'Into the Woods' Features Fairytales with a Twist

On Sept. 10, Theatre Nebula opened its 16-day performance run of the Tony Award-winning production, "Into the Woods," based on the book by James Lapine, with music by Stephen Sondheim. The 12-year-old theater organization's production is a dynamic enactment of the Brothers Grimm fairytales.

The fairytales come at audiences with a darker, more comical spin than those suggested in the conventional story worlds of most classic fairytales. Nebula, headed by J. Spencer Greene, showcases many of the beloved characters present in  traditional fairtytales and delivers an upbeat production appealing to audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

"Nebula's focus is to deliver high quality performances, and to incorporate well-trained talent from various backgrounds," Greene said.

Nebula's cast, some of which are repeat performers for that theater, come from all backgrounds, including seasoned actors from developed theater companies in Chicago to local up-and-coming talent. Some performers boast impressive vocal training, including for opera.

Cast members flexed their vocal muscles prior even to the show's release. During sound-check rehearsals in early September, the cast was sounding powerful. One might not expect that a rehearsal run, sans costume and sans blocking, could emit such energy.

"Into the Woods" is nearing the latter half of its run, and plays in Palatine's historical resident theater, Cutting Hall at 150 E. Wood St. The performance space is an interesting venue for audiences to experience, as it maintains much of its original artistry, including ornate stenciling on the stage face from 1912.

When Greene came to Theatre Nebula about eight years ago, his goal was to expose the community to high-caliber literary material that remained untapped. Greene felt that audiences tended to – and still might – draw to the same performances time and time again, simply because those shows are familiar.

"It's important for people [including Nebula's young performers] to realize there is a lot of really great literature out there that they don't know about," Greene said. "When audiences give in to unfamiliar shows, they're excited to find surprise in what comes in the next scene."

Perhaps this is part of the charm inherent in "Into the Woods"—that audiences can experience tales they are familiar with, but with varying dialogue, themes and angles. After all, isn't it the guessing that keeps theater audiences coming back for more?

With several performances left, "Into the Woods," directed by Frank Roberts, with musical direction by Jonathan Landvick, shouldn't be missed.