'Into The Woods' at Arena Theatre

"Into The Woods: Fabulous Fractured Fairy Tales: will be staged May 7-8 and May 11-15 at 8 p.m. and May 9 at 2 p.m. in the John Wright Theatre.

An ambivalent Cinderella? A blood thirsty Little Red Ridinghood ? A Prince Charming with a roving eye? A Witch . . . who raps?

They're all among the cockeyed characters in James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim's fractured fairy tale.  When a Baker (Brandon Petrie) and his wife ( Shannah Estep) learn they've been cursed with childlessness by the Witch (Katherine Dorian) next door, they embark on a quest for the special objects required to break the spell, swindling, lying and stealing from Cinderella (Ashley Taylor), Little Red Ridinghood (Vanessa Pereda ), Rapunzel (Stephanie Michele French) and Jack (Joel Presley) (the one show climbed the beanstalk). 

Everyone's wish is granted at the end of Act One but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later, with disastrous results.  What begins as a lively, irreverent fantasy becomes a moving lesson about community responsibility and the stories we tell our children.

Tickets are $7 for Fresno State students; $14 for Fresno State faculty/staff, seniors, members of the Alumni Association and students at other schools; and $16 general admission.  For more information, call the Theatre Box Office at 8-2216.

Purchase tickets on line at http://www.csufresno.edu/Theatre