Into the Woods' transforms Warwick Middle School
Sondheim musical is a departure from the typical school play Warwick Next Friday and Saturday, the Warwick Valley Middle School Drama Club will present Stephen Sondheim’s musical fairytale “Into the Woods.” And, while this is the season for high school and middle school musicals, “Into the Woods” is a special show not just for the action on the stage, but also for the preparation and transformation that takes place behind the scenes. Lucia Aloi has been working with director Noreen Hanson for several years on Warwick Middle School plays. Aloi is a professional make-up artist. Her 27-year resume includes theatre, television, and opera. However, as a Warwick resident, she volunteers her time and expertise to help make the Middle School shows look both authentic and professional. “I love working with Noreen Hanson,” said Aloi. “She is an extremely talented director. Her visuals are so beautiful. And she gives great confidence to the kids.” Aloi has a particularly challenging task this year doing make-up for “Into the Woods.” She, along with eight high school assistants, will have 56 actors come through the make-up room. Times three, actually, since the play will be performed three different times between Friday and Saturday, April 20 and 21. Aloi creates sketches of all the major characters in the play, which combines several well-known fairy talesincluding Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White, Goldilocks, Three Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, and Jack and the Beanstalk - with the story of the Baker and his Wife. Rapunzel, for example, has a 15-foot wig. The three little pigs and the three bears all have prosthetic noses and chins, as does the witch. The wolf character, too, has some prosthetics, a wig, and some totally amazing make-up. “In all, we have 140 kids in the production,” said Aloi. “And if there aren’t enough characters to go around, Noreen creates new ones! Some of our characters are not even in the original play.” One of her most difficult characters is the wolf, who is being portrayed by Ian Ceccarelli. “The wolf is definitely one of the most difficult,” said Aloi. “His is the biggest transformation.” Creativity is key when working in theatre and this production is no different. Take the live scenery. Yes, some of the trees are actually human scenery. The young actors are wearing jumpsuits with everything but their faces covered. The lead trees are stenciled to make them stand out. Aloi will begin transforming the students at around noon on Friday. The heavy-duty make up and prosthetics won’t be applied until closer to curtain time, though. And on Saturday, she’ll have to do it all twice. There are two performances on Saturday1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. “The prosthetics will have to come off between performances,” she said. “The kids can’t eat or drink through them!” The prosthetics used are all professional quality, said Aloi, as is the make-up, adhesives and wigs used. And the Middle School play is one of the only ones around that does not rent costumes. Instead, Gwen Bettini hand-makes nearly every costume on the stage. “Our costume designer is brilliant,” said director Hanson of Bettini. “We have no rentals at all. All leads are hand-made.” Hanson also gushes about her choreographer, Cindy Henry, director of the Warwick Valley Theatre and Dancer’s Studio, and lighting designer, Lloyd Jeffers, a lighting designer with 35 years of professional experience. And when it comes to paying the bills, well, there is no one she needs more than her producer, Katie Bisaro. “Katie does everything I can’t do,” said Hanson. “She makes life so easy for me.” How does she attract so much professional talent to her Middle School plays? “Part of it is luck, I guess,” said Hanson, who has a music and theater degree and teaches music and chorus at the Middle School. “And networking. We are fortunate to have so many very talented people living here in Warwick.” The talent can be found on both sides of the curtain. Hanson’s cast, she said, is very talented, and able to do a play that can be intimidating. “This is one of the hardest plays vocally,” said Hanson. “But I have the cast for it. You have to know your kids. I knew I had this cast, which is why I chose this play. We have high expectations. If you set the bar higher, they will jump to reach it.” Why all the trouble for what some may consider just a Middle School play? Well, Aloi finds so much more to it than just a play. “Schools realize the educational value of these shows,” said Aloi. “It is a national trend and a win-win situation. Kids work together, they feel terrific about it, and it is good training when they go out into the workforce. It is great preparation for anything higher.” Not only are Hanson, her colleagues, and her actors talented, they are resourceful as well. They produce their shows with no monetary assistance from the school district. “We raise all of our funds through fund raisers and ticket sales,” Hanson said. The club had a Cabaret in November, along with a silent auction. Then, they sold flower bulbs. “There is a polish in these shows you don’t find everywhere else,” said Aloi.