see it!

The Narrators

Rapunzel's Tower

One of the most exciting parts of the play, in my opinion, is the illusion of Rapunzel's Tower. Ms. Otto has chosen to use the "Genie" tower, an electric machine usually used to adjust lights and build sets. Rapunzel steps inside of the Genie and when she presses two buttons, the Genie rises to the top of the backdrop! Then Rapunzel is able to 'let down her hair' high in the sky to the witch, the only one who knows of Rapunzel's existence. Props to Sophie and Karis for 'climbing the tower' and creating a unique illusion that adds an extra touch to the show.

Dancing Into the Woods

Ian and I (Madeline) have had an enjoyable experience choreographing dances for our 8th grade play, Into the Woods. The dances that we have choreographed so far are the Tree Spirit Dance, the Wolf Dance, the Cinderella and Prince Dance, and others. The different dance moves are theatrical and are very fun for everyone to perform. In the last few days before the show, Ian and I are making sure everyone knows their correct steps and the correct timing. Dancing adds a new dynamic to this play and I hope the audience will really enjoy it.

Evil Step Sisters in Into the Woods

When Ms. Otto and Ms. Silva were casting the list, they decided to cast three step-sisters instead of just two, which was done in order to give people more acting parts. At first it was difficult to split up the singing and speaking parts among three people, since there is already a limited amount of lines, but we figured it out, and we were successful in dividing the lines up equally. Working on this production has been a great pleasure for all of us, and even though we don't have a lot of time on stage, it just means that we get to experience more of the behind the scenes action, such as set making and prop building. All three of us are looking forward to the premier next Thursday night.

Music in "Into The Woods"

While playing in the band for the eighth grade play, "Into the Woods," we have learned how to accompany a performance. The diverse and varied tunes exemplified by "Into the Woods" allow us to practice tunes that we are not used to. With the different types of music everyday we are exposed to we gain a lot of experience which soon we will showcase in the play. Both of us look forward to the performance coming up.

Getting Ready...

The play is coming along nicely as we near our full rehearsal deadline on Friday. Today we have been finishing up the sets and all of them should easily be done by Friday. The biographies are due by the end of the day to go along with the head shots on the marquis board which will be placed in the hallway.