#domon has a PERFECT design i will not touch it EVER

[sol-thorne]

ANOTHER Ina11 screencap redraw. I just like how challenging it is to draw multiple characters together. And I really liked the poses in this one so I jumped on it, even though my designs don't change much from canon aside from Haruna.

[rndyounghowze]

"Into the Woods" with Off Broad Street Players at the Levoy Theater in Millville, NJ

By: Ricky Young-Howze

I wish more than anything, more than life that I could totally watch Off Broad Street Player's Production of "Into the Woods" at the Levoy Theatre again. This musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine co-directed by Domonic Barnes and Walter A. Webster brought us on a journey to many moments in the woods and a lifetime in our hearts!

These are the stories you've all seen before, or have you? Do you really know the story of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Jack and the Bean Stalk? Do you really think you have Prince Charming down pat? Into the Woods tells us what happens after "Ever After"? What happens after the fairy tale is done?

Directors Domonic Barnes and Walter A. Webster direction seemed to bend time that made us feel like we spent three midnights ourselves in this rich world of the stage but also seemed to make us feel that we had spent hardly any time in the theatre. This also meant that there were moments that seemed to drag on stage and I felt that pacing was off. Of course this was the Sunday Matinee after a powerhouse opening weekend so I'm sure that everyone was dragging a bit this afternoon. The great news is that when everyone was singing you never even dared to look away

Andrew Jarema as the Baker was toxic masculinity at its best. I don't always like the Baker because I don't get him. Then I saw the confusion and longing in his performance and I got it.

April Lindley as the Baker's Wife really made my day. I come to this show just to see her story sometimes because there's a lot of meat on the bone in Sondheim's lyrics. But what she does with them and how deftly she turns a phrase and lives in her moments really touched my heart. Great job!

Gabriella Prato as Little Red Riding Hood showed me things oh some beautiful things (I'm sorry I just had to) with her powerful voice that had my ears ringing all the way in the back row. If this is her as a Sophomore at ACIT I only see a very happy life in the theatre ahead of her.

They say a slotted spoon can catch the potato but Alex Manzo as Jack really served it up thick! I didn't know about him at first and then I heard him open up in "Giants in the Sky". And now I know a thing now that I never knew before (this is one of my favorite musicals I'm not going to stop) and that is that this young man has a voice like honey! I want to see and hear more from him!

Katie Hughes as the Witch is both icky and fascinating. She had such a sweet voice and a biting wit that made me smile.

David Fuzco as the Narrator gave us a balance to this fanciful world we are thrust into. His dry humor really made me and my wife laugh.

Shaun Laurencio as Rapunzel's Prince had a voice a smooth as velvet that made me melt. Then as the wolf he had a voice that made me cringe. Kudos to becoming a character that made me so happy when he got skinned but then a Prince that made me hate when he got blinded. Now if you want me I have to go home and take a shower to get that wolf voice off my skin.

My wife was a fan of a curvy and full voiced Cinderella! Krissy Joe Slough's Cinderella really gave me lots of joy with her power and vivaciousness.

Cheyenne Shaud as Rapunzel had a voice that was as free from imperfection as her hair was free from split ends and tangles. This is her first time with OBSP and I hope she really puts down roots (I know bad pun) on the Levoy Stage.

Can I just say that seeing April Johnson as shrewish Lucinda in that gawdy pink dress made my day! I miss her face so much and loved seeing her playing such a "heel".

Also a huge shout-out to the performance of Milky White who played herself. It's hard to give milk on command but that's just a sign of a bovine that's dedicated to her craft. Would really love to see her in future productions. A big shout out to her owner, Gabriel Productions, for letting OBSP rent her for the production. A special shout out to Cara May and all the wonderful work she did making the other props like beanstalks that grow to the clouds and golden harps from the sky.

Lighting Design by Tyler Daddario turned the woods into a primeval mystery full of shadows and beams of light that pierced the air.

Jason D. Smith's Scenic Design was a perfect counterpart to this lighting with dark greens and browns and tall gnarly trees. When these two designs merge we get a dark and spooky world forvourvshow to live in. Great job.

Music Direction by Walter A. Webster with Conductor Dominic Scalfero deserves a real loud shout-out! You have warm strings and horns with a dulcet reed section rounded out by lilting strings. This creates a dark sound that keeps the pace moving.

Movement Direction by Domonic Barnes gave me choreography so good that I had no clue I was looking at choreography. Let me explain. Everything was so seamless that I was just like "and this is the world now. This is how the universe moves now." It's the choreography that hacks your brain that's the best.

Costume Design by Shaun Laurencio is my life right now! There are beautiful flowing dresses and doublets and tunics. There are rich colors and vibrant hues! One thing I know about Shaun is that I couldn't think of anyone better to clothe these demented Disney princesses and princes.

Hair and Makeup Design by John Rattacasa just made me squeal with glee! You have wigs and curls and tresses by the plenty for him to work his magic! And then you have the sea of pretty made up faces. Each one of them is a masterpiece!

Now it's time to leave the Woods but I hope that you get to make your own journey this next weekend. This show has some great moments full of laughs, tears, and love. Just know that you're never the same coming out as you were coming in. But you just have to make the journey.