Into the Woods Playbill by Dwight-Englewood School

Director's Note

Welcome to DE 360’s production of Into the Woods Jr.!

As we gather to experience this magical and musical journey through the forest, I want to take a moment to reflect on the essence of this enchanting show and the hard work that has brought it to life.

When I was in middle school, my brother, David, flew me to New York to see Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods. He bought me the cassette tape of the cast recording and I rewound and replayed every song until I had the entire score memorized. The beauty of this show lies not just in its memorable melodies and clever lyrics, but in its profound message: that the path we take and the decisions we make have the power to transform us.

The past two weeks have bee a whirlwind! As a cast and crew we’ve embarked on our own adventure—learning about teamwork, dedication, and the joy of storytelling. I have treasured working with and getting to know these wondserful young people. Each one of you has embraced your roles with enthusiasm and creativity, bringing to life beloved characters and discovering new layers within them. I am incredibly proud of the growth I’ve witnessed in each performer, and I hope you all feel the same sense of accomplishment and pride.

To our cast, thank you for your hard work and commitment. You’ve brought energy and heart to this production, and your performances are a testament to your dedication. To our crew, your behind-the-scenes efforts have been the backbone of this production, ensuring every detail enhances the magic of the show.

And to our audience, thank you for joining us on this journey. We hope you find joy and inspiration in the story, and that it sparks a sense of wonder and reflection.

As we venture Into the Woods, remember that every path leads to new discoveries and that every story has the potential to touch our hearts.

Enjoy the show!

Jennifer Koteles

Producer's Note

We’re excited about our return to theatre, this time around in Hajjar Auditorium for our third summer season. Our Selection of Into the Woods is centered around our summer theme: A Pop of WOW!. Everyone’s story matters and while “children will listen,” we also hope to build their skills with expression. Into the Woods is the perfect opportunity for our young performers to showcase their talents, their tenacity, and imagination — all the great things which live theatre brings to us.

The Into the Woods, Jr. musical suggests that we grow as human beings.The real horrors lie not within the depths of the woods, with its fairy tale wolves and beanstalks, but in the consequences of the decisions we make. It is through grappling with the ideas of these consequences that our young people phave grown. Under the guidance of our very talented educators - Jennifer Koteles, Director; CJ & Lilly Trentacosta, assistant directors as well as Jian Harrell, Blake Simis and Michelle Zhi Zhang Movement, Acting, Voice & coaches/instructors; and Ruth Myint, Vari Sclafani, John Cahill, Washington Young and Dave Vieira, Theatre Design & Production.

I’m thrilled about the explorations of creative expression in acting, music, dance, and technical theatre. They’ve given life to Into the Woods — 1986 musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. Indeed, theatre helps us all to experience a different perspective from our own as it inspires us to give power to truth, to take risks and to advocate for new and diverse voices. I’m delighted that we will be cultivating in our cast and crew of all ages a different literacy in the performing arts, which gives them agency to express themselves in the world.

Thank you for joining us in this adventure of the mind and spirit.

Sherronda Brown

HAJJAR AUDITORIUM

KHUBANI PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

DWIGHT-ENGLEWOODSCHOOL presents

Stephen Sondhiem

Music & Lyrics by James Lapine Book by

Concieved by

James Lapine

Orchestration OriginalBroadwayproductionby,HeidiLandesman,RoccoLandesman,RickSteiner,M.AnthonyFisher,

Jonathan Tunick

Lighting Design

Vari Sclafani

Program Design

Bennett Sachs

Musical Driection

Michelle Zhi Zhang

Production Stage Manager

Ruth Myint

Assistant

CJ Trentacosta

Costumes Design

Blake Simis

Coreography

Jian Harrell

Assistant Director

Directed

CAST

JonathanCurrie

MaahiHaralka

MichaelaIngram-Johnson

DanielleNwankpah

VictoriaSchlatter

GioTomeoni

IsaacTung

MUSICAL NUMBERS

COMPANY CALL

All company members were requested to submit material for “Company Call.“ Everyone who chose to provide infomration is included

JUSTINE BAKER

(Narrator) (8) hasappearedinherfifthgrade opera at D-E She has also appeared in Aladdin; The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition (MissGulch,TheWickedWitch);and Mean Girls.Shesayssheismostlookingforward to doing the first show because she loves performingthings.

KAITLIN CURRIE

(Narrator) (8) wasaparticipantinherD-E fifth grade opera company. She has been seen in D-E productions including: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Hippolyta); Oliver Jr. (Mr. Brownlow); Seussical Jr. (Mayzie La Bird); Aladdin; The Little Mermaid;and The Lion King Shesayssheis looking forward to expanding her musical andtheatrerepertoire.

MADISON GUSTAVE

(Baker) (8) hasappearedin Finding Nemo Jr. (Tad’s Parent, Chum, Breeze); Oliver Jr (Nancy); and Seussical Jr (Wickersham, Vlad Vladikoff, Dr. Dake, Judge Yertle the Turtle). She is looking forward to acting, singing,andperformingthechoreography.

PORTIA RONCATI

(Baker’s Wife) (7) haspreviouslyappearedin manyproductionsincluding Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Willy Wonka); Greek Gods and Goddesses (Iris); Aristocats (Marie) Peter Pan (Michael); Alice in Wonderland (Dormouse); Winnie the Pooh (Piglet); High School Musical (MarthaCox); James and the Giant Peach (Aunt Sponge); The Little Mermaid (Ursula); Mary Poppins (Jane); Annie (Annie); Tammy and Tommy's Olde Town Mess Hall (Jo); The Magic Awaits (Ariel); 6 | Company Call

What It Means To Be A Friend (Junie); Magic To Do (Sophia); Unhappily Ever After (Snow White);and Seussical (Horton) Shesaysthat sheislookingforwardtobeingtheleadand beinginashowthatsheloves.

ELLA GORCIE (Cinderella) (7) ismakinghismainstage debut in this production! He is looking forward to being a part of a stage production.

GABRIELLE (GIGI)

Stepmother)

NWANKPAH (Cinderella’s (7) shehasbeenseenin previousproductionsincluding Oliver;and Seussical. She has also been backstage in The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition and her fifthgradeopera.Herfavoritequoteinthe showis“Thewoodsarejusttrees,thetrees arejustwoods.”

JONATHAN CURRIE

(Cinderell’s Father, Tree) (4) haspreviously appearedin Oliver Jr. (Knipper).Hesayshe is looking forward to the experience of beingonthestageagaintoperform.

SLOAN

GREGORY-

ROSENBERG (Lucinda) (4) is making her mainstage debut in this production! She is looking forward to singingandmakingmemories

XAVIER

TOMEONI (Cinderella's Prince) (8) ismakinghis mainstage debut in this production! He is lookingforwardtobeingapartofastage production.

ATTICUS KIM (Jack) (5) haspreviouslyappearedinhisfourthgrade musical.Hesaysheismostexcitedabout

performing for his friends and family as Jack.

REESE MARCIANO

(Jack’s Mother) (5) ismakinghermainstage debut in this production! She is looking forwardtoherfirstonstageproduction.

DEBORAH LI (Milky-White) (3) ismakinghermainstage debut in this production! In her free time sheenjoystoplaychess,draw,andconnect withherfriendsafterschool

LESHI (GRACE) YANG

(Milky-White) (3) ismakinghermainstage debut in this production! She is looking forwardtogettingthechancetoplaysucha funandcutecharacterandbringthestory tolifewithmyfriends.

MARIA (MASHA)

GLOZMAN (9)

(Witch)

was a participant in her D-E fifth grade operacompany.ShehasbeenseeninD-E productionsbothonstageandbehindthe scenesincluding: Annie Jr; Willy Wonka Jr. (GrandmaGeorgina,OompaLoompa);and The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition (Guard, Ensemble).ShewasalsotheAssistantStage Manager in She Kills Monsters. She looks forwardtomakingmemorieswithhercast membersandputtingonagreatshow.

AIRANE FERCHAK (4)

(Little Red Ridinghood) ismakingher mainstagedebutinthisproduction!Sheis looking forward to getting to act as Little RedRidinghood

ELLA LARIONOFF (4)

(Little Red Ridinghood) hasappearedin Oliver Jr. (Orphan,Maid); Zombies (Bree).

MICHAELA INGRAMJOHNSON (8)

She says she is so excited to be playing LittleRedintheshow. (Granny, Tree) hasappearedonthestagemultiplietimes before including: Willy Wonka; The Lion King;and The Little Prince.Hermostliked quote in the show is: “Lying will cost you yourlife.”

VICTORIA SCHLATTER

(Granny, Tree) (7) hasappearedin Shrek the Musical Jr. in Miami. She is lookingforwardtoperformingonstageand continuingherpassionfortheater

OLIVIA MERINO-AVILES

(Rapunzel) (6) hasappearedin The Lion King at her school on the stage Her favorite quote from the show is:“ Opportunityisnotalengthyvisitor.”

ADYN CUDNEY

(Rapunzel’s Prince) (5) haspreviously appearedonthestageincludingCharlie& theChocolateFactory: Curtains Up! Honk!; and Beauty and the Beast.Oneofhismost liked quotes is: “Opportunity is not a lengthyvisitor."

GIO TOMEONI

(4) (Steward,

Tree) ismakinghismainstagedebutin this production! He says he is looking forwardtodancingandsingingasatree.

CAMELLIA GONZALEZ

(Wolf) (6) has appeared in previous productionsincluding: High School Musical; The Little Mermaid; What It Means To Be A Friend; and Willy Wonka.Shesayssheis looking forward to the Tech and Dress Rehearsals.

COMPANY CALL

MATTEO MARCIANO

(5)

(Wolf) ismakinghismainstagedebutin this production! He is looking forward to beinginashowwithhissister.

ADRIAN CARRION (7)

(Parasol) ismakinghismainstagedebut inthisproduction!Heislookingforwardto havingfunperformingonstage.

MAAHI HARALKA (3)

(Tree) ismakinghermainstagedebutin thisproduction!Shesaysherfavoritequote fromtheshowis:“Shiverandquiverlittle tress,silverandgoldfalldownonme”

DANIELLE NWANKPAH

(Tree) (3) ismakinghermainstage debutinthisproduction!Shesyasthatshe ishavingfunbeingatreeandshealsolikes beingonstage.Shesaysthatshefeelslikea pretty big part because there are lots of treesinthewoods.

SHERRONDA BROWN

(Producer) hasbeenanadministratorin schoolsforoverthirtyyears.Ahugetheatre buff,sheisproudtohavetheopportunity to bring summer productions to D-E. Into the Woods isherthirdshowasaproducer. Past productions include Seussical Jr ; and Oliver Jr

JENNIFER KOTELES

(Director) receivedherBFAintheater from Marymount Manhattan College. She wrote and starred in a video series for Scholastic titled The Savvy Schooler. She taught acting classes at Bridge Studio and was integral in the development of their summer theater program. Acting credits include 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Rona Lisa Peretti); Harvey (Veta LouiseSimmons);and Rent.Herfavorite

roleofalltimeisherroleasaneducator; Ms. Koteles is a second grade teacher at DwightEnglewood.Shehasfoundalovefor playwritinginrecentyearsandiscurrently writinghersecondplay Shewouldliketo thank her daughter, Lilly, and her son, CJ, for going “into the woods” with her and encouraginghertotakeastabatdirecting. She would also like to thank her brother, David, for always leading her down the right path and her amazing husband, Joe, forbeingherPrinceCharming.

CJ TRENTACOSTA

(Assistant Director) hasbeenworkingat the DE360 camp for many years. He has performedandworkedonpreviousDE360 showssuchas Seussical (Horton)and Oliver (Bill Sykes), as well as multiple other academic and off-broadway productions. This will mark his introduction into the directing world as the assistant director alongside his sister, Lilly. He is incredibly proudofthecastandcrewfortheirwork and wants to remind them all that in life they must occasionally take risks and go “IntotheWoods”.

LILLY TRENTACOSTA

(Assistant Director) haspreviously workedonotherDE360performancessuch as Oliver!and Seussical OutsideofDwight Englewood she has performed in multiple otherstageandfilmopportunities.Thisis herfirsttimeassistantdirectingandsheis so excited to see the show come to life. “These kids are so hard working and I couldn’t be prouder of them ” She’d also like the thank her big brother CJ and her momJenniferKoteles.Shecouldn’tdothis withoutthem.

COMPANY CALL

BLAKE SIMIS

(Costume

Designer, Props Coordinator) is absolutelythrilledtobeinvolvedwith Into The Woods Jr. Shehasbeeninvolvedboth on and off stage in many community theaterproductionsbutthisisherfirsttime coordinating costumes When she is not involvedwiththeatersheisateacher.

JIAN HARRELL (11)

(Choreographer) isthrilledtobe workingforD-E360°forthefirsttimeas choreographer for this production of Into The Woods HeiscurrentlyaJunioratD-E and partakes in many performing arts sectors of their programs, including the annualmusicalandjazz-rock.OutsideofDE,heparticipatesinplentyoftheatreand filmprojects Heissoproudofthekidsfor learning so quickly and putting on an amazingshow!

RUTH MYINT

(Technical

Director, Production Stage Manager) isarecentgraduatefromtheclassof2023 atD-E.Shehasbeeninmanyperformances at D-E including Radium Girls (Sob Sister, Harriet); Newsies (Splasher); Mamma Mia (Sophie); Legally Blonde (Brooke Windham); Songs for a New World (Woman 2).Shehasalsobeenbehindthescenesfor Ghostlight as the Assistant Director, Stage Manager for Pippin, and Assistant Stage Manager for A Midsummer Nights Dream and Sense and Sensibility.

VARI SCLAFANI (11)

(Assistant Technical Director, Lighting Designer) issomeonewhois easy to work with in the theater and has beenbehindthescenesinmultipleshows before.ShehasbeentheHeadElectricianin Game of Tiaras, Lighting Designer in Newsies,andHeadofAudioin Girls Like

That. In the theatre, her favorite thing to workonisthelights.

BOND RONCATI (5)

Hand, Assistant Lighting Designer)

(Stage has been behind the scenes at Elisabeth MorrowSchoolinhis4thgradeplay, What it Means to be a Friend.Helooksforwardto workingontechandbackstage.

BENNETT SACHS (8) (Stage

Hand, Program Designer)

hasbeenbehindthescenesonmultipleD-E productions including the most recent Middle School Musical, The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition,andwasthestagemanager forhisfifthgradeopera.Hehasexperience with graphic design and has worked on previousprogramsandvariousitemsthat require design for different events both theatreandpersonal

Stafffor Into the Woods Jr.

Producer

Sherronda Brown TechnicalDirector Ruth Myint

Director Jennifer Koteles

ProductionStageManager...................Ruth Myint

AssistantTechnicalDirector...Vari Sclafani ‘26

DisplayOperator......................................Ruth Myint

FollowSpotOperator.................Vari Sclafani ‘26

SoundboardOperator.........................David Vieira

LightBoardOperator..................Vari Sclafani ‘26

StageHands.................................Bond Roncati ‘32 Bennett Sachs ‘29

LightingDesigner.........................Vari Sclafani ‘26

AssistantLightingDesigner...Bond Roncati ‘32

CostumesDesign.....................................Blake Simis

Properties..................................................Blake Simis John Cahill

ProgramDesign........................Roushan Damaghi Bennett Sachs ‘29

TheatrePhotographer.........................Inaya Jones

MusicalDirection..................Michelle Zhi Zhang

Choreographer.........................................Jian Harrell

SetDesigners...............................Ariana Rodriguez Johari Sutton Washington Young

AssistantDirectors..........................CJ Trentacosta Lilly Trentacosta

Special Thanks from Sherronda Brown

Specialthankstooursummertheatredirector,Jennifer Koteles.Ithasbeenaprivilegetowatchyourvision unfold.Wearegratefultothefamiliesoftheshow'scast andcrew,whohavecommittedmuchmoretimeand attentiontothisproductionthanwecanbegintoimagine. WealsowishtothankDwight-EnglewoodSchool's administrativeandD-E360°Summer’sleadershipteams aswellasFacilitiesandSecurity.Wewouldn'tbeableto dowhatwedosowellwithoutyourtremendoussupport.

CENTER

2024-2025 Season

Upper School Fall Production: Antigone Thursday, November 7th @ 4:00pm, Hajjar Auditorium Friday, November 8th @ 7:00pm, Saturday, November 9th @ 2:00pm and 7:00pm

Middle & Upper School Orchestra Concert Thursday, December 5th @ 7:00pm, Schenck Auditorium

Handbells & Chorus Concert Thursday, December 12th @ 7:00pm, Hajjar Auditorium Jazz Rock Thursday, December 19th Schenck Auditorium

Middle & Lower School Chorus Concert Thursday, January 23rd @ 7:00pm, Schenck Auditorium

Upper School Band & Chorus Concert Monday, February 3rd @ 7:00pm, Hajjar Auditorium

For more events and information, go to www.d-e.org/school-life/arts