OriginallyDirectedonBroadwaybyJamesLapine OrchestrationsbyJonathanTunick
Courtyard Shakespeare Festival presents
Into the Woods
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by James Lapine
Director/Choreographer STEFAN MILLER
Assistant Director MATTHEW FURNESS
Music Director CORA GLAUDIN
Technical Director MICHAEL RING
Scenic/Projection Designer ANDREW COLE
Lighting Designer KYLE ALEXANDER SKOUSEN
Audio Engineer ANGEL MUNOZ
Scene Shop Supervisor SANTINO ALVARADO
Properties Designer KAYLEE CERVANTES
Assistant Properties Designer ADDISON BREMMER
Costume Designer EMILY MAAS
Hair/Makeup Designer VIENNA AGUAS
Box Office Manager STEPHANIE HULL
Producer ZACHARY BORTOT
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. Any video and/or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.
As a courtesy to other patrons and our performers, please turn off all cellular phones and alarms. Refrain from bringing food or drinks inside the theatre. Photography and recording devices are strictly prohibited. This production includes the use of strobe lights and theatrical smoke/haze.
ETHOS ON THEMATIC CONTENT
The depiction of sinful acts in storytelling is not an endorsement of sin. The Bible contains acts of violence, murder, indiscretions, and a host of other examples of the sinful nature of humanity in a fallen world. But the Bible does not explore those topics and leave one bereft of hope. Much like one cannot paint a picture without the use of shadow, one cannot tell a truthful story about human experience without depicting certain realities of human existence. We need a savior precisely because we are sinful creatures. To sanitize that truth would be a disservice to the beauty of the sacrificial love that Christ exhibited on the cross when He died for our sins. For this reason, we do not shy away from thematically challenging content, but through intentional prayerful discernment and reading of the word of God we do establish guidelines for the telling of stories of redemption. In that spirit, we offer content guides so families and individuals can make informed decisions about their viewing experience and biblical context so viewers can be drawn to understand the content considering God’s eternal character, humanity’s mortal condition, and how they interact in God’s cosmic story.
CONTENT GUIDE
This production is rated T for Teenagers and older as the production contains mature themes of love and loss.
RUN TIME
The production is approximately 2 ½ hours. There will be one 15-minute intermission.
GREAT COMMISSION CONTEXT
Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Into the Woods begins like a fairy tale but quickly becomes something far more complicated. Familiar storybook characters pursue wishes they believe will finally bring fulfillment: love, security, freedom, success, revenge – whatever they think will bring them contentment. Yet the deeper the story travels into the woods, the more it confronts a difficult reality: getting what we want does not necessarily heal what is broken within us. What initially feels playful gradually becomes painful as individual choices begin to affect entire families and communities. Characters hurt one another in pursuit of desires they sincerely believe will make them happy, and the consequences of those decisions cannot be undone.
At its core, Into the Woods wrestles with the tension between desire and wisdom. Nearly every character spends part of the musical chasing certainty, only to discover how fragile certainty can be. Some outrun responsibility. Others cling to unrealistic expectations. Many search for someone or something to blame when life does not unfold the way they imagined. The musical repeatedly raises questions central to both art and faith: What do we owe one another? How should we respond to suffering? What kind of people do disappointment and loss shape us into?
At a Christian institution, we believe stories have the power to illuminate truth about the human experience. While Into the Woods is not a faith-based work, it reflects realities Scripture speaks to with honesty and clarity. Human beings are capable of selfishness even when acting from sincere motives. Our decisions often impact others in ways we neither expect nor fully understand. At the same time, the musical recognizes how deeply people long for grace, forgiveness, connection, and redemption in the aftermath of failure. Life in Into the Woods is messy, morally complicated, and at times painful, yet the story continually pushes its characters toward compassion, responsibility, and mutual care.
The Great Commission compels Christians to enter a complex and broken world with truth, wisdom, compassion, and hope. Stories like Into the Woods help prepare us for that calling because they require us to engage honestly with the fears, disappointments, and longings that shape human experience across cultures and generations. Many of the characters spend the musical trying to avoid grief or escape uncertainty, only to discover that suffering cannot simply be wished away. By entering those struggles through storytelling, we grow in our ability to understand others with empathy, humility, and discernment. In this way, the production serves not only as art, but also as preparation for engaging the world with the redemptive love of Christ.
Importantly, the show resists simplistic answers. It does not pretend that maturity comes easily or that human beings always grow through suffering in predictable ways. Instead, the musical invites audiences to reflect honestly on what it means to live ethically within a community, to persevere through disappointment, and to take responsibility for the impact our choices have on others. In many ways, this mirrors the Christian understanding that wisdom is often formed through humility, sacrifice, and dependence upon both God and community.
Our hope is that audiences leave not only entertained by the musical’s wit, imagination, and emotional depth, but also challenged to reflect more carefully on the choices we make, the stories we tell ourselves, and the kind of people we are becoming along the journey into the woods.
Zachary Bortot, MFA
Associate Professor, Theatre Arts Division Director, Producer
DIRECTOR’S NOTE
“Careful the things you say, children will listen…”
Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Into the Woods is often described as a fractured fairy tale, but beneath its wit, complexity, and humor lies something deeply human. At its core, this musical is not simply about wishes coming true. It is about what happens after. What happens when we finally get the thing we thought would fulfill us? What happens when our choices begin affecting the people around us? And how do we move forward once we realize there are no perfect answers?
In this production, the woods are more than a physical setting. They are a psychological and emotional space where desires, fears, responsibilities, and realities collide. Every character enters the woods searching for something deeply personal: love, purpose, freedom, security, connection. Yet the woods transform them. They force each person to confront not only the consequences of their choices, but also the complexity of living in relationship with others.
From the beginning, I was drawn to the idea that no two characters experience the woods in quite the same way. Because of that, we leaned into a more minimalist and actor driven approach that allows the storytelling, music, and emotional truth of the piece to remain at the center. Rather than presenting a single reality, this production explores multiple perspectives unfolding simultaneously. The woods become a place of transformation, reflection, temptation, grief, discovery, and ultimately, connection.
What continues to make Into the Woods so powerful is its refusal to offer easy morality. The show reminds us that people are flawed, choices are complicated, and growth often comes through loss, uncertainty, and reflection. Yet amidst all of the chaos, the musical ultimately points us toward responsibility, compassion, and community. “No One Is Alone” and “Children Will Listen” become more than songs within the story. They become reminders that our actions ripple outward and that the things we say and do shape the people who come after us.
Thank you for joining us on this journey and we hope you find reflection and connection on your own journey through the uncertainty of the woods.
Stefan Miller Director
CAST
Narrator/Mysterious Man
MICHAEL RING
Witch SIDNEY AARON APTAKER
Baker ETHAN PARK
Baker’s Wife GRACE FLEMING
Cinderella ABBI HOFFPAUIR
Little Red BROOKE MAURER
Jack SANTINO ALVARADO
Jack’s Mother REBEKAH BORTOT
Cinderella’s Prince ADAM MARQUARDT
Rapunzel’s Prince EMILIANO CUMMINGS
Wolf CUTTER ROLFS
Rapunzel RACHEL ROGSTAD
Stepmother HANNAH RUSTON
Florinda ASHLYN WILLIAMS
Lucinda AVERY HENKENIUS
Steward JASON GONZALEZ
Cindy’s Dad CHARLES E. MARTINEZ
Cindy’s Mom/Granny/Giant ABIGAIL DURHAM
Milky White KAYLEE CERVANTES
Sleeping Beauty COLETTE CURRY
Snow White REBEKAH ROGSTAD
Swings LISSA GRAY EMMA PINZA CHRISTIAN LINDSEY
Understudy Witch/Baker’s Wife HANNAH RUSTON
Understudy Baker/Mysterious Man CHARLES E. MARTINEZ
PRODUCTION STAFF
Technical Director
Scene Shop Supervisor
Stage Manager
MICHAEL RING
SANTINO ALVARADO
HOLLAND UPDEGRAFF
Assistant Stage Manager MARIA HURTADO
Assistant Stage Manager
TRISTAN JACKSON
Lead Audio Engineer ANGEL MUNOZ
Follow Spot Operators
JUDE CURRY
MICAH HEBERT
Light Board Operator
Projection Operator
Wardrobe Lead
Wardrobe Crew
Hair/Makeup Lead
Hair/Makeup Crew
ALYSSA QUIMBY
JESIAH RIVERA-PULS
HALEY NESBIHAL
BREANNA MASTERS
CHRISTIAN LINDSEY
VIENNA AGUAS
LILY HARPER
SABRINA HEIM
Scene Shop Assistants
Costume Shop Assistants
Box Office Assistants
KEVIN WALLS
RACHEL ROGSTAD
TRISTAN JACKSON
ASHLYN WILLIAMS
WEEZY WRIGHT
ADDISON BREMMER
HALEY NESBIHAL
LILY HARPER
CHARLES E. MARTINEZ
EMMA PINZA
Production Photography AMANDA BARRIER
Video Services THINKRING PRODUCTIONS
Box Office Manager
STEPHANIE HULL
Producer ZACHARY BORTOT
MUSICAL NUMBERS
Act I
Prologue: "Into the Woods"……………. Narrator, Cinderella, Jack, Baker, Baker's Wife, Cinderella's Stepmother, Florinda, Lucinda, Jack's Mother, Little Red Ridinghood, Witch, Cinderella's Father "Cinderella at the Grave"
Narrator, Cinderella, Cinderella's Mother "Hello, Little Girl"………………………………………………………... Wolf, Little Red "I Guess This Is Goodbye"……………………………………………………………. Jack "Maybe They're Magic" Baker's Wife, Baker "Our Little World" Rapunzel, Witch** "Maybe They're Magic" (reprise)…………………………………………………... Baker* "I Know Things Now"…………………………………………………………... Little Red "A Very Nice Prince" Cinderella, Baker's Wife "First Midnight"…………………………………………………………………. Company "Giants in the Sky" Jack "Agony"…………………………………………….Cinderella's Prince, Rapunzel's Prince "A Very Nice Prince" (reprise)………………………………….Cinderella, Baker's Wife* "It Takes Two"………………………………………………………. Baker's Wife, Baker "Second Midnight" Witch, Cinderella, Cinderella's Prince, Rapunzel's Prince, Cinderella's Stepmother, Florinda, Lucinda, Granny, Narrator* "Stay with Me" Witch, Rapunzel "On the Steps of the Palace” …………………………………………………… Cinderella "Careful My Toe” ……………………………………….. Narrator, Florinda, Cinderella's Stepmother, Lucinda, Cinderella's Mother, Cinderella's Prince, Cinderella's father* "So Happy" (prelude)……………... Cinderella, Cinderella's Prince, Baker, Baker's Wife* "Ever After"………………………………... Narrator, Florinda, Lucinda, Witch, company
Act II
Prologue: "So Happy"……… ………….. Narrator, Cinderella, Jack, Baker, Baker's Wife, Baker's child, Cinderella's Prince, Jack's Mother, Cinderella's Stepmother, Florinda, Lucinda, Witch Prologue: "Into the Woods" (reprise) Baker, Baker's Wife, Jack, Little Red, Cinderella, Rapunzel "Agony" (reprise)……………………………….... Cinderella’s Prince, Rapunzel’s Prince “Lament” ……………………………………………………………………………. Witch "Any Moment" Cinderella’s Prince, Baker's Wife "Moments in the Woods"……………………………………………………. Baker’s Wife "Your Fault"…………………………………... Jack, Baker, Witch, Cinderella, Little Red "Last Midnight"……………………………………... Witch, Cinderella, Little Red, Baker "No More"………………………………………………………… Baker, Mysterious Man "No One Is Alone"……………………………………. Cinderella, Little Red, Baker, Jack "Finale: Children Will Listen" Company
CAST
SANTINO ALVARADO
(Jack) just graduated with a Film Production major and Theatre Arts minor from CBU. Santino is excited to be performing in another Sondheim show, having been previously seen as the Soldier/Alex in Sunday in the Park with George! Santino hopes that you enjoy the show, and you enjoy the joyful, God-fulfilling pursuit of art, wherever you find it!
SIDNEY AARON APTAKER
(Witch) is so happy to have this opportunity to be on the Courtyard Shakespeare Festival stage! Sidney received a B.F.A. in musical theatre from CSU, Fullerton in 2020, and has been performing around Orange County ever since. Recent credits include: The Tragedy of Macbeth (Witch 3), The Tragedy of Julius Caesar (Caska), and A Doll’s House Part 2 (Emmy). Sidney is a resident artist of the Larking House Theatre Company and regularly performs with the Party Fowl.
REBEKAH BORTOT
(Jack's Mother) is originally from the East Coast and has performed across the country. Before coming to California, Rebekah served as a founding member of a nonprofit theatre company in Chicago while studying improv at iO. Rebekah is a dance and movement specialist, serving as an adjunct professor at CBU, teaching dance classes for the Musical Theatre concentration. Previous Courtyard Shakespeare Festival roles include: The Comedy of Errors (Luciana), As (Jaques), and Henry V (Katherine). A few other favorite past roles include: Constellations (Marianne), Much Ado About Nothing (Hero), and The Three Musketeers (Sabine).
KAYLEE CERVANTES (Milky White) is a senior majoring in Theatre Arts with a oncentration in Musical Theatre here at CBU. revious theatrical credits include Notre Dame High School: The Addams Family (Wednesday Addams), Mamma Mia (Sophie Sheridan), Mean Girls the Musical (Cady Heron), California Baptist University: Dietrich and Maria
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Florika/Esmerelda
The Book of Will (Emilia Lanier), Shrek the Musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat thanks to my loved ones for their unending support! Psalms 28:7.
EMILIANO CUMMINGS
(Rapunzel’s Prince) is a dynamic performer and educator with experience spanning theatre, film, and live entertainment. Emiliano has performed with The Walt Disney Company and has appeared in productions including Newsies, Violet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Little Shop of Horrors, Moon Over Buffalo, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Beyond the stage, Emilio directs youth theatre, writes and directs films, and brings strong technical skills in sound, choreography, and event production and is passionate about storytelling, mentorship, and creating unforgettable audience experiences.
COLETTE CURRY (Sleeping Beauty) is a California Baptist University alum with a B.S. dvanced Mathematics along with a secondary major in Music with an emphasis in usical Theatre voice. Favorite past roles include: Godspell (Disciple), James and the Giant Peach (Ladybug), and High School Musical (Gabriella); CBU: Cinderella, Dietrich & Maria, and the last three productions of A
CBU Christmas. Colette is thrilled to be performing alongside this stellar cast of Into the Woods!
ABIGAIL DURHAM
(Cinderella’s Mother/Granny/Giant) is thrilled to be returning to the Courtyard Shakespeare Festival! Abigail Durham is a recent graduate from CBU with a degree in Theatre Arts and a single subject teaching credential! Some past credits include: CBU: Murder on the Orient Express (Mary Debenham), The Importance of Being Earnest (Lady Bracknell); Star Theatre: A Chorus Line (Tricia); and the Courtyard Shakespeare Festival: West Side Story (Jet). Many thanks to my family, friends, and my wonderful Fiancé for all of their love and support. All glory to God.
GRACE FLEMING
(Baker’s Wife) is a CBU alum with recent musical theatre training from Stella Adler Studio of Acting in NYC. Grace is overjoyed to return to the Courtyard Shakespeare Festival. CBU credits include: Sunday in the Park with George (Dot/Marie), Little Women (Clarissa/Meg Swing), and Murder on the Orient Express (Mrs. Hubbard); Courtyard Shakespeare Festival: West Side Story (Anybodys) and As You Like It (Audrey). I am endlessly grateful to my family, cast, and the creative team for keeping my love of the arts alive and to my friends and mentors that I create with on and offstage! Special thanks to Stefan Miller, Lindsay Brooks, and Zachary Bortot for the gift of returning to my favorite stage.
JASON GONZALEZ (Steward) is thrilled to he Courtyard Shakespeare Festival for Into the Woods, appearing as the Steward. Jason has performed in a wide variety of productions
The Comedy of Errors (Angelo), Little Shop of Horrors, (Mushnik/Seymore), Elf the (Buddy), Newsies (Pulitzer), and Tuck (Man in Yellow). Jason is also a professional magician, bringing a passion for performance to audiences both onstage and off. Be sure to check out the magic on Instagram @jfgmagic. Thank you to Stefan Miller for the opportunity to be part of this incredible production and my family and friends for their continued love and support throughout my theatrical journey.
LISSA GRAY (Swing) is excited to take part in Courtyard Shakespeare Festival for the first Lissa holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Musical Theatre. Some theatrical credits include: California Baptist University: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor eamcoat (Narrator), The Hunchback of Notre Gargoyle), Sunday in the Park (Celeste The Book of Will (Elizabeth Condell); Disciple). All glory to God!
AVERY HENKENIUS (Lucinda) is a first-year Musical Theatre student at San Diego State University and is thrilled to be part of Into the avorite previous roles include: Carrie Sue Snell), Peter and the Starcatcher (Molly), The Lightning Thief (Annabeth), and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Olive). very would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to fellow cast members, crew, and creative team. This production would not have been possible without them. Love to my best friend for their constant support. Enjoy the show!
ABBI HOFFPAUIR (Cinderella) is ecstatic to be in this dream show and dream role. Recent credits: North Coast Rep: Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Becky O’Shea ); Ovation Theatre: Chicago (Roxie), Anything Goes (Reno Sweeney); MiraCosta Theatre: Singin’ in the Rain (Kathy Selden); Ritz Theatre Company: Freaky Friday (Ellie Blake). Abbi is an ACTF MTI semi-finalist and Broadway SD Awards finalist. Huge thanks to everyone involved in this production!
CHRISTIAN LINDSEY (Swing) is thrilled for the opportunity to grow as a performer as a swing in this production of Into the Woods! Christian has spent the past decade performing in theatre and has brought a variety of characters to life. Recent credits include: Little Women (Laurie), Shrek the Musical (Peter Pan), CBU Christmas (AUX Dancer), and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Those Canaan Days Soloist, Levi). Christian is striving for greatness and views each show not only as entertainment but as an opportunity to glorify God through performance. Thanks to my family for their constant support and my Director, Stefan Miller, for this incredible opportunity.
CHARLES E. MARTINEZ
(Cinderella’s Father, Understudy Baker/Narrator/ Mysterious Man) is happy to return to the Courtyard Shakespeare Festival after the previous musical production of West Side Story. Previous credits include: Shrek in Shrek the Musical (CBU, RCC & Performance Riverside), Man in Chair in The Drowsy Chaperone (RCC) & Frollo in Disney’s The Hunchback of Norte Dame (CBU). Charles would like to thank the cast, crew, and creative team for their support and care. Shout out to my awesome girlfriend who is an ASM on this show! I hope you enjoy the production!
ADAM MARQUARDT (Cinderella’s Prince) is a Senior Psychology and Philosophy major with a concentration in Lifespan Development here at CBU. Some previous theatrical credits include: Arrowhead Christian Academy: Little Women (John Brooke); California Baptist University: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Gargoyle), Sunday in the Park with George (Mr./Lee Randolph), Shrek the Musical (Pinocchio), and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Reuben). Thank you to my friends and family for their endless love and support!
BROOKE MAURER (Little Red) is blessed to be playing this bucket list role! Brooke is a sophomore Theatre Arts major with a concentration in Musical Theatre who hopes to also earn an English teaching credential here at CBU. In the future, Brooke strives to perform professionally and teach the future generation about theatre. Credits include: The Little Mermaid (Ariel), Footloose (Ariel), Big Fish (Sandra), Joseph & TATD (Narrator), and The Importance of Being Earnest (Gwendolyn). Many thanks to God, my family, friends, professors, and CBU for this opportunity.
ETHAN PARK (Baker) is honored to be back with the Courtyard Shakespeare Festival this summer. Earning an MFA from the University of Essex in London, Ethan was fortunate to perform at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in All's Well That Ends Well. Ethan previously directed Romeo & Juliet and As You Like It for The Courtyard Shakespeare Festival and has appeared onstage in the festival productions of Complete Works…, Much Ado…, Macbeth, Richard III, and Julius Caesar. Ethan is also an Adjunct Professor for CBU’s School of Performing Arts, encouraging students, current and former, to keep climbing!
EMMA PINZA (Swing) is a Theatre Arts major with a concentration in Musical Theatre here at CBU. Emma is thrilled to be debuting with the Courtyard Shakespeare Festival and to be heading back to the woods for the second time! Previous credits include: No Square Theater: Bye Bye Birdie (Ursula Merkle/Ens.), CBU: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Camel/Baker/Ens.), Shrek the Musical (Mama Bear/Ens.), The Book of Will (Anne Hathaway Shakespeare); Musical Theatre Village: Into the Woods (Rapunzel), Matilda (Ensemble), The Wizard of Oz (Dorothy), Shrek the Musical (Teen Fiona). Thanks to God for His many blessings, and my family and friends for their unwavering support. John 15:12.
MICHAEL RING (Mysterious Man/Narrator) is thrilled to be returning to the stage with the Courtyard Shakespeare Festival as the Narrator / Mysterious Old Man in Into the Woods, a role Michael first played in high school (in 2006!). Past theatrical work includes productions with Shakespeare by the Sea, Little Fish Theatre, New Threads Theatre, Rebel Run Theatre, and Theatre Royale, performing in White Christmas and a regional tour of Newsies. Favorite past roles include Brutus in Julius Caesar (Courtyard Shakespeare 2017), Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby, and the Gravedigger in Hamlet. Michael would like to thank the cast, creative team, and crews for their hard work, along with wife Colby, their children Alexander and Lilly, mother Cheryl, and twin sister Robin for all of their constant love and support.
RACHEL ROGSTAD (Rapunzel) is now a junior at CBU double majoring in Theatre Arts and Music. Rachel is so excited to be debuting with the Courtyard Shakespeare Festival with this amazing group of people! Some favorite credits: CBU: The Importance of Being Earnest (Lane), Little Women (Beth), and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Narrator); Arrowhead Christian Academy: These Shining Lives (Catherine), Little Women (Marmee), and The Little Mermaid (Ariel). Huge thanks to my friends and family for all their love and support!
REBEKAH ROGSTAD (Snow White) is an incoming freshman at CBU who will be majoring in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Musical Theatre. Previous theatrical credits include: Arrowhead Christian Academy: The Wizard of Oz (Dorothy Gale), Fools (Lenya Zubritsky), and Little Women (Jo March). Rebekah is thrilled to be a part of this show alongside such an
CUTTER ROLFS (Wolf) is an upcoming senior majoring in Mechanical Engineering at CBU. Previous theatrical credits include: King’s Schools: The Little Mermaid (Sebastian), Mary Poppins (George Banks), The Wizard of Oz (Oz), The Lion King (Mufasa); CBU: Book of Will (Ensemble), Our Town (Simon Stimson), Shrek the Musical (Big Bad Wolf/Thelonius) and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Pharaoh). Cutter is very grateful for all the opportunities provided by God as well as all who have provided support and encouragement.
HANNAH RUSTON (Stepmother) is a proud alum of California Baptist University with a BA in Vocal Performance. An accomplished music educator and director, Hannah teaches private voice and piano through Christian Arts and Theatre and in a home studio. Hannah is an active music director across the Inland Empire, collaborating with organizations including Christian Arts and Theatre, Santiago High School, Arcadia Middle School, Chino Children’s Community Theater, Inland Regional Youth Theater, and Broadway on Tour. Hannah is deeply passionate about cultivating artistry, confidence, and joy in the next generation of performers, and is honored to continue sharing a deep love of music and theatre through this production.
ASHLYN WILLIAMS (Florinda) is so blessed to be going into junior year as a Musical Theater major at California Baptist University. Some theatrical credits include: Collinsworth School of Performing Arts: Little Women (Amy March), Shrek the Musical (Gingy/Mama Ogre); Louise K. Taylor Performing Arts Center: The Music Man (Amaryllis); Colorado Performing Arts Academy: Catch Me If You Can (Brenda). Ashlyn was also a child actor in Los Angeles for 6 years, guest starring in Modern Family, Liv and Maddie, Finding Dory, Bella and the Bulldogs, and Girl Meets World. Ashlyn is truly grateful to be surrounded by such a supportive community while being in such an iconic show!
BEHIND THE SCENES
STEFAN MILLER (Director/Choreographer) is a performer, director, and professor of music and theatre. Recent performance credits include: National tour: The SpongeBob Musical (Electric Slate; Plankton and Perch Cover), Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (swing); Off-Broadway: Queen Esther (Teresh); Regional: Hello, Dolly!, Musical Theatre West (Ensemble, Cornelius cover), Jersey Boys, CCAE(swing, Tommy cover), Interstate, East West Players (Pastor Fred), Tenor by Night, El Portal Theater (Mike), State Fair, Sierra Repertory Theatre (Fairtone), Little Women, The Chance Theater (John Brooke), Oklahoma!, 3-D Theatricals, West Side Story, Theatre Royale(A-rab), Oklahoma!, Opera San Luis Obispo (Will Parker), Of Thee I Sing, Bear Valley Music Festival. A former professional ballet dancer, Stefan danced with The Oakland Ballet as a soloist for several seasons and continues to perform in The Nutcracker around Southern California. Stefan has directed both opera and musical theatre at the collegiate and regional level. Recent directorial credits include: Jersey Boys (La Mirada-assistant Director), CBU Christmas (CBU), Die Zauberflöte (CBU), The Gondoliers (Biola University) Fancy Nancy Christmas (The Chance Theatre), Gianni Schicchi (CBU). Stefan earned a BM in Vocal Performance from the University of Pacific, an MFA in Vocal Performance from UC, Irvine, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Leadership at CBU. Stefan has also taught voice and musical theatre at Soka University and UC, Irvine.
MATTHEW FURNESS (Assistant Director) is thrilled to take on the role of Assistant Director for this production of Into the Woods! Matthew recently graduated from CBU with a degree in Theatre Arts, with concentrations in both Performance and Technical Design. Matthew also has the joy of acting in and designing A Midsummer Night's Dream. Matthew performed in previous Courtyard Shakespeare Festival productions, including Henry V (Dauphin), Romeo and Juliet (Prince), and West Side Story (Diesel).
CORA GLAUDIN (Music Director) is a pianist and recent graduate of California Baptist University with a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance with a concentration in Piano Pedagogy. Cora serves as a collaborative pianist for the School of Performing Arts and as an
accompanist for Wallace Theatre, performing for classes, vocal studio workshops, auditions, masterclasses, and the 2025 high school theater camp. During the spring semester of senior year, Cora was able to work as the Assistant Music Director for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at CBU. Cora is thrilled to serve as Music Director for this production and would like to thank God, family, friends, and professors at CBU for their constant support.
ANDY COLE (Scenic/Projection Designer) is a versatile artist with nearly two-and-a-half decades of experience in technology and design across film, television, theatre, and print. Andrew’s extensive portfolio features collaborations with major companies such as Warner Bros. Pictures, Shiseido Cosmetics, TV Land, American Recordings, TBS, Samsung, PBS and Ford. Andrew’s artistic talents have been showcased through his paintings, exhibited internationally, and have appeared in the film Ocean’s 13 and the Marvel TV series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. A huge passion for the immediacy and artistry of film led to theatrical design, where Andrew continues to excel. Over the years, Andrew has expanded roles: serving as projection designer for American Idiot and Spring Awakening; performer flying operator for The Little Mermaid; and designing scenic elements for the world premiere production of W.A.S.P., and The Boys Next Door, the latter earning the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Award for Theatrical Design Excellence. Recent credits include architectural design for Flightdeck + Rouge Racing, art direction for the Mazda3 and Toyota Tundra, lighting design for The Addams Family, and custom instrument prop design for Musical Theatre West’s The Buddy Holly Story
KYLE ALEXANDER SKOUSEN (Lighting Designer) is delighted to be collaborating with the Courtyard Shakespeare Festival once again. Alex has been doing lighting work for nearly 5 years, having been taught at Crafton Hills College and through hands-on experience. Most recent projects come from the California Theater in San Bernardino. Shows include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Prince of Egypt, and Beautiful, the Carole King Musical. Alex collaborated at last year’s festival, serving as lighting designer for The Comedy of Errors.
EMILY MAAS (Costume Designer) is an Orange County based artist, currently working full time in Live Entertainment at the Disneyland Resort. Emily is thrilled to be working with CSF for the 3rd year as a designer and 5th overall. Emily's past design credits include Tropes (The Box), Richard III (CSF), West Side Story (CSF), Dietrich & Maria (CBU), Cinderella Jr. (IEMA), Finding Nemo (CAT Corona), and The Sound of Music (WCS). Emily would like to dedicate this design work to late mentor and dear friend Machir Lakofka whose joyous love for the Lord and deep care for the craft has impacted this world more than words could say.
VIENNA AGUAS (Hair/Makeup Designer) is excited to be a part of the production Into the Woods as the hair and makeup designer. Vienna is passionate about always learning when it comes to design and finding new and creative ways to make the actors feel more confident on stage, helping them bring these complex characters to life. Theatre design credits include: Makeup, hair, and wig design, Our Town; California Baptist University. Hair and wig design, Steel Magnolias; California Baptist University.
KAYLEE CERVANTES (Properties Designer) is a senior Musical Theatre student at CBU. Kaylee’s previous works include Riverside Children's Theatre: Mary Poppins (Prop Master), California Baptist University Opera Theatre: Le nozze di Figaro and Gianni Schicchi Scenes (Prop Designer/Master), Mozart's, The Magic Flute (Prop Designer/Master), and Courtyard Shakespeare Festival: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Prop Designer). Kaylee is thrilled to be working with such an incredible cast and crew on this beautiful musical!
HOLLAND UPDEGRAFF (Stage Manager) is a graduate of California Baptist University with a BA in Theatre: Performance. Holland’s technical credits include: Courtyard Shakespeare Festival: Stage Manager, The Complete Works of William Shakespaere…; Assistant Costume Designer, Henry V; Assistant Stage Manager/Spot Op, Romeo & Juliet; California Baptist University: Hair/Makeup Designer, The Importance of Being Earnest; Stage Manager, Frankenstein; Riverside City College: Assistant Stage Manager, Into the Woods. Holland is so grateful for the opportunity to be part of Into the Woods once again! Big
thanks to family, friends, and previous professors for all their love, support, and for pushing me to do the best in everything I do. All glory be to God! Philippians 4:6
MARIA HURTADO (Assistant Stage Manager) is so excited to be working with the Courtyard Shakespeare Festival for the first time! Maria started theatre as a junior in high school and by senior year became a stage manager. Maria is currently getting a teaching credential at CalState TEACH and has a BA is Early Childhood Development from CSUSB and hopes to one day have a kindergarten classroom. When not teaching littles, Maria is making sandwiches and working as a stage manager at RCC. Thank you to my friends, family, and Shrek (boyfriend) for all the support with my many different hobbies and jobs. Some favorite credits include; Into the Woods, In the Heights (J.W. North), Hairspray (The Fox), Into the Woods, Drowsy Chaperone, Grease, Bright Star, Seussical, Newsies, Frozen Jr.(RCC), and Beauty and the Beast, Mary Poppins, Cinderella, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Performance Riverside).
TRISTAN JACKSON (Assistant Stage Manager) is a junior at CBU, majoring in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Performance for Stage and Screen. Previous theatrical credits include California Baptist University: Book of Will (Crane), Our Town (Howie Newsome), Joseph (Jacob). Tristan is excited to work as an ASM and create an amazing show with this wonderful cast and crew.
SANTINO ALVARADO (Scene Shop Supervisor) is thrilled to have the opportunity to be the scene shop supervisor for the first time! Santino is happy to be part of the team, having the honor of contributing to these wonderful productions. Santino was previously a scene shop assistant working on sets for the past two years on productions such as Henry V, As You Like It, Little Women, Murder on the Orient Express, Shrek the Musical and many more! Enjoy the show!
MICHAEL RING (Technical Director) is currently completing the first year as the new Technical Director for CBU Theatre Arts. Previous technical work spans a wide range of theatrical productions and live events for multiple clients, including The Box Theatre and other
academic institutions throughout Los Angeles, Orange County, and the Inland Empire. Michael would like to thank the cast, creative team, and crews for their hard work, along with wife Colby, their children Alexander and Lilly, mother Cheryl, and twin sister Robin for their constant love and support.
ZACHARY BORTOT (Producer) is an Associate Professor of Theatre and the Director of the Theatre Arts Division in the Shelby and Ferne Collinsworth School of Performing Arts at California Baptist University. Before landing at CBU, Zachary served as the Artistic Director for BIOLA University's Theatre Program and the Director of Development for the Chicago-based nonprofit Christian theatre company Honest Theatre. Zachary has worked as an actor, director, producer, fight director, writer, and educator in various locales and venues in the U.S., both on stage and on screen. Big heartfelt thanks to the talented cast, crew, and designers who brought professionalism to this production from day one. All praise, glory, and honor to God, who makes all things possible.
STEPHEN SONDHEIM (Music and Lyrics) wrote the music and lyrics for Saturday Night (1954), A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (1962), Anyone Can Whistle (1964), Company (1970), Follies (1971), A Little Night Music (1973), The Frogs (1974), Pacific Overtures (1976), Sweeney Todd (1979), Merrily We Roll Along (1981), Sunday In The Park With George (1984), Into The Woods (1987), Assassins (1991), Passion (1994), Road Show (2008) and HERE WE ARE (2023), as well as the lyrics for West Side Story (1957), Gypsy (1959), Do I Hear A Waltz? (1965) and additional lyrics for Candide (1973). Side By Side By Sondheim (1976), Marry Me A Little (1981), You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow (1983), Putting It Together (1993/99), Moving On (2001), Sondheim On Sondheim (2010) and Old Friends (2023) are anthologies of work done as a composer and lyricist. For films, Sondheim composed the scores of Stavisky (1974), co-composed the score for Reds (1981), and wrote songs for Dick Tracy (1990). Stephen wrote songs for the television production Evening Primrose (1966), co-authored the film The Last of Sheila (1973) and the play Getting Away With Murder (1996) and provided incidental music for the plays The Girls of Summer (1956), Invitation To A March (1961), Twigs (1971) and The Enclave (1973). Sondheim won the Tony Award for Best
Score for Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, and Passion, all of which won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, as did Pacific Overtures and Sunday In The Park With George, the latter also receiving the Pulitzer Prize for Drama (1985). Stephen Sondheim was born and raised in New York City and graduated from Williams College, winning the Hutchinson Prize for Music Composition. Sondheim then went on to study theory and composition with Milton Babbitt, and serve on the Council of the Dramatists Guild, the national association of playwrights, composers and lyricists, and served as its president from 1973 to 1981. In 1983 Sondheim was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters and in 1990 was appointed the first Visiting Professor of Contemporary Theatre at Oxford University. Sondheim was awarded the Kennedy Center Honors in 1993, the National Medal of Arts in 1996, the MacDowell Medal in 2013 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015. Collected lyrics with attendant essays have been published in two volumes: "Finishing the Hat" (2010) and "Look, I Made a Hat" (2011). In 2010 the Broadway theater formerly known as Henry Miller's Theatre was renamed in Sondheim’s honor. In 2019 Sondheim became the first living artist to have a theatre named in their honor on Shaftesbury Avenue when the refurbished Queen’s Theatre in London’s West End was renamed the Sondheim Theatre to commemorate Sondheim’s 90th birthday, by Sir Cameron Mackintosh.
JAMES LAPINE (Book) is a playwright and director. On Broadway Lapine worked with Stephen Sondheim on Sunday in the Park with George; Into the Woods; and Passion Lapine also conceived and directed the musical review Sondheim on Sondheim. With William Finn Lapine created Falsettos recently revived by Lincoln Center Theater; Little Miss Sunshine; Muscle; and directed Finn's The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Other Broadway credits include the play based on Moss Hart's memoir Act One (also LCT), Amour, The Diary of Anne Frank, Golden Child, and Dirty Blonde. Lapine has written the plays Table Settings, Twelve Dreams, The Moment When, Fran's Bed and Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing. Lapine has been nominated for eleven Tony Awards, winning on three occasions. Lapine has also been the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize, SDC's Mr. Abbott Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theater, and inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame.
- Alex Stephens for work in marketing and advertising design
- Justin McWhorter and Matthew McConnell for technical contributions
- Brett Vowel as “The Voice of CBU”
- The CBU Marketing & Communication team
- Nathan Underwood from Events Center Ticketing
- James Meier for assistance with the Properties Department
- The Conferences and Events Team
- Dr. Joseph Bolin, Dr. Charles Sands, and Dr. Ronald L. Ellis for their continued leadership and support of the Theatre Arts Division and The Collinsworth School of Performing Arts
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