This fairy tale is for children and adults alike

Roger Varley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

If you go into the woods tonight, you give yourself a prize,

'Cuz Marisa Hachey and all her crew will delight your ears and eyes.

THE SLOTTED SPOON CAN CATCH THE POTATO - This is just one of many pearls of wisdom that the audience can glean during Vocally Inspired Performers (VIP) production of Into the Woods, written by Stephen Sondheim. The production opens at the Uxbridge Music Hall on Thursday, August 13, and runs through to Sunday, August 23. For production times and to buy tickets, visit starticketing.com Photo by John Cavers

That's because Hachey's Vocally Inspired Performers (VIP) theatre group opens tonight (Thursday) with Into The Woods, a musical that sees various fairy tale characters interacting and intertwining while offering the songs and music of Stephen Sondheim.

While her crew was occupied with set building last week (with some of the youth getting plenty of paint on themselves) Hachey sat down to talk about the show.

Hachey said Into The Woods can be presented in two ways: as just the first act, which ends with everyone happy and receiving their wishes. That is the way the "junior" edition is played for children. In Hachey's production, she includes the second act, where she says things get a little darker: that's for the adults.

"It's funny but interesting," she said.

The show opens tonight at the Uxbridge Music Hall and runs tomorrow night, Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. The following week sees performances on Thursday and Friday with matinee shows on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are available through starticketing.com

Hachey said Into The Woods has no "star" performer as such.

"They're all coming in and out," she said.

Because of the challenges of Sondheim's music, Hachey has two music directors - Sarah Noble and Cam Scott - for the cast of 30.

"Doing Sondheim with youth is challenging," she said.

The cast includes performers from Uxbridge and Scugog as well as one from Markham and one cast member who travels from Trenton for every rehearsal.

"Our older members act as leaders and role models, she said.

Hachey has been involved with local theatre for 25 years and started the VIP theatre group for youth aged eight to18 in 2011 when she was 16 This is VIP's 18th show. Hachey also opened a studio - Boundless Studio Uxbridge - where she teaches theatre programming and skills. It also is the home of VIP. Tickets are available through starticketing.com