Central Catholic brings musical theater back to campus

Apr. 29—For the first time in almost 50 years, Central Catholic High School students will be performing in a musical on their own campus.

For years, the school has performed its spring musical at the Valentine Theatre, but organizers were forced to adjust their plans after the pandemic forced theaters and other venues to shut their doors for the past year, said Rebecca Buckman, Central Catholic's artistic and vocal director.

After the school was forced to go virtual with performances of last spring's The Wizard of Oz, students and the school community rallied to put on live performances of Into the Woods in the school's front gym— marking the first time the location has been used for a musical since 1972 with the show Carousel, Buckman said. Prior to that show, the front gym was primarily used in the 1950s.

And so, the school's auditorium has now been taken over by fairytale magic and transformed into a land where Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack (of the Jack and the Beanstalk tale), Cinderella, and many others will meet — thanks to a witch's curse that sets off a chain of events and forces the characters' stories to become entwined. If you think you know your fairytales, wait until you see their "happily ever after" become anything but.

"I am pleased to say that with the help of many volunteers, the front gym has been transformed into a charming enchanted woods," Buckman said in an email to The Blade. "Parents and volunteers built out our stage, created scenery, props, ambiance, and delightful costumes."

Performances are 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at Central Catholic High School, 2550 Cherry St., Toledo. Ticket information is available at centralcatholic.org. Tickets are $10 to $15 and are limited to two per person per show.

Buckman said Into the Woods was chosen as the spring musical in part because it allows for a limited number of people to be onstage at any one time, which is pretty remarkable considering there are 57 Glee Club members acting in the show — many of whom are "Glee Club legacies," who are following in the footsteps of parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles, Buckman added.

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For those wishing to add a bit of fantasy back into their lives, Buckman said Into the Woods also offers some good life lessons for these difficult times.

"If you do not know this show, it is the story of what happened after happily ever after and how our lovable fairytale characters learned to lean on one another in their greatest moments of despair," she said. "In these trying times of COVID isolation, we would like to refer back to a song in the show 'No One Is Alone.'"

Upcoming shows:

—30 Reasons Not To Be in a Play: These will be children's performances on May 7-9 at the Rep.

—Talking With: 8 p.m. May 20-22 and 2 p.m. May 23 by the Black Swamp Players at the Ohio Theatre, 3112 Lagrange St. in Toledo.

—SHOUT! The Mod Musical: May 27-June 6 at the Ottawa Park Amphitheater, 2205 Kenwood Blvd., in Toledo.

—Accidentally Brave: June 18-20 by Actors Collaborative Toledo at the Ohio Theatre, 3114 Lagrange St., Toledo.

—HELLO, DOLLY!: June 24-27 at Perrysburg High School, 13385 Roachton Rd. in Perrysburg. The show is being put on by the Perrysburg Musical Theatre Company.

—Rock of Ages: 8 p.m. May 20-22 and 2 p.m. May 23 at the Maumee Indoor Theatre, 601 Conant St., Maumee. The show is being put on by 3B Productions.

—Toledo Ballet 2021 summer programs for dancers ages 4 and up. Toledo Ballet's summer offerings include a week-long Broadway dance intensive taught by professional dancers and master teachers from Broadway and three week-long ballet intensives for advanced and intermediate level students on ballet technique, pointe, variations, and choreography. Non-Toledo Ballet students must call 419-471-0049 or email Lisa Mayer-Lang, artistic director for Toledo Ballet at lmayer-lang@artstoledo.com to schedule a placement evaluation. An open house will also be held 5-7 p.m. May 6 for prospective students.

—Something Rotten!: Sept. 10-11, Sept. 17-19, and Sept. 24-26 at the Ottawa Park Amphitheater.

—Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Fallen Soufflé: Oct. 29-31, and Nov. 4-7 at the Rep.

—Something Rotten! (time not provided) on Oct. 8 at the Croswell Opera House, 129 E. Maumee St., Adrian.

—A Christmas Carol: Dec. 2-5 and Dec. 9-12 at the Rep.

Jeff Schmucker writes about theater for The Blade. Send news of theater and comedy events at least two weeks in advance to theater@theblade.com.