The Baker (Navin Durbhakula) and Baker's Wife (Leah Stein) celebrate their progress with the cow Milky-White (Olivia Meshanko). Photo by by Sam Nasar
After a year in uncertain woods, theater returns to the stage of Herbert Hoover Middle School. Under the direction of Patricia Grossier, a Hoover parent with previous theatrical experience, 49 students last weekend presented “Into the Woods Jr.,” an adaptation of the Tony Award-winning musical by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine. The musical twists together Cinderella, Red Riding Hood, the Baker and his wife, and many others familiar fairy-tale characters, as they all pursue their wishes in the same mysterious woods.
Following the retirement of long-time drama teacher and director Pamela Bilik, it was unclear which direction the Hoover mainstage would go. “The students missed it, and the community missed it,” Principal Dr. Yong-Mi Kim said, “And we wanted to revive it in a very big way.” To this end Kim brought together Patricia Grossier as the play’s director, and 7th grade English teacher Karla Yager as her producer.
“It really is an important aspect of their education,” Grossier said, “These kids learn things about music, about theater, about stage design, about stage crew, and about teamwork, building something together.”
Parents and students alike united to rebuild the institution from the ground up. “Part of what makes it great, is we’ve got a lot of kids you wouldn’t expect to see in a play,” said 8th grader Brandon Schoenfeld, “It’s not just the stereotypical theater kid personalities.”
Olivia Meshanko (who played Jack’s cow, Milky White) explained that what one sees on stage is just the tip of the iceberg, as those two hours have been built up to with months and months of long rehearsals. “All that time is bonding,” Olivia said, “we got so close with each other.”
The students are doing plenty behind the scenes too, as 6th grader Elizabeth Qiu provided the cast with musical guidance as the assistant musical director, while Brandon captained the stage crew, a team of students who prepare costumes, transitions, and anything else that might go wrong.
“It’s a collaborative effort” said Leah Stein (who played the Baker’s Wife), “It was really fun because all the grades work together, doing acting and doing backstage work.”
Parents pitched in too as set designers, painters, carpenters, publicity directors, and more. “It’s a community event,” Grossier said, “One that not only benefits the community, but is developed by the community.” Coming out en masse at an interest meeting, parents pooled emails and provided Grossier with a trove of talent and passion, necessary to make the show a reality.
“It was an enjoyable experience,” said parent Jim Vagonis, who captained set construction alongside Andrew Huck, “Having all the parents here to help definitely helped me. Because it wasn’t me, or anybody alone who built any one thing. It takes a group.”
With playful cameos by a host of fairy tale characters like Snow White, the Three Little Pigs, the Three Blind Mice, and even one by the principal herself, audience and cast members alike seem to agree the musical drips with fun. “It brings you to the spirit of Disney,” said Faramarz Mokhtari (whose son Arian appeared as Hansel). And Navin Durbhakula, who plays the Baker said, “There’s so many stories being brought together, it really just makes it a magical show.”
With one successful performance under their belts, Kim continues to look forward. “Our kids always rise to the challenge academically, but I think there’s more to school than just the academic piece.” She envisions revivifying the drama program in-school and unifying it with the extracurricular musical to help increase participation.
And while there is no official word yet on whether Grossier and Yager will continue to head the musicals of the future, both sounded eager and ready for a repeat performance. “I would like to do it again,” Yager said, “I think it’s incredible.”