The show, under the direction of Holly Mercer, features the baker, portrayed by Aran Corey, and his wife, played by Alice Haslam, as they encounter a witch, played by Arwen Hartman.

The couple are granted the opportunity to fulfill their wish to have a child, as long as they retrieve four items from the woods, including “a cow as white as milk,” “slipper as pure as gold,” “hair as yellow as corn” and a “cape as red as blood.”

On their travels, they meet many Brothers Grimm fairytale characters, including the owners of these items, Cinderella (Nora Stanek), Jack (Jacob Ferris) from “Jack and the Beanstalk,” Little Red Riding Hood (Sydney Hinish) and Rapunzel (Savannah Eardley), who all have individual wishes that are also eventually granted.

As they travel through the woods, all of the fairytale stories collide, revealing other characters throughout the woods, including Jack’s mother (Sophia Waibel), Cinderella’s prince (Luca Waibel), Rapunzel’s prince (Josh Sutton), Milky White (puppeteer: Israel Hartman), Stepmother (Sophia McClelland), Florinda (Ryleigh Stollings), Lucinda (Presley McSwain), Cinderella’s father (Riley Foster), Cinderella’s mother (Bekah Bowser), Wolf (Elias Amell), granny (Bailey Mackey), Steward (Lena Ransom), Mysterious man (Joseph McNicholas), Sleeping Beauty (Alyson Singer) and Snow White (Carilyn Borowski). The characters’ stories all intertwine when a giant (Abigail

Cinderella (Nora Stanek, left) teaches Little Red Riding Hood (Sydney Hinish) an important lesson that “No One is Alone.” Courtesy photo

Hovance) starts to destroy the woods. Over the course of the tale, narrated by Levi Cruse, the characters must confront the fact that even though wishes may come true, they may come at a cost.

“Into the Woods” invites audience members to reimagine familiar characters and to wrestle with the deep complexities and nuances within both the stories we are so familiar with and the characters we previously thought we knew.

Featuring the acclaimed music of Stephen Sondheim, this is a musical journey that explores choices vs. consequences and dreams vs. reality.

The public is invited to attend the production, featuring the students of HARP, winner of the 2025 Isaac Award for Best Production for “Les Miserables: School Edition.”

Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for students and senior citizens. Tickets can be purchased at the door on the days of the performances or by contacting the box office. Contact the box office by phone at 814-695-4416 ext. 7525 or email: harp@hasdtigers.com.

The Narrator (Levi Cruse) concludes Act I, with all the characters having their wishes come true: (left to right) Riley Foster, Arwen Hartman, Ryleigh Stollings, Presley McSwain, Sophia Waibel, Jacob Ferris, Israel Hartman (with Milky White, which he created), Savannah Eardley, Luca Waibel, Nora Stanek, Lena Ransom, Alice Haslam and Aran Corey. Courtesy photo

In addition to Mercer as director, Wendy Jo Nagy is the music director, with Scott Sheehan the pit orchestra director and Melissa Baser as the choreographer. Set construction is provided by Joe Krupka. The costumers are Jen Cruse, Jill Furry, Tami Hinish and Mandy Lynn.

Cast

Narrator, Levi Cruse; Cinderella, Nora Stanek; Jack, Jacob Ferris; Jack’s mother, Sophia Waibel; Milky White’s puppeteer, Israel Hartman; baker, Aran Corey; baker’s wife, Alice Haslam; stepmother, Sophia McClelland; Florinda, Ryleigh Stollings; Lucinda, Presley McSwain; Cinderella’s Father, Riley Foster; Little Red Riding Hood, Sydney Hinish; witch, Arwen Hartman; Cinderella’s Mother, Bekah Bowser; Wolf, Elias Amell; Rapunzel, Savannah Eardley; Mysterious Man, Joseph McNicholas; Cinderella’s Prince, Luca Waibel; Rapunzel’s Prince, Josh Sutton; Granny, Bailey Mackey; Steward, Lena Ransom; giant, Abigail Hovance; Sleeping Beauty, Alyson Singer; and Snow White, Carilyn Borowski.

Ensemble members include: Elias Amell, Carilyn Borowski, Aria Dempsie, Abigail Hovance, Sydney Hull, Cara Huttenlocher, Paislee Lloyd, Bailey Mackey, Lena Ransom, Trent Schmouder, Alyson Singer and Kailey Woodrow.

Direction and crew

Director, Holly Mercer; music director, Wendy Jo Nagy; pit orchestra conductor, Scott Sheehan; producer, Holly Mercer; choreographer, Melissa Baser; student choreographer, Paislee Lloyd; stage manager, Adalyn Wilkins; head costumers, Jen Cruse and Jill Furry; assistant costumers, Tami Hinish and Mandy Lynn; set construction, Joe Krupka; backdrop projection technicians, James Sutton and Silas Wolfe; lighting design, Nick Lashinsky; lighting technician, Ethan Donlan; sound design/technician, Brian McConnell; box office manager, Kelly Black.

Stage crew

Paige Brown, Izabelle Cooper-Royer, Mya Decoskey, Kendra Dodson, Isabella Foley, Lucas Foley, David Fritz, Sarah DeStefano, Anna Lanzendorfer, Jennifer McCready, Melanie Miles, Jude Pascual, Bailey Robison, Leila Siliga, Adalyn Wilkins, Silas Wolfe.

Set design/creation

Paige Brown, Aran Corey, Izabelle Cooper-Royer, Levi Cruse, Kendra Dodson, Sean Furry, David Fritz, Alice Haslam, Anna Lanzendorfer, Joseph McNicholas, Ryleigh Stollings, Johnathan Vu, Adalyn Wilkins.

Pit Orchestra

Flute/piccolo, Alane Foose; clarinet, Bob Scholl; bassoon, Julia Fickes; trumpet, Larry Detwiler; horn 1, Scott Pappal; horn 2, Kara Pappal; violin, Stephanie Everett; viola, Melanie Ramsey; cello, Diane Albert; bass, Kelly Detwiler; percussion, Brandon Harris; piano, Eric Foose and synthesizer, Beth Carpenter.