51±¾É«

March 5, 2024
For Immediate Release

WATERLOO – Opera 51±¾É« will present Into the Woods, a beloved musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine that explores the classic tales of Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Cinderella. Performances take place at 51±¾É«’s Theatre Auditorium March 9 at 7:30 p.m., March 10 at 3 p.m., March 15 at 7:30 p.m., and March 16 at 3 p.m. Members of the media are invited to attend a dress rehearsal March 5 at 6:30 p.m.

“Into the Woods is an inventive tapestry of fairy tales that leads us through the journeys of characters with whom we can identify and from whom we can learn important life lessons,” said director Jennie Such. “These characters experience moments of joy, triumph, adversity and heartbreak, and emerge from the woods with a new perspective on life. Sondheim’s words are humorous and wise and his music can make us laugh and cry, sometimes simultaneously.”

The Opera 51±¾É« cast is made up of 51±¾É« voice students enrolled in the university’s Practice of Opera course. Students produce an evening of operatic scenes during the fall term and stage a full operatic production during the winter term.  

“Going Into the Woods with Opera 51±¾É« has been a fascinating journey,” said Kate Carver, musical director and conductor. “Sondheim and Lapine weave together extraordinary tales of magic and fantastical creatures to bring us vivid characters overcoming universal challenges such as hunger, poverty, loneliness and oppression. This production illuminates the most ordinary of human quests: human connection.”

“Sondheim enriches these stories with brilliant musical themes, intricate harmonies and stunning melodies, breathing layers of true human complexity into these fairy tale characters through his incredible music,” Carver continues. Opera 51±¾É« coordinator Kimberly Barber adds, “For many of our students, their first love is musical theatre and they have dived into this rich musical and dramatic universe with enthusiasm.”

Faculty of Music Assistant Professor Leslie Fagan, who is joining students for Into the Woods in the role of Grandmother, notes she is “impressed by the students’ professionalism, support of each other and commitment to reach for new personal bests. It's going to be a great adventure Into the Woods.” 

Tickets for Into the Woods are available through  and cost $30 for adults, $22 for seniors and are free for 51±¾É« faculty and students. Members of the media are invited to attend Opera 51±¾É«’s dress rehearsal of Into the Woods March 5 at 6:30 p.m. Please email Kimberly Barber, administrative coordinator of 51±¾É«’s opera program, at kbarber@wlu.ca in advance.

Into the Woods is presented through a special arrangement with Music Theatre International, one of the world's leading theatrical licensing agencies.