Dayton High School’s Theater Department is preparing to enchant audiences with their upcoming production of Into the Woods, set to take the stage on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 13-14, at the Dayton High School Performing Arts Center. Showtimes are at 7 p.m. on Dec. 13 and at both 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Dec. 14. Dayton ISD fifth-grade students will also enjoy a special daytime performance on Dec. 12, giving them a taste of musical theater during school hours.
Tickets for Into the Woods are $10 each and can be purchased in advance at the Dayton High School front office or at the venue on the days of the show. This production features a cast of 20 Dayton High School students, with an additional six students serving in key roles behind the scenes.
Theater teacher Diane Searcy shared that the theater program has a tradition of staging musicals, with past performances including Annie, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and Frozen. Now, with Into the Woods, they are ready to bring Stephen Sondheim’s beloved musical to life for the Dayton community.
Into the Woods, one of Sondheim’s most popular works, weaves together the stories of classic fairy tale characters like Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk. This musical goes beyond the traditional “happily ever after” endings, taking audiences on a journey that explores what happens after the wishes are granted.
Each character faces unexpected challenges and consequences, reminding us that life’s journeys often come with complexities and moral dilemmas.
Adding to the excitement surrounding Into the Woods, Dayton High School will host a special event a week before the performances. On Saturday, Dec. 7, the cast of Into the Woods will don their full costumes for a Fairy Tale Picnic in the high school cafeteria, starting at 11 a.m. This family-friendly event will allow fans of all ages to meet and greet their favorite characters up close.
Tickets for the Fairy Tale Picnic are $10 each for the first two tickets purchased, with each additional ticket available for just $5. It’s a magical opportunity to experience the world of Into the Woods in an interactive setting, meet the talented student cast, and take photos with characters from the show.
