Into the Woods, Jr.
A part of THE BROADWAY JUNIOR COLLECTION

Music and Lyrics by STEPHEN SONDHEIM
Book by JAMES LAPINE

Originally directed on Broadway by James Lapine
Originally produced by the Old Globe Theatre, San Diego, CA

Original Broadway production produced by Heidi Landsman, M. Anthony Fisher, Rocco Landesman, Frederick H. Mayerson, Rick Steiner, Jujamcyn Theaters

The Project

As part of the Kennedy Center's Sondheim Celebration commencing in the spring of 2002, the Kennedy Center Education Department presents Into the Woods, Jr., the culmination of a year-long residency program with seven Washington D.C. public schools.

Students attending the participating schools, all part of the Kennedy Center/D.C. Public Schools Partnership, have received instruction and training in various aspects of theater and the performing arts, and have participated in designing and constructing sets, properties, and costumes. Additionally, the cast is comprised of students from the following partnership schools:

• Charles H. Houston Elementary School
• Edwin L. Stanton Elementary School
• Friendship-Edison Public Charter School-Chamberlain Campus (elementary)
• J.C. Nalle Community School (elementary)
• Marie H. Reed Learning Center (elementary)
• Seaton Elementary School
• Paul Public Charter High School (Junior High)
  

The Residency

Artist residencies were held at the seven participating schools from October - December 2001, focusing on Introduction to Musical Theater and the work of Stephen Sondheim; Costuming/Make-up; Sets/Props and Acting.

January to April
In January 2002, students had the opportunity to audition for roles in the production and apply to assist with 'behind the scenes' responsibilities. The show has two casts, the Blue Cast and the Red Cast, and they began rehearsals in March.

During the second half of the school year, the 175 students from the seven classrooms at the schools spent four hours per week designing costumes and fabricating sets and props with consultants Cheryl Foster and Rosemary Pardee. In addition, students received workshops in lighting/special effects/sound; choreography/movement and marketing/promotion, all designed to support the actual preparation for the performances.

The Performances -May
School-day performances, as well as afterschool, evening and weekend performances are scheduled to allow the general community, families of participating students and school groups to see the culminating project that the students, artists and teachers have worked on throughout the year.

The Kennedy Center/D.C. Public Schools Partnership provides access to performances and arts-centered activities with the objective of developing an appreciation for and awareness of the arts, and how the arts can be used to enhance academic learning. Students experience the performing arts in a manner that may result in a more lasting impact on their learning. Professional artists and teachers collaborate in the development of curriculum-centered artist residencies that enhance a particular unit of study. Participating schools may host either semester or yearlong residencies that provide an in-depth exploration of an artistic discipline, while connecting the discipline to a specific academic subject.

The overall aims and objectives of the Into the Woods Jr. residency has not only been for schoolchildren to be involved in all aspects of a professional musical production but to learn other life lessons, such as leadership, team building, and the importance of the democratic process that takes place in decision making. Additional projects that formed part of the residency such as field trips to a farm, the woods, and agricultural projects on soil conservation, sought to enhance their ongoing curriculum, with direct links to the residency.

Into the Woods Jr. is part of The Broadway Junior Collection at Music Theatre International, which provides schools with abridged editions of Broadway musicals. Materials include scripts, a fully orchestrated accompaniment CD, a choreographic video, curriculum guides, and a producer/director guide for teachers on casting, rehearsals and performance techniques. For more information visit http://www.BROADWAYjr.com.

Into the Woods, Jr. is presented with the generous support of Mr. and Mrs. Hermen Greenberg.

The Kennedy Center Sondheim Celebration
Sponsored by:
Perry and Marty Granoff HRH Foundation

Made possible through the generous support of:
James A. Johnson and Maxine Isaacs, Bill Rollnick and Nancy Ellison Rollnick, and Carol and Ted Shen

With additional funding from:
Ambassador Elizabeth F. Bagley and Mr. Smith Bagley, Mr. and Mrs. Hermen Greenberg, Hecht's, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and The National Endowment for the Arts.