Roanoke, VA – More than 100 talented middle and high school students auditioned for 26 roles that are part of Into The Woods, JR., a musical that will take place July 27 through August 7 at Mill Mountain Theatre. The accomplished students that were selected for the performance represent at least 14 area schools throughout the community.
The family-friendly show, based on a book written by James Lapine and music by Stephen Sondheim, incorporates several Brothers Grimm fairy tale characters. Classic stories of Cinderella, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack (and his beanstalk) and The Baker and his wife are intertwined in an interesting and imaginative way.
Songs that will be included from the original musical will include I Wish, It Takes Two, and On the Steps of the Palace. Themes of perseverance, hope and responsibility are portrayed through the lyrics and characters. “With a stellar production team, a talented cast of local student actors, and a passionate crew of student technicians, we are excited to share this important musical fairy tale with the Roanoke Valley,” Anna Kimmell, director and choreographer, said.
Each summer, the Mill Mountain Theatre Conservatory program gives young aspiring local performers the chance to appear on the theatre’s main stage. In addition to the annual show, other educational opportunities such as professional instruction in voice, dance, acting, musical theatre and technical theatre are provided by the Conservatory program for pre-K through adult students.
Into The Woods, JR. runs July 27 through August 7 on the Trinkle Main Stage in the Wells Fargo Auditorium at Center in the Square. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the show beginning at 7:00 p.m. The Saturday and Sunday matinees will begin at 2:00 p.m. with doors opening at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are available from the Center in the Square box office by calling (540) 342-5740 or online via Mill Mountain Theatre’s website at www.millmountain.org.
Mill Mountain Theater is grateful for the support from Carilion Clinic Children’s Hospital; The Roanoke Star and TheRoanokeStar.com; and WDBJ Television.
Additional support is made possible in part by generous underwriting by BNC Bank; chocolatepaper; Friendship Retirement Community; Dr. David Jones with Roanoke Valley Orthodontics; and Lanford Brothers Co. Grantors supporting this production are Center in the Square; City of Roanoke Arts Commission; County of Roanoke; Sam and Marion Golden Helping Hand Foundation; Kiwanis Club of Roanoke; Kathryn B. McQuade Foundation; National Endowment for the Arts; and the Virginia Commission for the Arts.
Into The Woods, JR. cast:
- Savannah Amos (Witch) – William Byrd High School & Center for the Performing Arts
- Mackenzie Bowles (Rapunzel) – Northside High School & Center for the Performing Arts
- Mary Brothers (Granny/Forest Spirit/Assistant to the Director) – Patrick Henry High School
- Caitlin Carter (Cinderella) – Cave Spring High School
- Jack Dunkenberger (Cinderella’s Prince) – Hidden Valley High School Simon Elliot (Forest Spirit) – Roanoke Valley Christian School
- Layla Esch-Bickel (Lucinda) – Homeschool
- Olivia Goodman (Little Red Riding Hood) – Central Academy Middle School
- Ben Kennedy (Narrator/Mysterious Man) – Salem High School
- Mateo Lara-McNamara (Milky White/Cow) – Roanoke Catholic School
- Ben Lewis (Baker) – Salem High School
- Abby Martin (Stepmother) – Lord Botetourt High School
- Cedar Moore (Jack) – Alleghany High School
- Sawyer Mullins (Milky White/Cow) – Read Mountain Middle School
- Ian Ridgway (Steward/Cinderella’s Father) – Hidden Valley High School
- Victoria Riego de Dios (Cinderella’s Mother/Forest Spirit) – North Cross School
- CJ Rodenberg (Wolf/Rapunzel’s Prince) – Hidden Valley High School
- Rachel Shores (Baker’s Wife) – Hidden Valley High School
- Sophie Sons (Forest Spirit) – Community High School
Production staff:
- Anna Kimmell – Director/Choreographer With a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Theatre from Elon University, Anna has performed and taught all over the country. Along with managing and teaching Mill Mountain Theatre Conservatory in Roanoke, Anna choreographs at Patrick Henry High School and for the Roanoke Valley Children’s Choir. She also serves as an adjunct professor at Hollins University. Favorite performance credits include: The Wizard of Oz National Tour, Peter Pan (Wendy) at Rhode Island’s Theatre By the Sea, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Rosemary) at Florida’s Show Palace, Nuptials (Kitty) at North Carolina’s Flat Rock Playhouse, Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey) at Colorado’s Lake Dillon Theatre, White Christmas (Judy) at the Atlanta Lyric Theatre, Annie at Georgia’s Theatre of the Stars. She has been a regular at Mill Mountain Theatre by performing in 42nd Street (Peggy), The Sound of Music (Liesl), Swing! (featured dancer/singer), and Hairspray! (Amber). She also proudly directed and choreographed the successful Mill Mountain Theatre productions of The Wizard of Oz, Young Performers’ Edition, Shel’s World, and Beauty and the Beast JR. Anna can regularly be seen in television, film, and commercials, most recently guest starring on the Lifetime show Devious Maids. Behind the scenes, Anna serves as a photography assistant, production assistant, and seamstress. Find out more at annakimmell.com.
- Seth Davis—Musical Director Seth, another Georgia native, is thrilled to now call Roanoke his home. First coming to Mill Mountain Theatre in 2013 for The Sound of Music, Seth has served as resident music director for the past two seasons. His favorite regional music directing credits include: Spring Awakening and The Rocky Horror Show (Actor’s Express), Hair and Time Between Us (Serenbe Playhouse), Illyria (Georgia Shakespeare), and The Red Balloon (Theatre du Reve).
For more information, contact Ginger Poole at (540) 342-5749 or via e-mail atginger@nullmillmountain.org
