'Into the Woods'
Ohio Wesleyan to Present Award-Winning Musical April 10-April 18
DELAWARE, Ohio – Ohio Wesleyan University's Department of Performing Arts will present seven performances of Stephen Sondheim's magical and iconic "Into the Woods," beginning April 10.
"Into the Woods" adapts many classic storybook and fairy-tale characters into an ensemble cast that covers everything from highly dangerous to incredibly strange.
Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. April 10-11, at 2:30 p.m. April 12, and at both 9 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. April 17-18 on the Main Stage of Ohio Wesleyan's Chappelear Drama Center, 45 Rowland Ave., Delaware. Tickets are $10 for general admission, $5 for senior citizens, and free for Ohio Wesleyan students and employees at owuperformingarts.ludus.com.
Ohio Wesleyan faculty member Jennifer Whitehead, DMA, will direct the university's production of "Into the Woods."
"'Into the Woods' turns familiar fairy tales on their ears, examining beloved characters with a nuanced lens as they navigate what 'happily ever after' looks like, reminding us that our decisions can have long-lasting and sometimes irreversible consequences," Whitehead said. "We are exploring, in particular, the theme that things are not always as they seem.
"To quote lyricist James Lapine, 'Witches can be right, giants can be good, and no one is alone'; our actions affect people beyond just ourselves," Whitehead said. "It is my hope that audiences will be challenged by this entertaining cautionary tale to examine in a new way the choices we make on our own journeys through the woods."
The play contains adult themes and is not recommended for young children. For more information, visit owu.edu/PerformingArts or call the box office at (740) 368-3855.
Cast
- Chloe McGee, a first-year student from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as Narrator
- Evalyn Penley, a first-year student from Delaware, Ohio, as Cinderella
- Layn Mayfield, a junior from Austin, Texas, as Jack
- Tatyana Poland, a first-year student from Lindenhurst, New York, as Jack's Mother
- Parker Olukalns, a sophomore from Lexington, Kentucky, as Baker
- Emerson Freas, a senior from Oberlin, Ohio, as Baker's Wife
- Kylee Lehman, a sophomore from Lancaster, Ohio, as Little Red Ridinghood
- Bex Conway, a first-year student from Oak Park, Michigan, as Witch
- Asher Lewis, a sophomore from Dripping Springs, Texas, as Steward
- Holly Robinson, a senior from Olmsted Township, Ohio, as Cinderella's Stepmother
- Abby Bennett, a senior from Caledonia, Ohio, as Florinda
- Ellie Cady, a first-year student from Fort Worth, Texas, as Lucinda
- Evan Large, a junior from Toledo, Ohio, as Cinderella's Father
- Lux Proctor, a first-year student from Mayfield Heights, Ohio, as Wolf
- Katie Davis, a senior from Bryan, Ohio, as Rapunzel
- Carlie Quillen, a first-year student from Dublin, Ohio, as Rapunzel's Prince
- Josiah Gross, a junior from Zanesville, Ohio, as Cinderella's Prince
- Carleigh Traverse, a first-year student from Worthington, Ohio, as Cinderella's Mother/Granny
- B.C. Granger, OWU faculty member, as Mysterious Man
Crew
- Camryn Henderson, a junior from Wadsworth, Ohio – stage manager
- Lucy Whetzel, a junior from Warren, Ohio – assistant stage manager
- Gio Gooden, a first-year student from Columbus, Ohio – assistant stage manager
- Nic Laurence, a senior from Medina, Ohio – set crew head
- Leon Bridges, a first-year student from Columbus, Ohio – set and sound crew
- Braeden Shontz, a first-year student from Hebron, Ohio – set crew
- Caleb Gunn, a junior from Galion, Ohio – run crew
- Carrie Hurst, OWU faculty member – lighting designer
- Icarus Rodriguez, a first-year student from Columbus, Ohio – lighting crew
- Lily Delahoussaye, a junior from Sugar Land, Texas – lighting and sound crew
- Danny Mathews, a first-year student from Columbus, Ohio – lighting crew
- Bailey Davis, a sophomore from Fairport Harbor, Ohio – sound crew head
- Silas Grey-Miller, a first-year student from Columbus, Ohio – props crew head
- Casey Vasko, a sophomore from Tiffin, Ohio – props crew
- Jaylene Jennings, OWU staff member – costume designer
- Rio Obenauf, a sophomore from Columbus, Ohio – costume crew head
- Madison Klinger, a junior from Wickliffe, Ohio – make-up crew head
- Taylor Thompson, a sophomore from Galena, Ohio – costume and publicity crew
- Eliza Finley, a first-year student from Ostrander, Ohio – costume crew
- Emma Bellew, a junior from Springfield, Ohio – costume crew
- Max Baker, a senior from Chicago, Illinois – publicity crew head
- Mary Garcia, a sophomore from Dublin, Ohio – publicity crew
For more information about OWU's 2025-2026 performance schedule or about studying Theatre and Dance at Ohio Wesleyan, visit owu.edu/PerformingArts.
Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation's premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and competes in 24 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through its signature experience, the OWU Connection, Ohio Wesleyan teaches students to understand issues from multiple academic perspectives, volunteer in service to others, build a diverse and global perspective, and translate classroom knowledge into real-world experience through internships, research, and other hands-on learning. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book "Colleges That Change Lives" and included on the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review "Best Colleges" lists. Connect with OWU expert interview sources at owu.edu/experts or learn more at owu.edu.