Journeying Into the Woods: October 24 and 25 - Cast and Crew

This coming Thursday and Friday, the Periwig Club will present the 2024 Fall Musical, Into the Woods. Since preseason, actors and technicians have been crafting various elements of the production, from rehearsing lines to building the set and creating costumes.  

After a selective audition process last year, a group of talented III to V Form performers were selected to participate in this year’s musical. They have worked around the clock, from full days in late August to school nights throughout the Fall Term, practicing lines and songs while perfecting their portrayal of emotions, to provide the audience with a magical experience at the show. Reflecting on her first Lawrenceville Fall Musical, actress Isabelle Lee ’27 described the many “helpful resources” that encouraged her throughout one of her first large-scale musical productions. She explained that the faculty members encouraged students to “prioritize wellness,” allowing for those involved with the production to effectively balance both student and show life. 

In regards to the rehearsal experience itself, Lee commented on the strong “teamwork” and “bonding” of the cast, emphasizing how these two qualities contributed to the performance’s preparation. She appreciates the dedication and connection she and her cast and crew-mates have as they have made her musical rehearsals all the more enjoyable. While there have been both challenges and successful moments throughout her rehearsals, Lee noted that “even [the rough patches] are a part of the beauty of being an actor,” especially when the learning opportunities offstage lead to the magical moments onstage. 

As the cast members rehearsed in the Clark Music Center, technicians gathered in the Kirby Arts Center to build the set of the musical. They have spent many weeks creating the trees that will frame the production’s fairytale-like spectacle. “The process was tedious as there were so many trees, but it was still really fun and inspiring to see everything come together,” Sophie Yang ’26 reflected. 

In addition to the forest of twisting branches, several hand-made and painted cottages now stand on the KAC stage. Their designs allude to various beloved fairy tales, such as “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Cinderella,” “Jack and the Beanstalk,” and “Rapunzel”; together, these elements evoke a whimsical setting. 

Anticipating the upcoming performance, Mira Ponnambalam ’26 said,  “I am really excited to see it all come together; Into The Woods is one of my favorite musicals.” Throughout the fall, Ponnombalam has contributed to building the set and will work on the lighting team as a Follow Spot Operator during the nights of the performance. She enjoys partaking in the process of set building and especially looks forward to “spending a lot of time with [her] friends” in the week leading up to the production. 

Ponnambalam also noted how this year’s costumes for the musical stood out in design and inspiration. Production Manager James Cuthrell, who is also the costume designer for the musical, took a bold departure from previous productions, as his pieces were inspired by the avant-garde fashion of Vivienne Westwood. “We have a lot more standout pieces this year, which have been really fun to create!” Clara Khabaz ’26 said when asked about her experience making costumes. The pieces truly combine the fairytales’  17th century context with the artistry of the 21st century. 

Inspired by timeless stories of Rapunzel’s long, luscious golden hair and Red Riding Hood’s distinct red cape, Into The Woods will certainly make you reminisce on childhood stories while admiring the skill of the many student artists involved with the production.