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St. Luke's Musical Theater Enchants Audiences with Beloved Fairy Tales
View more photos from "Shrek The Musical JR." and “Into the Woods”
This winter, the St. Luke's Theater Department enchanted audiences with musical productions featuring beloved fairy tales.
The Upper School cast transported audiences with "Into the Woods," a fantastical fairy-tale adventure that weaves the paths of various storybook characters together as they pursue their deepest desires in an enchanted forest. However, as they achieve their happily ever afters, they also face unforeseen consequences.
"Any musical production is a challenge as the genre incorporates the performance trifecta: singing, dancing, and acting,” said Director Dawn Fuller Tackling composer Stephen Sondheim, with his intricate harmonies, ever-changing time signatures, and complex three-dimensional characters was no small feat. The cast, crew, and musicians rose to the occasion with confidence, professionalism, and verve over the three-show run. The ensemble shared this story from their heart and moved the audience to both tears and laughter. It was a seamless production that will stay with me for a very long time.”
In early March, the Middle School brought more beloved characters to life in "Shrek The Musical JR." The show transported audiences to a faraway swamp where an ogre named Shrek finds his home invaded by banished fairy-tale characters. As Shrek embarks on a quest to rescue the mysterious Princess Fiona from a dragon-guarded tower, he discovers the true meaning of friendship and the power of acceptance.
Director Magistra Mahler expressed pride in the Middle School production, adding, "Adapting a well-loved piece of media brings such unique challenges,” they said. When everyone knows the characters, the story, and even the best jokes, how do we put our own stamp on things? For us, the opportunity to personalize the script came from exploring the different kinds of relationships being presented and shifting pieces of the narrative to be more positive and inclusive."
Congratulations to the cast and crew of both "Shrek The Musical JR." and "Into the Woods" for their phenomenal performances.
St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving over 35 towns in Connecticut and New York. Our exceptional academics and diverse co-educational community foster students’ intellectual and ethical development and prepare them for top colleges. St. Luke’s Center for Leadership builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.
