NEWS RELEASE
TALK IS FREE THEATRE
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Talk Is Free Theatre (TIFT) brings the globally acclaimed Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine from Broadway to Barrie for a limited engagement and with a very meaningful message for the audience.
The music and lyrics of Stephen Sondheim are revered the world over for their complexity, beauty, and will be celebrated this November at the Georgian Theatre for an exclusive engagement.
In partnership with TIFT’s Young Company, an eclectic cast will present a lightly-staged production of intertwining fairy-tales, starring the well-known Brothers Grimm characters as they discover the price of ‘happily ever after’.
Director Michael Torontow returns to Barrie after performing in The Charlottetown Festival’s Mamma Mia! and Anne of Green Gables earlier this year. Torontow’s versatility and prowess as a performer have been seen previously in starring roles in TIFT’s Every Brilliant Thing, Sweeney Todd (as part of The Curious Voyage) and the roaming production of The Music Man.
“This is a story that deals with deception. Each character lies to achieve some sort of personal gain, and in a variety of ways, those lies lead to suffering,” Torontow explains. “And what we’re doing with the Young Company members is drive home the message that we shouldn’t be lying to the children.”
He elaborates further on his message: “When a loved one deceives a child; it can lead to emotional trauma in that child that lasts into adulthood. Having these young individuals involved allows us to create a unique way of conveying that message, which I think is very important.”
Also returning to Barrie to play The Witch is Alana Hibbert whose credits include musical classics such as Guys and Dolls, Ragtime, Wizard of Oz, and most recently Kronborg: The Hamlet Rock Musical. Hibbert is no stranger to Barrie as this marks her fifth production with TIFT after appearing in The Gamblers, Amadeus, The Music Man and Sunday in the Park with George.
Playing Cinderella is Kimberly-Ann Truong, who played Colombia in Stratford’s sold-out sensation The Rocky Horror Show and Mimi/Gigi in the 2017 Tony Award nominated Miss Saigon on Broadway. The cast also includes Justin Stadnyk and Aiden deSalaiz from TIFT’s Pal Joey that opened its 18th season.
Playing Jack’s Mother is the Dora Award winner Charlotte Moore who has graced Canadian stages since 1979 in such classics as Les Misérables, The Rocky Horror Show, Grease, Hairspray and has been described by the Globe and Mail as “one of the strongest dramatic singers in Canada."
Stephen Sondheim is one of the most recognized names in musical theatre and is associated with such Broadway masterpieces as A Little Night Music, West Side Story and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street among many others. His partnership with James Lapine spawned the Pulitzer Prize winning Sunday in the Park with George, Passion and the international success Into the Woods.
Into the Woods entwines classic Brothers Grimm characters in a sophisticated and masterfully layered experience with soaring vocals, playful stories, and world-class music. Since its debut in 1986, Into the Woods has had several revivals, received countless awards, and most recently a blockbuster Disney film adaptation that grossed over $200 million at the box office.
Opening Nov. 15, 2019 audiences will have the opportunity to experience the complex, intricate, and incomparable sound of Into the Woods.
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