From a University of Wyoming press release:The University of Wyoming's musical theatre group, the Centennial Singers, will perform its first full-length musical "Into the Woods" at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, and Saturday, Oct. 25, in the College of Education auditorium.
Tickets are available at both the Fine Arts box office and the Wyoming Union information desk. Prices are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for students and children and $25 for a family pack (two adults and three children).
This is the first time the group has performed a full-length musical instead of a musical revue show.
"One of the reasons I wanted to do a full-length musical this year is because we are starting a musical theatre concentration within the theatre Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) program in the near future," Director Patrick Newell said. "It's natural for Centennial Singers to take on the production aspects of a full musical and be at the forefront for this idea."
Currently, the UW Department of Theatre and Dance offers BFA concentrations in theatre performance, dance, playwriting and technical design. The addition of concentrations in educational theatre and musical theatre are in the works for next year.
"I think the new format of producing an actual show is a great recruiting tool for this group," said JC McCann, a junior in music. "The musical theatre concentration is definitely something this university needs, and with the name of Centennial Singers to back it, I feel it would definitely be successful."
"Into the Woods" combines and intertwines the stories of popular fairytales such as "Cinderella," "Jack and the Beanstalk" and "Little Red Riding Hood."
"It's great to have such a large ensemble this year because it is fun to see everyone working to create characters that are vastly different than what we are used to in everyday life," said Kari Kontour, a UW graduate. "In this show, we're trying to get away from the Disney stereotypes of Cinderella and such, but we still want to stay true to that familiar image."
For more information about CS and this performance, call Newell at (307) 766-3076 or e-mail centennial.singers@uwyo.edu.
Photo: Cast members Rachel Slama (left) of Lakewood, Colo., Rebecca Diamond (middle) of Winter Park, Colo. and Carly Jones of Montrose, Colo., rehearse for the Centennial Singers' musical "Into the Woods." (Donald P. Turner Photo)
