The Renaissance Youth Opera Theatre, under the direction of Lori Turner, will present two fairytale-inspired musicals on the stage of the Renaissance Theatre, May 26 and 27. The troupe will first perform “1,001 Arabian Nights,” followed by Stephen Sondheim and Mansfield-native James Lapine’s “Into the Woods, Jr.”
Performances will be at 7 PM on Saturday, 3 PM on Sunday. Tickets are just $15, general admission, and available at the Renaissance Box Office, via phone at (419)522-2726 and online at MansfieldTickets.com. The Renaissance Youth Opera Theatre is presented as part of the Mechanics Bank Education Series.
“Into the Woods, Jr.” is a twisted retelling of a number of fairytales, in which Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and other characters get mixed up with a witch, as well as their own selfish desires. The one-act curtain raiser, “1001 Arabian Nights,” tells the story of a murderous king and his wife who is able to entrance him, and save her own life, with nightly stories – including Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, and more.“With a cast of 75, we creating our set by utilizing both multimedia scenery and cast members,” touts Turner.
The cast is composed of students ages 7 through 18 from Richland, Ashland, and Crawford counties. Cast members include: Hope Abel, Isaac Abel, Hermoine Adams, Gabby Allen, Micaiah Allen, Rebekah Allen, Zavier Alterio, Megan Austin, Ian Barnes, Morgan Bartholomew, Abby Bechstein, Hannah Billheimer, Brianna Blevins, Niamh Breault, Daisjah Brown, Joshua Browning, Lucas Browning, Padraig Browning, Reuben Browning, Talia Byrom, Lilly Casey, Jennifer Covel, Gillian Donley, Isla Donley, Eowynn Fietz, Lacie Flint, Landon Flint, Amy Gardner, Braylon Gardner, Logan Gerisch, Haley Granger, Gloria Gutchall, Abby Heininger, Carol Heininger, Sarah Heininger, Kaitlyn Hessler, Wyatt Hessler, Carlie Holmes, Areanna Hood, Juliana Howard, Gavin Hull, Seth Jerabek, Pippa Johnson, Kristin Kaufman, Kylee Kent, McKinnley King, Nevaeh Kruse, Kierstyn Laskey, Ava Leslie, Harrison Leslie, Alexie Lorenz, Anna Mampieri, Andrew Martinez, Elianna Martinez, Jackie Metz, Austin Michel, Aubrey Miller, Addison Nicol, Octavia Nunez, Anna Perkins, Jimmy Perry, Brooklynn Petersen, Kathryn Picklesimer, Martin Rawls, Jenna Reitler, Andy Roblin, Naomi Schag, Anna Slade, Olivia Slaubaugh, Samantha Smith, Jemma Stinson, McKenna Stoffer, Caleb Tate, Ariella Waters, Emma Williams, Delaney Wilson, Ethan Wilson, Karlie Wilson, MaKenzie Wynn, Hannah Yoak, Joshua Yoak, and Katie Yoak.
Source: Renaissance Performing Arts Association: Photo: Jeff Sprang
