IntoTheWoods_IGPost.png
Illustration and design by Sid Watson (@parsleyguy)

Live at Studio 58 
February 1-18, 2024 

“Maybe I shouldn’t have strayed from the path.” 

This Tony award-winning musical follows the paths of beloved and iconic fairytale characters as they venture into the darkness of an enchanted forest. Featuring Little Red Ridinghood, The Wolf, Cinderella, Rapunzel and Jack and the Beanstalk, these characters must band together to battle a witch’s curse and a giant.  

Creative Team

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim 
Book by James Lapine 
Originally Directed on Broadway by James Lapine 
Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick 

Director – Barbara Tomasic 
Musical Director and Band Leader – Sean Bayntun
Assistant Musical Director – Eliza De Castro
Choreographer – Nicol Spinola
Stage Manager – Kady Yeung*
Costume Designer – Donnie Tejani
Assistant Costume Designer – Oriana Camporese
Set Designer – Najú Ururahy*
Set Design Mentor – Sophie Tang
Lighting Designer – Jonathan Kim
Props Designer – Emma Knox
Intimacy Director – Lisa Goebel
Fight Director – Jonathan Hawley Purvis

Violin – Katie Stewart
Cello – Laine Longton
Reeds – Graham Howell
Trumpet – Justin Kury

Into the Woods is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com 

Content advisories: Use of fog and haze; depictions of death; themes of predation; use of the terms r*pe and molest; flashing lights
This show is rated PG13 by Musical Theatre International and is approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes, including an intermission. 

*Current student in Studio 58's Production Program.

We wish, we want, we get and then we want more. Fairy tales teach us that when we get our wish (the job, the love, the baby, the house, the car) our lives will be perfect, but I think we all know that isn’t true. It is, however, the root of so many challenges in our world. Capitalism, climate change, the destruction of our world, both inner and outer. Whoah! Heavy!! This is a musical!! True, and it’s lovely, and clever, and funny, just like our lives can be amidst all the chaos that we create. Enjoy.

Cast & Crew

In alphabetical order by character:

Baker – Vuk Prodanović*
Baker's Wife – Danica Kobayashi (she/her)
Cinderella – Emma Abbott (she/her)
Cinderella's Father – Michelle Avila Navarro (she/her)
Cinderella's Mother – Alyson Vance (she/her)
Cinderella's Prince – Brynna Drummond (she/her)
Florinda – Jenna Leigh (she/her)
Granny – Alyson Vance (she/her)
Jack – Lucy Jeffery (they/she)
Jack's Mother – Yorlene Bernido (she/her)
Little Red Ridinghood – Olivia Manojlovic (she/her)
Lucinda – Marianna Zouzoulas (she/her)
Mysterious Man – Michelle Avila Navarro (she/her)
Narrator – Lynny Bonin (she/her)
Rapunzel – Alyson Vance (she/her)
Rapunzel's Prince – Filip Fufezan (he/him)
Stepmother – Sewit Eden Haile (she/her)
Witch – Marielle Ortinez (she/her)
Wolf – Brynna Drummond (she/her)

*Guest Artist

Studio 58 offers professional theatre training for actors and production personnel. The six terms of practical training consist of intensive classroom work as well as performance and backstage experience in productions. Production students and third term acting students operate sound, lighting and video and act as running crew and stage management.

Stage Management
Assistant Stage Managers – Alek Toledo-Cisak (he/him), Clayton Melanson (he/him)

Costumes
Crew Head – Tresha Thamilchelvan (she/her)
Crew – Daniel Marte (he/him), Emma Tow (she/her), Aidan Currie (he/him), Isaac Johnson (he/him), Ingrid Suarez (she/her)

Lighting
Crew Head – Hernán Alonso Adrianzén Abanto (he/him)
Crew – Joel Bakajika (he/him), Annie Burns (she/her), Alex Christie (he/him), Keely Coleman (she/her), Irene Lozano-Garcia (she/her), Evan Sterns (he/him)

Marketing 
Crew Head – Ellie McCullough (she/they)
Crew – Mayara Nobre (she/her), Gus Setala-Gay (they/them)

Props
Crew – Ava Knight (she/they), Jun Li (they/he), Saidi Mader (she/her)

Set/Paint
Crew Head – Stella Jack Rennie (they/she)
Crew Leader – Dylan McNulty (he/him)
Crew – Evan Makowecki (he/him), Alexander Markovina (he/him), Jessica Spasic (she/her), Anne Constance (she/her), Igor Minelli (he/him), Izel De Lara (she/her), Lucy Mclachlan (she/her), Michelle Molina (she/her)

Sound
Crew Head – Hernán Alonso Adrianzén Abanto (he/him)
Crew – Big Ben (he/him) 

Creative Team

Barbara Tomasic Director

Barbara-Tomasic.jpegBarbara is thrilled to be back at Studio 58 after last directing 42nd Street in 2017. She is an award-winning director of theatre who has worked across Canada directing, acting, producing and developing new works. Recently, Barbara directed the hit production of Kinky Boots at Arts Club Theatre, which thrilled audiences and won an OVATION! Award for Best Production. Other highlights include Anne of Green Gables, Crazy for You (Gateway Theatre), Back To You (PTE) and Mamma Mia (Chemainus Theatre). She is currently the Executive Artistic Director at Gateway Theatre.

Sean Bayntun Musical Director and Band Leader

Sean-Bayntun-headshot.jpgA descendent of Ukrainian, Austrian and British immigrants, Sean grew up, and currently resides, on the ancestral and unceded lands of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh speaking peoples (Burnaby). 

Having grown up in his father's piano studio, Sean made his orchestral debut at 16 with the White Rock Symphony, and at 18 performed as a soloist with the VSO. He graduated from UBC with a BMus and an MMus from Rice University (Houston) on full scholarship studying with Dr. Jon Kimura Parker, who encouraged him to explore genres beyond classical music. 

Returning to Vancouver in 2006, Sean began music directing and playing in bands, and has co-written several albums and has more than 30 theatre productions worth of experience so far. 

He currently represents 20% of Leisure Club (indie rock/pop) and 50% of DAñSE (improvised electronic dance/prog/jazz). Recent theatre includes Cinderella (Gateway), The Prom (TUTS) and Starwalker (Urban Ink/Raven Theatre). 

Eliza De Castro Assistant Musical Director

Eliza-De-Castro.jpegEliza De Castro (she/her) is a vocal coach, music director and performer originally hailing from Brisbane, Australia. Eliza has been a music educator for the past 10 years and has a strong enthusiasm for mentoring young performers and emerging artists. She is currently the music director of the musical theatre programs at Vancouver Performing Stars and CTORA Academy, and she will be music directing Theatre Under The Stars' production of School of Rock next summer. Select past music directing credits include The Prom (Music Directing Fellow, Theatre Under The Stars), The Little Mermaid (CTORA Academy), Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (Vancouver Performing Stars), Spring Awakening (Millennial Productions) and Heathers: The Musical (Millennial Productions). 

Nicol Spinola Choreographer

Nicol-Spinola-Headshot.jpegNicol Spinola is a multi-award-winning choreographer and artist. Choreography credits include Cinderella, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and Anne of Green Gables (Gateway Theatre); Million Dollar Quartet (Arts Club Theatre Company); Mamma Mia! (Chemainus Theatre Festival); Something Rotten!, Cinderella, Mary Poppins (TUTS); Sweeney Todd, Company, Cabaret (Raincity Theatre); Seussical (SaskExpress); Shrek, Legally Blonde, Annie (Align Entertainment); and 9 to 5 (Capilano University). Nicol is a three-time OVATION! Award winner for outstanding choreography and a Jessie Richardson Award Winner for Outstanding Musical. Nicol has been a dance and theatre educator for over 20 years, is the Co-Managing Artistic Director of Raincity Theatre and the Co-Founding Executive Director of Camp Cue. Love to my family HB. nicolspinola.com 

Kady Yeung Stage Manager

Kady-Yeung.jpgKady Yeung is an emerging artist and a final year student in Studio 58’s Production Program. Growing up, she had a variety of musical and performing training (piano, ballet, choir and more) and eventually found her love in theatre and production, especially in stage management and sound design. Born and raised in Hong Kong, she moved to Vancouver in 2021 to pursue her dreams and tell stories. She is more than grateful and excited to stage manage for the first time and holds even more gratitude to be able to share her art on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. 

Donnie Tejani Costume Designer

Donnie-Tejani_Headshot.jpegDonnie Tejani is a Jessie Award-winning costume designer as well as the sole proprietor of his costume shop and rental house, In The Wings Costume Co. With several years of dressing experience backstage at the Arts Club and across the country touring with Kidd Pivot, he loves to bring his practical knowledge and tricks of the trade to every show he designs. Donnie is also a wig stylist working primarily in the drag scene where his work has been featured on the runway of RuPaul’s Drag Race and all over the world.  

Select design credits: The Rocky Horror Show (Studio 58), Crazy for You (Royal City Musical Theatre), Call Me Mother S2 (OUTtv) and Anne of Green Gables (Gateway Theatre). @donnietejani @omgwigs_ 

Najú Ururahy Set Designer

Naju-Ururahy.jpgNajú Ururahy is the first student designer in Studio 58’s redesigned Production Program to have her work realized on stage. Born and raised in Brazil with a background in fine arts and architecture, she deeply appreciates the opportunity to share her unique point of view and love for set design with the Studio 58 community. As a result of the multidisciplinary training at Studio 58, Najú has also found her passion for costume design. She looks forward to Studio 58’s fall 2024 season, when she’ll be joining the costume department in her last production before graduation. 

 

Sophie Tang Set Design Mentor

Sophie-Tang.jpegSophie Tang is an award-winning lighting and set designer working in theatre, opera and dance. She has worked with companies including Stratford Festival, Shaw Festival, Electric Company Theatre, Vancouver Opera, Arts Club Theatre Company, Bard on the Beach, Citadel Theatre, Canadian Stage, Theatre Replacement and so on. Recent credits: East Van Panto: Beauty and the Beast (Theatre Replacement), Cinderella (Gateway Theatre),  Michel(le) (Théâtre la Seizième), Fairview (The Search Party), The Apple Cart (Shaw Festival), Henry V (Bard on the Beach), The Legend of Georgia McBride (Arts Club Theatre Company), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Vancouver Opera), An Undeveloped Sound (Electric Company Theatre), Choir Boy (Canadian Stage and Arts Club Theatre Company) and The Pearl Fishers (Vancouver Opera). Portfolio website: sophieyufeitang.com

Jonathan Kim Lighting Designer

Jonathan-Kim-headshot.jpgJonathan Kim, better known as Jono, is a Korean-Canadian artist born and raised on unceded traditional Coast Salish territories, who currently works and lives on Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh territories (Vancouver, BC). He holds a BFA degree in Production and Design from Simon Fraser University. Jono is a member of the Associated Designers of Canada and Chimerik 似不像, an interdisciplinary collective. Recent credits: The Wrong Bashir (Touchstone Theatre); My Little Tomato (vAct & Zee Zee Theatre); Happy Valley (rice & beans theatre); God Said This (Pacific Theatre); Bright Half Life (Persephone Theatre); Empire of the Son (Pacific Theatre); Peace Country (rice & beans theatre); How Black Mothers Say I Love You (the frank theatre company); and Zahak, The Serpent King (The Biting School). 

Emma Knox Props Designer

Emma-Knox-Headshot.jpgEmma Knox is a fabrication artist and props designer based out of Vancouver, BC. Before moving, she was Head of Props for Storybook Theatre and a mascot maker in Calgary, AB. She holds a BFA in Technical Theatre & Design from the University of Lethbridge. 

Props Team: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Pearl Fishers and HMS Pinafore (Vancouver Opera). Head of Props: The Neverending Story, Curious George, Sister Act, Return to Treasure Island, The Giver, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Goosebumps the Musical, Junie B Jones and Into the Woods (Storybook Theatre). Scenic Paint Assistant: Yaga (Touchstone Theatre). Costumes Assistant: Waazakone, Futur/us (the frank theatre). Costume Crew: Alice in Wonderland (Theatre Replacement). 

Lisa Goebel Intimacy Director

Lisa-Goebel.jpgLisa is an interdisciplinary artist working as an actor, choreographer, intimacy director and producer. She completed her Intimacy Certification through Intimacy Directors and Coordinators and as an intimacy director, she has worked with companies including Arts Club, Bard on the Beach, The Firehall, Gateway Theatre, Pacific Theatre, Touchstone Theatre and Urban Ink. Upcoming: Intimacy Director for Father Tartuffe (Arts Club) and Movement Consultant for Red Velvet (Arts Club). She is a graduate of Studio 58. 

Jonathan Hawley Purvis Fight Director

Jonathan-Purvis-1.jpgJonathan is a fight director, actor, choreographer and stunt performer based out of Vancouver. Select fight direction credits include: As You Like It, Julius Caesar, Henry V, Romeo & Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare in Love (Bard on the Beach); As You Like It (Chicago Shakespeare, Milwaukee Rep); Antony & Cleopatra, Three Musketeers, Julius Caesar, Romeo & Juliet, (St. Lawrence Shakespeare); Silver Arrow, Shakespeare In Love, West Side Story, Romeo & Juliet, The Penelopiad, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Citadel Theatre); and I Am For You (Concrete Theatre). www.jonathanpurvis.com 

 

 

  

 

Katie Stewart Violin

Katie-Stewart.pngKatie is a Vancouver based musician and an alumni of Capilano University Jazz studies program, with over 15 years' experience in the Vancouver music scene. She is credited for contributions to numerous bands including Spindle!, Madelyn Read and the Petrichorus, and the History of Gunpowder (for which she has toured internationally). She is a resident fiddler for the Blarney Stone house band and has played abroad in Nashville, Italy and the O’Neills Pub in Dublin, Ireland. She is currently working on recording an album and playing a Montreal residency in the coming months. 

Laine-Longton.jpegLaine Longton has been playing cello since the age of 5. She studied at UVic (BMus, 2010), U of I - Urbana Champaign (MMus, 2012) and UBC in the DMA program (ABD).  

Laine’s musical theatre performances include Floyd Collins (Patrick Street Productions, 2014), A Little Night Music (PSP, 2017), Fun Home (Arts Club Theatre, 2018), It’s A Wonderful Life (Gateway Theatre, 2018), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (Gateway Theatre, 2019) and Company (Raincity Theatre, 2019). She has also recorded the music for Starwalker (Raven Theatre, 2022) and performed at Fringe Festival with Jasper in Deadland (2018). 

Laine currently teaches in Vancouver and plays regularly with the Vancouver Opera. She is a core member of the Vancouver Island Symphony.

Graham-Howell.-Photo.jpgIts a wish come true. Graham is returning to the magical realm of Studio 58 for the fifth time after having played in Cabaret, Urinetown, The Rocky Horror Show and A Chorus Line. In addition to being under the spell of the wonderful young actors and crew of Studio 58, Graham also teaches woodwinds at Oakridge Music Studios, the Arbutus Club and at his home studio located close to Langara College. Part of his noble quest involves playing saxophone in The Boulevardiers (a 1930s swing band) and A Night of Bowie (a tribute to David Bowie). Graham is over the moon to perform with the enchanting members of tonights merry little band: Laine, Katie, Justin and Sean. Adventure awaits! 

Justin Kury Trumpet

Justin-Kury.jpegJustin is halfway through his third year in the Jazz Studies and Education program at Capilano University as a trumpet player. Starting to emerge onto the scene, he has played at Theatre Under the Stars (42nd Street, 2018; Matilda/The Prom, 2023) as well as with Align Entertainment in Seussical the Musical (2023). This is his first time playing with Studio 58 and he is incredibly excited and thrilled at the opportunity! 

Staff & Faculty

Artistic Director (on leave) – Courtenay Dobbie (she/her)
Interim Aristic Director & Associate Director – David Hudgins (he/him)
Technical Director – Kevin MacDonald (he/him)
Assistant Technical Director – Will Dettlaff (he/him)
Production Manager – Ruth Bruhn (she/her)
Communications and Marketing Manager – Halla Bertrand (she/her)
Voice and Dialect Coach – Brad Gibson (he/him)
Singing Coach – Jenny Andersen (she/her)
Puppetry Coach – Wendy Gorling

Acknowledgements

A big thank you to the following people, organizations and companies for supporting Into the Woods: