What do Cinderella, a beanstalk, a cow and award-winning music have in common? They are all featured in acclaimed musical, “Into the Woods.” The show opens next month at the Civic Auditorium in Idaho Falls and is produced by Idaho Falls Opera Theatre.
The Idaho Falls Opera Theatre began with a group of vocalists in 1977. Today they perform operas and occasionally musicals. Past productions include “Hansel and Gretel,” “Carmen,” “H.M.S. Pinafore,” “Cosi fan Tutte,” “Suor Angelica” and more.
Nykele Shapiro and Mckay Concienne are cast members in the production. They are also former and current students at BYU-Idaho.
Shapiro, who plays Rapunzel and serves on the IFOT’s board of directors, says the show’s music written by Stephen Sondheim is challenging, making it a good fit for an opera group.
“This (is) something that is more difficult,” Shapiro said, “Sondheim takes some effort.”
For Concienne, who plays one of the evil stepsisters, the musical’s plot is thought provoking.
“Act one ends as a normal fairytale would,” Concienne said. “But all of act two is focused on what happens when you actually get what you want. Are you actually as satisfied with what you get? Or does it just lead to you wanting more until you’re just never satisfied?”
The cast will perform “Into the Woods” at the Civic Auditorium in Idaho Falls on March 11, 12, 14 and 15 at 7 p.m. with a matinee on Saturday, March 12 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at IFOT.org.