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NEW VOICE COMPANY STAGES 'INTO THE WOODS'

The New Voice Company, fresh from their recent theatrical successes - Eve Ensler's "The Good Body" and the musical - "Aspects of Love" in Singapore, are set to mount the internationally acclaimed family musical INTO THE WOODS at the Music Museum in November. Its' universal themes on the relationships of children and parents, and of growing up make this a Broadway classic. Its valuable lessons and powerful lessons on dreams and wishes, its' provocative tales and its' award winning music, makes INTO THE WOODS the most exciting theatrical event of the year.

INTO THE WOODS, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book and original Broadway direction by James Lapine, is a winner of three Tony Awards - including Best Book and Best Score. In addition to its successful Broadway and West End runs and subsequent revivals, Into the Woods has also been performed around the world and has produced a Grammy award-winning album.

INTO THE WOODS combines the well loved fairy tales of Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel with the tale of a childless Baker and his Wife, who catalyze the action of the story by attempting to reverse a curse on their family in order to have a child.

In the first act, the characters set out to achieve their dream of living "Happily Ever After" through the familiar stories we know of their fairy tales - Cinderella, working for her wicked stepmother and stepsisters, finally goes to the Ball and her beauty and charm captures the heart of Prince Charming, Jack foolishly climbs the Beanstalk, enters the land of the Giants and steals their gold, Little Red Riding Hood, pursued by the Wolf on her way to Grandma's house, survives her battle with him and saves Granny, and Rapunzel, locked away in a tower for years, falls in love with a handsome prince who climbs her long hair and escapes. The Baker and his Wife meet the other characters inside the woods, as they pursue their own goal. Long ago the Witch put a curse on his house, and has finally agreed to lift it. But the Baker and his Wife must first find the ingredients to help her reverse a spell which has kept her old and ugly. Those ingredients are: A Slipper As Pure As Gold, which the Baker's Wife pursues from Cinderella, while Cinderella flees from the Prince; A Cow As White As Milk, which the Baker buys from Jack in exchange for magic beans, A Cape As Red As Blood, which the Baker gets from Little Red Riding Hood in exchange for saving her and Granny from the Wolf, and Hair As Yellow As Corn, which they get from Rapunzel. The ingredients are put together, and the spell works, leaving the Witch devoid of her power, but restoring her beauty. At the end of Act I, all the characters believe they will live "Happily Ever After".

Act Two, however, deals with the consequences that traditional fairy tales conveniently forget. What does one do with a dead Giant in the back yard, and how does the entire community save themselves from the angry Giant's wife seeking revenge? Does marrying a self-absorbed, unfaithful Prince really lead to a happy and fulfilling life? How can children survive without their parents? How can parents let go of their children as they grow up? Are Giant always wrong? Are wishes always right? In Act two, all the characters must deal with what happens AFTER "Happily Ever After". As they face a genuine threat to their community from the Giant's wife, they realize that all actions have consequences, and their lives are inescapably woven together, but also that that interdependence is their greatest strength. Once the characters have accomplished their goals, however, they learn about the pitfalls of greed and gluttony. Finally, they learn about the need for community and unity and the power of wishes and dreams.

Leading the 20-strong cast are Philippine musical theatre's finest stars - Michael Williams (as the Baker), Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo (as the Baker's Wife), Lynn Sherman (as the Witch), Jamie Wilson (as Cinderella's Prince and the Wolf) - and sensational child performer - Julia Abueva (as Little Red Riding Hood).

Direction is by NVC Associate Artistic Director Rito Asilo, with Light Design by Martin Esteva, Musical Direction by Ceejay Manuel Javier, and Choreography by Dexter Santos. Rossana Abueva and Monique Wilson are the show's Executive Producers.

INTO THE WOODS runs at the Music Museum from November 9 to December 8. Show and block buying packages are available for fundraising purposes. Interested show buyers, school groups and sponsors can contact Rona De Lim at the New Voice Company office: 896-6695, 896-5497, 899-0630. Visit the NVC office at 8020 Tanguile Street, San Antonio Village, Makati City, or visit www.newvoicecompany.com. Tickets are available at the NVC office or at Ticketworld (891-9999). Discounts are also available for students, groups and senior citizens.

INTO THE WOODS is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by Music Theatre International.