Rehearsals are in full swing for “A Walk in the Woods,” a children’s theater production written by Debbie Metzler and presented by the Jackson County Community Theatre.
This play will be presented at the Royal-Off-the-Square Theatre at 121 W. Walnut St. in Brownstown at 7:30 p.m. July 8 and 9 and at 2:30 p.m. July 10.
Tickets are available online via the ticket link at jcct.org. This show is produced by special arrangements with Pioneer Drama Service Inc. of Englewood, Colorado.
Lots of dangers are lurking in the woods, but there’s safety in numbers. Too bad our heroes don’t realize that or they would not find themselves in so much trouble when they all go for a walk in the woods. The tales of Goldilocks, the Three Bears, Red Riding Hood, the Three Little Pigs and Hansel and Gretel are all blended into one show.
Goldilocks, forest-savvy from having to survive in the woods without a family, is on the run from the Three Bears but takes time to help Red Riding Hood, who is leery of her stepmother’s motivation in sending her out into the woods at dusk with a basket full of food and a bright red cloak.
Along the way, they are saved by the Woodsman (who also happens to be Hansel and Gretel’s father) and from the zany Wolf (the same canine who plagues the Three Little Pigs). By the time the villagers near Grimm’s Woods get involved, including Jack Horner, the Butcher, the Baker and the Candlestick Maker, this fractured fairy tale is sure to be a family favorite.
Cast members are Bridget Bingham, John Conner Ortman, Erin Nelson, Max Maschino, Evan Rohlfing, Hanna Hackman, Marco Valdivia, Lucy Brown, Addison Bumbleburg, Ava Angle, Lucy Horton, Abby Hildreth, Claire Schepman, Lily Abdulbari, Ethan Ortman, Alana Jacobi, Maggie Calhoun, Ava Gerth, Jack Charlton, Gillian Bumbleburg, Hannah Kerkhof, Emma Brelage, Isabella Malone, Dezi Klakamp, Caitlin Marie Loper, Nev Cockerham, Luke Hildreth, Tyce Hardwick, Carmen Herzner, Mackenzie Robinson, Kiandra Glaze, Brylee Ramsey and Paige McCammon.
The show is directed by John and Julie Rohlfing.
Most of the cast were participants in the recent JCCT Children’s Workshop, which was coordinated with “A Walk in the Woods,” and support by a grant called “Arts in the Park,” from the Indiana Arts Commission.
JCCT partnered with Starve Hollow State Recreation Area for two events.
The first was a visit to the park during the workshop week with local artist Joe Reynolds, who conducted a lesson in drawing an outdoor setting. Each participant received an art kit, supplied by the grant funds.
The second event will be a presentation of some scenes from the production of “A Walk in the Woods” at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Starve Hollow campground. It’s open to the public with admission to the park.