Harrison High School's INTO THE WOODS

Review by Pete Billias, Milford High School Critic Team

As the humble homes of our familiar fairy tale characters peeled back to reveal the majestic, towering trees, Harrison High School captured all the hilarity and mayhem at the collision of four unique stories, all while uniting the audience in a charming production of Into The Woods.

Into The Woods, written by James Lapine with music by Stephen Sondheim, uses the story of a baker and his wife to combine the iconic tales of Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Cinderella as they all journey into the woods to grant their deepest wishes. And as the musical melds their individual stories into one, it teaches that happily ever after might not be so everlasting.

Sondheim's complex musical score is one of the most prevailing challenges when it comes to putting on Into The Woods. The clashing, fast-paced melodies of songs such as "Prologue" and "Your Fault" are incredibly difficult, but Harrison High School rose to the challenge. With strong, grounded acting choices within the fantastically constructed set, the entire company's effort was evident as they delivered a delightful production.

The Baker, played by Gabe Ashcraft, was a determined and adventurous character, learning to face his fears alongside Adianca Ortiz, rising to the difficult vocal performance and nuanced character that is the Baker's Wife. The two actors demonstrated the range of their characters' relationship beautifully in their performance of "It Takes Two," as the audience watches them grow and learn to accept change in real time.

As the antagonistic Witch, Shaylin Uxer brought comedy and dynamism, dominating the stage with a cackling fierceness. From start to finish, we see Uxer's menacing demeanor peak and plummet. One of her most exceptional moments is "Last Midnight," a dramatic upheaval from her emotional sorrows portrayed in "Witch's Lament."

The costuming, contributed to Parker Lawhorn, Emily Benight, Shannon Kilby, and Kamryn Price, features many pieces, several handmade or altered, that pleasantly highlighted the classic storybook characters. Even necessary elements like Little Red's hood felt original and cohesive to this production. One standout design was that of the stepfamily of Cinderella, which used bright colors to show a satisfying gradient of social class in comparison to the poorer characters, like Cinderella herself, greatly enhancing the story.

Harrison High School's production of Into The Woods took the audience on a magical journey of wishes come true. However, unlike the unfortunate characters, viewers walked away hopeful and, most important of all, completely unscathed.

Review by Adelaide Linser, Walnut Hills High School Critic Team

As light spilled across the stage, three cottages brimming with wishes appeared. One held a hopeful Baker and his wife, another a girl lost in her scrubbing, and the third—a cow in the living room? Harrison High School led their audience through every corner of the woods in their whimsical yet heart-wrenching production of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods.

One of Sondheim's most recognizable titles, Into the Woods, follows a Baker and his Wife as they strike a deal with the town Witch to collect ingredients for her potion in exchange for their first child. As chaos unfolds, Into the Woods reveals the costs of "Happily Ever After." With lovable characters like Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Rapunzel, Into the Woods proves that wishes don't come true without a cost.

Harrison High School took advantage of the entire space, immersing the audience in this woodsy tale. This dynamic use of space turned the house into an extension of the woods, surrounding the audience in the magic of the story.

Leading the journey, Gabe Ashcraft masterfully brought nuance and depth to the role of the Baker, grounding the story with sincerity and motivation. Beside Ashcraft, Adianca Ortiz played the doting Baker's Wife. Ortiz's performance was both charming and emotionally complex, as she navigated both the character's desires and doubts. With genuine emotional chemistry, the two created a relationship that felt lived-in and authentic.

Also tangled in the woods was the spunky and resilient Little Red, played by Avery Hellmann. Hellmann's performance was nothing short of spellbinding, marked by witty comedic timing and powerful vocal skill. One obstacle she encountered on her journey was the Wolf, played by Zaden Kilby. Kilby was deliciously disgusting in his performance, fully leaning into the character's predatory charm. Kilby's portrayal was also infused with a dark comedic timing, making his encounter with the young girl just as entertaining as it was chilling.

Beyond the stage, the costume work of Parker Lawhorn, Emily Benight, Shannon Kilby, and Kamryn Price beautifully portrayed each storybook character in a unique light. Each costume piece was carefully thought out and reflected the character's growth throughout the show, such as the changing roses pinned to Cinderella's dresses. The costumes moved gracefully over the grand, woodsy set built by Audrey Krise, Ainsley Nolan, Alex Mazzei, and Makayla Hall. The set was a stunning and immersive element of the production, which allowed the cast to duck and weave between the layers and layers of diverse tree types.

From captivating performances to brilliant tech, Harrison High School proved that life keeps going after the fairy tale ends, and that morality isn't always so black and white.

Review by Ella Adams, Mercy McAuley High School Critic Team

Once upon a time, on the stage of William Henry Harrison High School, familiar tales came to life in a new story full of magic spells and dangerous wishes. This production of Into the Woods was a bewitching showcase of storybook spectacles and shimmering stagecraft.

With a book by James Lapine and music by Stephen Sondheim, Into the Woods twists well-known fairytales together into one mystical journey. It begins as the Baker and the Baker's Wife are told by the Witch to venture into the forest to find four ingredients for a potion. In return, she will lift the curse preventing the couple from having a child. As their path is intertwined with the lives of Little Red, Jack, Cinderella, and Rapunzel, the characters begin to face the consequences of their own wishes.

Producing Into the Woods is a harrowing task to undertake, but William Henry Harrison High School rose to the challenge with stellar execution. While this show is demanding for its challenging score, emotional complexities, and elements of magic, the cast and crew tackled it all to create an enthralling performance.

The driving forces of Into the Woods, the Baker and the Baker's Wife, were brought to life by Gabe Ashcraft and Adianca Ortiz. Throughout the show, Gabe had a strong depiction of the Baker's determination and dedication. Adianca beautifully showcased the Baker's Wife's passion as well as her conflict in her song, "Moments in the Woods." In addition to their individual performances, Ashcraft and Ortiz proved that "It Takes Two," with the chemistry and dynamic between the two of them truly being the heart of the story.

Shaylin Uxer played The Witch with a fierce presence and powerful vocals. With each bold musical number and sinister remark, Uxer truly commanded the stage. On the other hand, Avery Hellman's performance captured Little Red's childlike qualities with her bubbly physicality and a bright vocal tone. Through interactions with other characters as well as solo moments such as her rendition of "I Know Things Now," Hellman's portrayal of her character was adorable and charming.

The set crew, led by Audrey Krise, Ainsley Nolan, Alex Mazzei, and Makayla Hall, immersed the audience in the deep and lush woods with their gorgeous creations. Their design, which involved countless layers and moving pieces, made the forest feel endless and eerie. Meanwhile, the making of the production's costumes was led by Parker Lawhorn, Emily Benight, Shannon Kilby, and Kamryn Price. This crew designed whimsical and detailed garments, all of which were unique and emphasized the individuality of the character who wore them.

With spellbinding performances and enchanting designs, William Henry Harrison High School's production of Into the Woods was pure magic from the rise of the curtain to happily ever after.

Excerpts From Other Top Reviews

"Jack, the reckless boy with a cow best friend, was portrayed by Eli Brown, who excellently exhibited Jack's thirst for adventure and love for Milky White. Brown's performance of "Giants in the Sky" was a colossal delight as he took center stage with the starry-eyed wonder of his character. Additionally, Brown fantastically sang "Your Fault," enunciating each of his words so everything could be understood. One of Jack's companions was the fiery and fierce Little Red, who was brought to life by Avery Hellmann. Hellmann's energy and liveliness in this role showcased both Little Red's charming and feisty sides."

-Anna Parsons, Mercy McAuley High School Critic Team

"Into the Woods would not be where it is without its unique and quintessential tech elements. Costumes, led by Parker Lawhorn, Emily Benight, Shannon Kilby, and Kamryn Price, stood out for their functionality as well as look. The creative spins taken on the classic characters made for eye-catching and practical costumes. The set team, Audrey Krise, Ainsley Nolan, Alex Mazzei, and Makalya Hall, created an impressive atmosphere that lent itself well to the show. Hidden perches in the set for Cinderella's Mother and Rapunzel were particularly notable."

-Adah Mosher, Walnut Hills High School Critic Team

"Also notable was Tyler Smith, who spent the show manning the Milky White puppet. In a role with no speaking lines but significant stage time, he did a wonderful job reacting to the scene around him and giving the minor role a distinct character and unscripted bits of humor throughout the show."

-Hana Conte, The Summit Coutry Day School Critic Team

"The emotional performance given by the Baker's Wife added depth to the musical, showing her technical capabilities through her showstopping vocals and convincing acting. Adianca Ortiz single-handedly elevated the musical as her interpretation of the Baker's Wife created a masterclass in theater, which was only highlighted by her counterpart, the Baker, masterfully portrayed by Gabe Ashcraft. Together, Ashcraft and Ortiz crafted a beautifully heartfelt performance that captivated the audience."

-Steph Niehoff, Mariemont High School Critic Team

"Hiding in the trees behind the scenes, the crew added detail and interest to the fairytale stories. The Marketing and Publicity crew, led by Madison Jacob, transported the audience into the woods before even stepping foot into the theatre, using fake moss and photo set-ups to engage the audience. They also embraced the central theme of community in the show, starting a No One Is Alone Campaign that connected with many people concerning mental health struggles."

-Julianna Duker, Mercy McAuley High School Critic Team

"Played by Avery Hellmann, Little Red's cheekiness was wonderfully shown by the actress, whose scream and jumping up and down showed her childlike nature, and her bravery and boldness in the face of danger were also shown well by Hellmann. Zaden Kilby, playing The Wolf, did a phenomenal job and perfectly captured the creepiness of his character, sending a shiver down the audience's spines with his predatory and commanding voice."

-Margaret Evenson, Mercy McAuley High School Critic Team

"With a fast-paced narrative and complicated storyline, Harrison High School effortlessly conveyed the individual fairytales within Into the Woods, giving center stage to the characters' teamwork toward a combined goal of survival. The entire ensemble sounded flawlessly in tune during every number, with unified vocals to match the difficult musical score. The mystical set and costumes comfortably transported the audience into their favorite bedtime stories, preparing them for the unexpected journey ahead."

-Danielle Stout, Milford High School Critic Team