CSM Theater Heads “Into The Woods” April 10

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) will bring the magic of “Into The Woods” to the stage beginning Friday, April 10, at 7:30 p.m.

The classic Broadway musical follows a baker and his wife as they journey through the forest to break a witch’s curse. Along the way, they encounter beloved characters from famous fairy tales, including Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Rapunzel, whose stories intertwine.

CSM student Demarcus Moore plays Jack, the character based on the classic story, “Jack and the Beanstalk.” Taking the stage in one of his favorite musicals, Moore expressed his excitement to play one of his favorite characters, and one that’s easy to relate to.

“He’s kind of this naïve, gullible, high-strung boy who has always craved adventure,” Moore said. “He’s the catalyst of this great, heartfelt story about what it means to grow as a person, especially with Jack’s story. He goes form a young teenager to a young man, and portraying his journey as I’m becoming a young man is an interesting correlation.”

CSM student Katie Labrie echoed her excitement as she prepares to take the stage in her own dream role of Little Red.

“There are a lot of complex characters in ‘Into The Woods,’” Labrie said. “Little Red is complex but she’s easy to connect to. She’s funny, snarky, and she and Jack add comedic parts to the show.”

Labrie is president of the CSM Drama Club, which she helped to relaunch this year. The club’s goal is to support the CSM theater program and spark interest for more students to get involved, supporting productions both on stage and off.

“This is a really special community,” Labrie said. “This group continues to grow every year, they go out and encourage their friends to come, and that means we get more talent and more people to work with. It’s really heartwarming to see new members grow with each show, to see people support the college, the shows, and uplift this student-led community.”

“Into The Woods” will bring new extravagancy to the stage. Audiences are transported to the woods with lush greenery, tall trees, and cottage facades. This high energy, fun, and whimsical storyline is also a contrast from the previous two CSM productions, Witness for the Prosecution, an Agatha Christie murder mystery, and The Revolutionists, a historical comedy set during the French Revolution.

AnnMarie Saunders, Director and Theater Program Coordinator, spoke about the value of bringing a wide variety of productions to the CSM stage. 

“When I choose the shows for the year, I want to be sure we are introducing our students to new ideas and perspectives, new writers and old,” Saunders said. “It’s all part of the education process. Our students are incredibly talented, and our shows allow them to share their creativity and connection with the whole Southern Maryland community.”

While the cast brings the story to life on stage, much of the work required to get to production takes place behind the curtain. Emma Curry is the Stage Manager for her final show as a CSM student. She describes this role as “managing all the people,” in charge of schedules, coordination between designers, builders, and actors, and making sure the production gets to the stage. Though the larger cast and production of “Into The Woods” has been a challenge, she said the best part about the job is working alongside the cast and crew.

“It’s so much fun to be around people who are so different but still share new perspectives and reflections about the show,” Curry said. “Everyone learns from each other, and in turn teaches others. It feels community-driven, we’ve enjoyed working together and have had a lot of laughs.”

After graduation Curry will be transferring to VCU to continue studying stage management and is excited to continue supporting CSM Theater from the audience.

“Into The Woods” opens Friday, April 10, at 7:30 p.m. with shows taking place Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through April 19. Audiences can find full showtimes and purchase tickets on the event webpage.