An opening scene of our Broadway musical is shown above while technicians in the production booth work far above the stage (right). The open interior of the theater is shown lower left while the cast enjoys its curtain calls below.
I hope local patrons of the arts soon recognize this venue for the jewel in the woods it literally is.
A MUSICAL IN THE WOODS--
We watched a bright moon rise, stage right, and join Jupiter in its nightly trek across the southern sky while towers of colorful artificial light sprinkled their rainbow of illumination on the gaily decorated stage; this, at our outdoor amphitheater at Johnny Appleseed Center near Mifflin.
That night a large, talented and enthusiastic cast of the musical Into the Woods frolicked on the stage in a nearly 3 hour, two act production that weaved old fairy tales into modern morality—I think.
After I gave up trying to make sense of the story line, I sat back and enjoyed everything else about the production which had just completed a three night run on the stage of Mansfield’s Renaissance Theater before moving to this outside stage for three more productions.
Director Matthew Joslyn tells us it is one of his favorite Broadway musicals with a ‘spectacular’ script written by Mansfield’s own James Lapine.
He goes on to explain the stories of classic, storybook characters intertwine in this show where we begin to see ourselves in the simple lives of these characters; making mistakes and trying to overcome them.
He continues, “...while ‘happily ever after’ may only live in the fairy tales; somehow we’re always okay in the end.”
The cast had great depth in musical talent, the costumes were exquisite, the lines were delivered with enthusiasm and an occasional, very humorous ad lib; all on the stage of the now defunct Johnny Appleseed Outdoor Drama—which, itself, began life in this amphitheater; one of the finest theatrical and musical venues in this part of Ohio.
The Appleseed drama failed after less than two complete seasons but shows like Into the Woods are helping breathe new life into a first class facility that deserves, nay demands, to be our model, local, outdoor entertainment venue for current and many future generations.
We watched a bright moon rise, stage right, and join Jupiter in its nightly trek across the southern sky while towers of colorful artificial light sprinkled their rainbow of illumination on the gaily decorated stage; this, at our outdoor amphitheater at Johnny Appleseed Center near Mifflin.
That night a large, talented and enthusiastic cast of the musical Into the Woods frolicked on the stage in a nearly 3 hour, two act production that weaved old fairy tales into modern morality—I think.
After I gave up trying to make sense of the story line, I sat back and enjoyed everything else about the production which had just completed a three night run on the stage of Mansfield’s Renaissance Theater before moving to this outside stage for three more productions.
Director Matthew Joslyn tells us it is one of his favorite Broadway musicals with a ‘spectacular’ script written by Mansfield’s own James Lapine.
He goes on to explain the stories of classic, storybook characters intertwine in this show where we begin to see ourselves in the simple lives of these characters; making mistakes and trying to overcome them.He continues, “...while ‘happily ever after’ may only live in the fairy tales; somehow we’re always okay in the end.”
The cast had great depth in musical talent, the costumes were exquisite, the lines were delivered with enthusiasm and an occasional, very humorous ad lib; all on the stage of the now defunct Johnny Appleseed Outdoor Drama—which, itself, began life in this amphitheater; one of the finest theatrical and musical venues in this part of Ohio.
The Appleseed drama failed after less than two complete seasons but shows like Into the Woods are helping breathe new life into a first class facility that deserves, nay demands, to be our model, local, outdoor entertainment venue for current and many future generations.
I hope local patrons of the arts soon recognize this venue for the jewel in the woods it literally is.
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