For nearly five decades the Rotary Club of Bracebridge has delivered professional-level theatre to local audiences and this year, along with their partners at Theatre Muskoka and the Dragonfly Theater Company, they plan to take audiences Into the Woods.
Beginning with a gala red carpet event on Feb. 20, the entirely local volunteer cast and crew will debut the Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine classic.
Into the Woods takes everyone’s favourite storybook characters and brings them together for a timeless, yet relevant, piece—a rare modern classic. The story follows a Baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King’s Festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the Baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a Witch’s curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse. Everyone’s wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results.
Always a major event on the local arts and entertainment calendar, the 47th Bracebridge Rotary Musical drew more than 80 candidates out for rehearsals to form their cast of 25.
“We had so many talented artists come out to auditions that it was very difficult to decide,” says Michelle Emson, the Executive Director of Theatre Muskoka. “Everyone has been very enthusiastic and a number of the cast knew the show already. Rehearsals have been coming along terrifically and everything is shaping up well.”
The cast is stacked with local talent who will be familiar to many in the area, and veteran musical director Neil Barlow will once again be setting the scene musically with a live band.
Several cast members are also players in the Dragonfly Theater, which is part of the new cooperative collaboration between the Rotary Club and Theater Muskoka that began last year.
The Rotary Musical has played to sell-out audiences for decades in Bracebridge. Although for more than four decades the local Rotary club produced the show (and that included financing it ), the club is involved in many other service projects as well. In recent years the club’s focus had started to shift to other community needs. However, Rotary continues to recognize the importance of this annual event to participants and audiences.
“There was some threat that it might not happen,” says Emson. “But this is the 47th year of the production. It’s a phenomenal record and it’s simply had to continue.”
To ensure the show would go on the Rotary Club began looking for partners and found a willing one in Theatre Muskoka, a registered charity that operates the Rene M. Caisse Memorial Theatre, in Bracebridge. They also present and support the performing arts in Muskoka.
The new collaboration began in earnest last year which included HUB Productions run of Billy Elliott. The production was highly successful and attracted large audiences to the Rene Caisse.
With the idea of using a rotating group of theatre companies, this year Dragonfly Theatre has been brought on board.
A significant part of the production every year is the work that goes in behind the scenes, and a production value not commonly seen in local theatre.
“When the audience enters the theatre we want them to be fully immersed and to suspend belief,” says Emson.
To kick things off, a red carpet gala is being planned for opening night on Feb. 20. That will include hors d’oeuvres, refreshments, photo opportunities and more at no extra charge.
The production runs:
Thursday Feb 20th, 7:30pm
Friday Feb 21, 7:30pm
Saturday Feb 22, 2:30pm
Sunday Feb 23, 2:30pm
Thursday Feb 27, 7:30pm
Friday Feb 28, 7:30pm
Saturday Mar 1, 2:30pm
Tickets are available here.
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