‘Into the Woods’

“Little Red Riding Hood,” played by Iyanna Lynell, left, and “The Witch,” played by Abigail Blystra, center, threaten “The Narrator,” played by Kyleigh Wilkinson, right, as they rehearse a scene of “Into The Woods” at “The Civic” in Ocala, Fla. on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. The plays runs from Sept. 11-28 at the Ocala Civic Theatre. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2025.

Justin Davis was wrestling with a stubborn computer in his home office when a call from The Ocala Civic Theatre, also known as The Civic, shifted his course as he was offered the role of resident music director.

“When I got the call, I was in my home office working on another IT job and I was very excited, because it was an opportunity to do something creative. At the time, I was fighting with a computer that was not behaving, so I was very excited to think about the future of doing music with people instead of working with machines,” Davis said.

Feeling out of place in the solitary world of IT, he craved connection.

“I applied for the job and I wasn’t sure what was going to happen, but when I got that call that they wanted to move forward with me to be their next teammate, it was just an overwhelming sense of relief of finally being able to have that part of life filled for me while still being able to do IT work on the side,” Davis said.

He later learned that he would lead the music for “Into the Woods,” the Tony Award-winning musical by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine.

“I feel like I’ve come home. It’s a lot of fun to connect up with such a great organization,” Davis stated.

From Sept. 11-28, “Into the Woods” opens The Civic’s 75th season, weaving iconic Grimm fairy-tale characters with the tale of a baker and his wife in a magical forest. The story intertwines Jack of “Jack and the Beanstalk,” Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel with the baker and his wife, who hope to break a witch’s curse to have a child. In the magical forest, their quests for items requested by the witch to lift the curse include a cow as white as milk, a cape as red as blood, hair as yellow as corn and a slipper as pure as gold, leading to encounters with giants, wolves and charming princes along the way.

Directed by Executive Artistic Director Greg Thompson, this production is played by a darling, dynamic cast, with an evocative scenic design by Kaden Reynard and costumes by Amanda Jones. The show offers a mesmerizing yet sobering exploration of wishes and their repercussions.

Thompson crafts a unique vision, presenting the story through a child’s imagination.

“We tell the story through the eyes of a child—their narrator. It’s like the story comes alive in their imagination, mainly to help them deal with a tough personal situation. It’s set among brambles and bushes of the forest, rather than the usual focus on tall, looming trees,” Thompson said.

Exploring the complex nature of parent-child relationships, “Into the Woods” examines how the hopes, dreams and expectations that parents place on their children shape these bonds and the individuals involved, according to Thompson.

CREATIVE CASTING

Christian Gonzalez returns to The Civic in the role of Jack from “Jack and the Beanstalk.” Most recently, Gonzalez appeared as the lead of SpongeBob SquarePants in “The SpongeBob Musical.”

For Gonzalez, “Into the Woods” has been on his bucket list since he started doing theater.

“I’ve had a history of playing youthful, energetic roles in the past and Jack is among the best of that type. I haven’t had the opportunity to be in a dramatic piece in a while and while Jack has lots of fun comic moments throughout the show, he really has a terribly difficult and tragic story towards the end of the show, where, for a while, he’s a big target of blame by a large group of people,” he said.

The Big Bad Wolf is played by James R. Taylor III, who is returning to The Civic with past credits such as Jervis Pendleton in “Daddy Long Legs.” Taylor also plays a prince who falls in love with Cinderella.

Taylor’s portrayal of the Big Bad Wolf brings a chilling yet human edge to the forest’s dangers, embodying a predator whose cunning masks deeper flaws.

“I think what excites me most about playing the wolf and Cinderella’s prince are the similarities between the two of them. They are both never content with what they have and are continually seeking for more, whether that’s more to eat in the case of the wolf, or another woman, like the prince,” Taylor said.

For Taylor, his approach to both characters has presented a learning curve compared to past roles.

“These characters are much more self-centered, which is a quality that I don’t often get to portray. Usually, the characters I have played are at least generous in some way or another, but this time they’re out to seek satisfaction seemingly only for themselves. I like to think I’m diametrically opposed as an actor, whereas these characters are 95% ‘me-me-me,’” he said.

In Taylor’s preparation for key moments on stage, he takes an unconventional approach when getting into character.

“This might sound strange, but I think of all the kind things I do for my wife and then act the opposite on stage. My characters are self-centered jerks, so I say to myself, ‘What would I NOT do if this were real life?’ And then I do that,” Taylor said.

According to Thompson, the casting process was fierce, with 103 auditions for 21 roles, drawing talent from Leesburg to Clearwater.

“It’s a great mix of veterans, newcomers and first-timers,” Thompson said, praising the cast’s “fantastic” vibe.

The remaining 18 characters include Patricia Cohen, playing Jack’s mother. Cohen made her debut on The Civic’s stage in the quintet and ensemble of “Sweeney Todd.”

Iyanna Lynell, who made her Civic debut as Mary Debenham in “Murder on the Orient Express,” is returning to the stage as Little Red Riding Hood.

Sweet, doe-eyed Cinderella is played by Adrienne Hebert, who last appeared in “The SpongeBob Musical” with other roles including Belle in “Beauty and the Beast.” Cinderella’s stepmother is played by Elizabeth Cook, with her stepsisters played by Estella Cavalier and Sydney Nye. Both Cook and Cavalier are returning to The Civic after previously appearing in the quintet and ensemble of “Sweeney Todd.” Nye is making her Civic stage debut. Cinderella’s mother is played by Ashlyn Gibbs who magically makes the role her own. Catalina is returning to The Civic stage with credits including Marie, the fairy godmother in “Cinderella” and Amalia in “She Loves Me.”

New to The Civic, Isaac Jovel plays a woodsman and understudy for Jack. The mysterious man is played by Garry Michel, who is new to The Civic but has appeared on stages around the world with credits including playing Frank in “The Rocky Horror Show” with the Bethel Actors Guild in Alaska. Victoria Richards is returning to the stage with two parts, playing a harp and Snow White. Richards last appeared in the ensemble of “Mary Poppins.”

Caleb Spivey rocks the role as the baker. Spivey previously played Anthony in “Sweeney Todd” and Gaston in “Beauty and the Beast.” The baker’s wife is played with perfect poise by Megan Taylor, who has also appeared on stage at The Civic as Jersha Abbott in “Daddy Long Legs.”

The witch is played by Abigail Blystra, who is excited about making her debut at The Civic. Rapunzel’s prince is played by Daniel Boodoo, who played Lord Pinkleton in “Cinderella.” Janik Buranosky effortlessly plays two parts as a steward and understudy for the princes. Buranosky has played on stage as Davey in “Newsies” and Ratchett in “Murder on the Orient Express.” The characters of Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty are captured by Lily Capote who formerly played Elena Adrenyi in “Murder on the Orient Express” and Monika in “Loyalties.”

Crystal Catalina plays two roles, as a granny and a giant. Catalina made her splashy debut at The Civic in the ensemble of “The SpongBob Musical.”

The show is narrated by Kyleigh Wilkinson who is elated to be making her main stage debut.

NEVER TOO OLD FOR FAIRYTALES

For Director of Marketing and Public Relations Melody Murphy, the choice of “Into the Woods” to launch The Civic’s 75th season feels like a communal journey.

“It’s a show that so many generations can connect with. Most of us were raised on fairytales, and their stories are timeless. I think it gives audiences the feeling of starting out on a journey with us. We’re all going into the woods together and we’re setting out into our 75th year of storytelling and adventures. It feels immersive,’” Murphy said.

According to Murphy, the production’s universal themes will resonate with the community as it weaves tales of longing and connection.

“Fairytales are beloved because they tell stories with universal themes. As our show description begins in the brochure, ‘Fairytales tell the truth: Everyone is wishing for something.’ The musical weaves together tales of family and love. It’s about people yearning for home and belonging and something better than what and where they are when we begin. It’s stories of family of origin as well as found family, and how no one is alone,” she said.

This resonance, paired with Thompson’s vision of a childlike forest of brambles, invites audiences to reflect on their own wishes and relationships.

Broken up into two acts with one 20-minute intermission, the show’s structure subverts expectations, according to Murphy.

“The plot takes many of the fairytales you know and love from childhood, and then asks, ‘So what happens next, after the happily ever after?’ Act two goes off the rails, but in a wonderfully interesting, slightly dark and twisty way, just like a path through the woods. It explores the idea that what we think of as a happy ending isn’t always, or a happy ending for one person means that someone else didn’t get what they wished for,” Murphy said.

For those hesitant to attend a play centered on fairytales, Murphy offers a heartfelt invitation to come and see it.

“You’re never too old for fairytales. It’s an amazing cast performing a classic musical, with some of Sondheim’s funniest and most melodic work. It’s touching, it’s clever, it’s witty, it’s visually beautiful; it’s all the things you want in a theatrical interlude. And you want to be here to celebrate history, the opening of our 75th season. Go into the woods with us and disappear for a little while into our storybook world. You’ll be glad you did,” Murphy said.

As the curtain prepares to rise, Thompson hopes audiences find personal resonance in the fairy-tale journey.

“I don’t have any expectations when it comes to this. I just want them to be entertained and challenged, in whatever way satisfies each audience member. I believe theater can be a very personal experience. We each are touched by it in our own way. That’s why I tell people I’m not really into ‘provoking’ an audience; I prefer to evoke, hoping that our audiences are deeply engaged and leave with questions, thoughts and feelings they discuss long after the curtain falls,” Thompson said.

The Civic is located at 4337 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. Tickets for “Into the Woods” are $35-$40 for adults and $17-$20 for ages 18 and younger, based on seating section. This show is rated PG.

Buy tickets online at ocalacivictheatre.com. To get tickets through the box office, call (352) 236-2274 or visit 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Into The Woods at The Civic

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