Gavin J. Annette (The Baker) Hello, everyone! I am so thrilled to have you join us for this be a part of this show again; this is my second time going Into the Woods, and I feel like every time you experience the narrative, you learn something new – both about the story and characters, but also about yourself.To play the Baker is an exciting and fulfilling opportunity, and I feel connected to him on many levels – he, like myself and many others, reels at the challenges thrown upon him once he enters the Woods, and learns to trust and rely on others to help him accomplish his goals. The relationship between the Baker and his father also rings a little close to home, and I will freely admit that this production will allow me to face certain insecurities and complications I faced in the relationship with my own father. A bit like a looking-glass, Into the Woods reflects aspects of viewers and participants alike through the characters and circumstances presented, and offers the chance for us to do our own bit of reflection in turn. It will sometimes be a difficult and painful experience, but ultimately will allow myself – and hopefully even you, the audience – to reconcile with the various conundrums of making it through this big, twisted and often confusing world.Overall, though, I hope this performance brings a smile to your face and a positive and uplifting experience to your heart! So sit back, relax, and enjoy the journey – I know I will!

Phoebe Avila-Olderman (Rapunzel)  I’m excited to be making my Forst Inn debut in Into the Woods- the first musical I ever learned music for 16 years ago in my first musical theater camp. A lifelong soprano forever singing in my bedroom (as well as several musicals and seven years of show choir). I was eighteen when I cut my hair and left my tower- Green Bay, the only place I’d ever known as home- and ventured out into the world. I attended acting school in New York City, which certainly felt like a lonely desert at times. Unlike Rapunzel however, I emerged with a newfound sense of self and confidence in my acting. Though not a witch, my mother is certainly magical. She, my father, and my sister have been my constants, not only fiercely protecting me, but always encouraging my dreams and wishes. Without them, I would be truly lost. While there are no princes in my life, I am grateful to all my fellow castmates and wonderful directors, who have certainly made it worth the journeying.  I look forward to seeing you every time we visit. You are all royalty to me and I would be fragmentedly singing and stumbling about without your guidance.
At her core Rapunzel is a young woman seeking to find a true sense of self beyond her relationships to others. I have been lucky enough in my life to know who I am; an actor, a writer, a singer, a dancer, and most of all an independent young woman forever searching for deeper meaning. If nothing else, please know that I am more than just a fair maiden with really nice hair.

Roger Bennin (Cinderella’s Father) fell into the role of Cinderella’s father because he accompanied costume designer Claran to the read-through to help her measure all the actors.  Director Michael casually asked him if he wanted to be Cinderella’s father, and he agreed (after being assured he didn’t have many lines, didn’t really need to sing, and definitely did NOT have to dance).  This is not Roger’s first musical however, having appeared as one of the professors in Legally Blonde, and Admiral Boom in Mary Poppins, both with The Masquers.  You might have most recently seen him here at the Forst as Bob Cratchit in last December’s “Mistletoe Musings Christmas Carol”.

David Bowman (Mysterious Man) Where does our story truly begin? Before we were born, things happened that impact us through every aspect of our lives. My love of the spotlight began in second grade when I got to play Santa Claus. I found out at my graduation party that I got the role because my teacher had known my mom could sew the costume! Would I be here in this show if my mom had never learned how to sew? Or if my grandparents had not bought our relatively poor family a piano and my parents sacrificed much so that my siblings and I could have lessons? These events shaped who I am and how I move through the world. I had no control over those circumstances. The only part of our story over which we have control is how we react to the situations life hands us. Do we run? Fight? Make amends? Sometimes we choose correctly, sometimes we don’t. Realizing that we are both hero and villain in our chapter of the story is one of the lessons I pull from this show. As you laugh and cry with the fairy tale characters, remember the choices you have made in your own chapter, both the right and wrong. What have you learned about what you already knew? May we all learn from the Mysterious Man that: 1. We (and our actions) are serious and consequential 2. It’s fine to be a little crazy 3. It is never too late to make amends.

KC Bray (Rapunzel’s Prince) We’ve all been told the story of our lives already. We all know the chapters: go to college, get a job, get married, start a family, yada yada yada. But once you get to the end of the book, what’s next? Into the Woods, to me, is all about what happens after everything goes according to plan. The first act is the stories we all know by heart, and the second act is what happens…”later”. When the characters can no longer be guided by their story, that’s when they’re truly lost.
Rapunzel’s Prince is no different. Once he has what he wants, he doesn’t know what to do with himself. He lives his life in “the chase”, and is lost without it. He reminds me of a quote from Dostoevsky’s Notes from the Underground, “Perhaps the only goal on earth to which mankind is striving lies in this incessant process of attaining . . . and not in the thing to be attained”. I find myself relating to Rapunzel’s Prince, having just graduated college. I’ve spent so long working toward that goal, and now that I have it, the path is a lot less clear. I sometimes wish there was a reset button on life. I frequently get lost in the “What could have been”s, but I think Rapunzel’s Prince shows us why the restart might not be the best option. Best to learn to love what we have instead of always lusting for more.
And what I have is a loving family that supports me in writing my next chapter, wonderful friends that I made along the way, a job with Brown County Shelter Care that allows me to share my story with the next generation, and hobbies and passions that can take me on new adventures at any time.

Emilee E. Carroll (Cinderella’s Mother/Granny) Come one, come all, and join me down the path of two very different roles; while alike in heart, vastly different in spirit. I am honored to play two women who would do anything for the children they care for. Though I have no children of my own, my love language is the act of providing and guiding others. My day job is very much like Cinderella’s Mother, as I work for Bank First in their Human Resources Department.  Compassionate, caring, uplifting, positive. By night, my true passion lies in the theatre: playing many roles on and off stage, traveling to new adventures by text and song. Granny travels in a physical sense, while I am taken there through my imagination. Emotional, cunning, spitfire, daring. Though neither have a Prince in their current journeys, I am blessed to have the most supportive and kind spouse throughout the land. Our companions on our life journey include two of orange and one of grey – our four-legged friends who meow rather than bark. Remember as you forage your own path, that while opportunity is not a lengthy visitor, one mustn’t be afraid to slay the beasts in their own quest.

Carrie Counihan (Stepmother) Every good fairy tale needs a villain, and while not typically cast as “evil,” it’s been a journey and dream come true bringing the evil stepmother to life! Performing Into the Woods has been a dream since I was a child. Ironically, in my last show, I was cast as Helen Keller’s mother in Miracle Worker, so this is my second performance in a row with blind daughters. At the heart of even the evilest of characters and especially evil stepmothers, reflect good intentions. I always look for the good in all people and all situations, that is my nature, and the characters of Into the Woods are doing their very best. Life is all about the adventure and while you never know what you might encounter in the Woods, the “woulds” are what makes life so special.While I don’t have human children, my kingdom in Door County has 22 fuzzy, furry and feathered children that I would do anything for and a very patient prince named Dave, but I would never go so far as to cut off their toes or heels…even if they often bite and peck at mine.This is my third season with The Forst Inn and my 9th show here…and every one has been an honor. Thank you to Michael and the Forst Inn for all of the opportunities he has given so many actors in our region to “wish” and dream big…remember Make Your Own Fairy Tale.

Rachel Danay (Jack’s Mother) I know I am not alone in having loved this music for decades, despite not seeing a whole production live until this summer. I now love knowing the depth and complexity of the full story in characters like Jack’s Mother. I have loved and worked to change the world for many children, especially my elementary students and “Penguins”. My choreography work with the Penguin Project, a theatre program for Artists with disabilities and peer Mentors in Lincoln, Nebraska led me back home to become a special education teacher.  Jack’s Mother appears harsh at times, but she loves Jack dearly and wishes for them to have a more comfortable life, even as peasants. She maneuvers desperately for Jack’s safety as she makes decisions while waiting for Jack’s father to come back with the bottle of milk that he went out for years ago. I am grateful and excited to be making a return to the Forst Inn stage and theatre on the lakeshore after more than a decade. I enjoy going Into the Woods at our campground where I delight in feeding the birds, furry creatures and catching their antics on our trail camera when the light is dim.

Zachary Eric Glaeser (Cinderella’s Prince) Hail and well met! I am very excited to get the opportunity to perform this role again after having the pleasure of performing it 8 years ago. Any opportunity to impress upon an audience that I am clever, well-mannered, considerate, passionate, charming, and as kind as I’m handsome is a worthwhile adventure for me. The thrill of chasing this role throughout the rehearsal process will only be matched by the rush of performing in front of a live audience. Fret not, for this will not be the last you see of me on this stage. I am never content with performing only once in a great while and continually need more opportunities to express my love for musicals and theatre in general. When not performing you might find me at “my table” at the Inn (table 53), or slaying metal giants or woo-ing customers at Jagemann Stamping Company where I’ve worked the last 10 years, really putting that Bachelor’s Degree in Music to use! I am grateful to have been born a Prince to a King and Queen who taught me to be charming and sincere, and am lucky that my sibling shares the same passion for performing that I do, and some, as she is currently finishing her Doctorate in Opera at IU. Thank you for joining us on the fairy tale adventure “Into the Woods .”

Laura Grefe (The Witch) Hello all and thank you for joining the story to meet the witch, where she was perfect, had everything but beauty, and had power. It’s a journey to portray a more serious role, a change from my previous shows where I was mostly comedic relief.
Hopefully you will listen as I try to keep my little world in one piece and help my fellow villagers get what they most wish for, as well as my own wish. After all, a little magic never hurt anyone.
Outside of my beautiful garden, I work as a princess, entertaining at birthday parties and volunteering at events. It is not my first time on the stage, however it is my first time performing with Forrst and I am loving every last second. It is such a thrill to finally step into the role I’ve been dreaming of, and with such a talented bunch of fairytale folk.
Not unlike the witch, I take great pride in my loved ones and I am so happy they always pushed me and encouraged me to keep performing, even on days I didn’t think I would succeed. Their support is why I’m here today.
I hope you enjoy the show and remember, careful the tale you tell. That is the spell.

Erin LaFond (Baker’s Wife) A fellow cast member mentioned she had read somewhere to consider the show as “Into the WOULDS.” This idea is so interesting for the Baker’s Wife as she ponders Moments in the WOULDS… “And to get what you wish, only just for a moment, these are dangerous WOULDS.” Throughout the show, each character is faced with the chance to experience their wish only to find out it’s not as rewarding as they thought it WOULD be. “Must it all be either less or more, either plain or grand? Is it always or, is it never…and?” Who WOULDn’t want to live in a world of “and”s? What if you could have a large and busy family AND have plenty of free time for yourself? Work your dream job AND be financially sound? Fall in love with John AND Sara? But we are not always fortunate to live in the world of “and”s. Therefore, the only thing we can do is weigh the “or”s in our day-to-day lives and hope things work out. And that, is exhausting.The Baker’s Wife is one of the characters in the show who is truly self-aware to this mental fatigue we all get. “Just remembering you”ve had an “and” when you’re back to “or” makes the “or” mean more than it did before.” With that in mind, we accept that being a human means you can only make decisions with the knowledge you have, regardless of how little it may be. “Now I understand, and it’s time to leave the WOULDS.” The Baker’s Wife is so relatable for me as a wife, a mother, and a woman. All three have very different needs and desires, and all three are me. So how do you decide which side of you gets nurtured on any given day? For years you make choices and make mistakes. You sometimes hate yourself, and sometimes find moments of pride. You have to sacrifice parts of yourself for your love of others. To quote a recent summer blockbuster: “It is literally impossible to be a woman.” Eventually, you separate your “and”s and “or”s until you make the best version of your life that you can. Once you learn to let go of the unimportant “and”s and realize you can be happy with your “or”s, then it’s time to leave the woods.Before we take this live theatre journey together, I send my love and light to my fellow castmates, the directing staff, and my favorite “or”s, my forever Baker and our little sweet rolls – Jeffrey, Archer, and Jasper

Ritter Leeph (Little Red Riding Hood) Everyone always says they’re “So Thrilled” to be in their show, but I truly mean it. This show is a wonderful piece about once in a lifetime chances, unforgettable moments, magic, rights, wrongs, blood family, found family, and everything in-between. Ever since I was way too young to be seeing this show, it has been a favorite of mine. A fairy-tale land with a beautiful scenery, a story that sucks you in, and very pretty costumes (that was little Ritter’s favorite).
Little Red, to me, represents innocence, confidence, a childlike view of the world, a light in a dark time. For me, playing Little Red represents growing up, new experiences, learning, a lifelong dream come true, a light in a dark time.I want to thank Michael and David for giving me a chance to play a role that means so much to me, my parents for driving me out to the middle of nowhere every day (and for always believing in me I guess,) my castmates for making me feel so welcome and comfortable in a space that’s brand new to me, my friends and wonderful partner for putting up with my insane schedule, and everyone reading this, for supporting live theatre, and someone’s dream.

​Phoenix McElroy (Jack) I am so excited to be part of this amazing show! It’s especially exciting to play someone so similar yet so different to myself. Jack is someone who wants to get away from his sheltered life and I have to say I’m not much different. While I’m not as sheltered by my parents as Jack is, I’ve always had this deep want to see the world and leave the cozy suburban life I live now. There is nothing wrong with Jack’s life and nothing wrong with mine either but I think for both of us it’s this want for new and exciting experiences outside of our comfort zone. Jack feels defined by his relationship with his mother because all she sees him as is a boy she needs to protect. This is the big reason he feels the need to prove himself and fight the giant so he will no longer be defined as a boy to his mother, but a man. I think we all have a giant in our life, the thing that we believe we need to do to prove we’re more than how other people define us. I’ve always wanted to get away from the labels that other people define me by, whether it’s who I love or the color of my hair I’ve always seeked to be thought of as more. And if this show has taught me anything, it’s that sometimes you just have to go Into the Woods, to fight that giant.Now I hope I am able to bring to life Jack’s story for you. And enjoy the show!

​Sam Oswald (Wolf) returns to the FORST INN stage for the fourth time in a small, yet meaty role. He was hungry—like a wolf— to participate in this show.  It’s interesting to be able to step into a role that at face value encompasses the motivations of a hungry beast.  Adding an anthropomorphic element changes the complexity of motivation. Not only is the wolf hungry for satiety, but also for power.  Even further, he seems to relish a masquerade of bravado and friendliness; a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a conman.  The challenges putting on such a well known and involved show are met with a breadth of local talent, some of whom are first timers.  One will be pleased to find that these challenges are met with aplomb from a dedicated cast and crew.  There is much to be proud of.

Em Schaller (Lucinda) I want to welcome you all to the woods: a perfect mix of dangerous and beautiful, scary and enchanting with a space for everyone. This role has offered me a unique opportunity as well as, quite honestly, one of the hardest questions I’ve had to answer. How do you connect to a villain? 30+ roles over 13 years could not have prepared me for how hard I’ve struggled with this question. I’ve never had to play a villain until now. In some stories it’s too easy, but I’ve found it difficult to connect to a character described only as “beautiful of face, but vile and black of heart.” I’ve said aloud several times that I don’t know how to understand the unforgivable motives of someone so cruel. How do you empathize with evil? My answer came to me after one of our first music rehearsals; “people make mistakes.” Taking away the mysticism of the tale and thinking of Lucinda as a human with real human emotions and a history of mistakes has opened me up to a new perspective; not only as an actor interpreting a story, but also as a young adult navigating a world with people who treat others terribly. Everyone is a person who makes mistakes.On a lighter note, I want to say that being able to experience another show with my dad at my side has been amazing. I also want to thank my mom for being my biggest supporter and my cats for supplying endless cuddles and comfort.I have always loved Into the Woods. This show combined with the magic of the Forst Inn is sure to create a night of true whimsy for all.

Marty Schaller (Narrator) “In theatre we get to tell stories.” This is the opening line of a director friend’s pep talk to 50-some young actors prior to the final dress rehearsal of a local youth theater’s musical theater production.  Some of my most fond and vivid childhood memories involve story telling. Here are two. My dad would tell me bedtime stories that he made up from the cast of characters created by Thornton W. Burgess; the most memorable of which to me were Billy Mink, Little Joe Otter, and Reddy the Fox. The adventures these anthropomorphous critters enjoyed had a wholesome innocence to them, and the images planted in a young boy’s imagination just before falling asleep set the stage for a library of richly textured, largely pleasant dreams. Conversely, had my dad drawn my bedtime stories from the catalog of the Brothers Grimm, they would have painted a much darker dreamscape. Good call, dad!
​The second memory is culled from a legendary “Schaller Family Story” as only my mom could tell. The telling of a family story by my mother was never succinct. Later in life we kids took great delight in teasing mom about the inordinate amount of back-story she would include in the narrative of each family story. But that’s another story . . .  I am the youngest of five kids. My three oldest siblings are 9-11 years older than me. As the story goes, when the oldest, Heidi, learned to read, she would sit on the back steps of the family home and read Little Red Riding Hood to her two (at the time) enraptured sibs. And the story began, “One ponced a time . . . “  Another part of this family story includes Heidi, in a serious narrator voice at the point in which the Big Bad Wolf is about to spring his trap on Little Red, delivering the line, “and a crappy smile crept over his face.”  For this production of  Into The Woods, as the Narrator I’m the one who gets to deliver the ubiquitous story starter line not once, but twice! How cool is that?

Britt Simmer (Florinda) I enjoy thinking of Florinda as the Florida of the show. Her name obviously isn’t a far leap. She’s beautiful on the surface but is actually terrible. She’s desparate for attention and admiration, even despite her overly inflated sense of self. Something about a toe needing to be cut off…I can certainly relate to the desire for attention and admiration, so I hope you enjoy the show!

​Lydia Skarivoda (Cinderella) I’m delighted to play this dream role of mine here at the lovely Forst Inn! Cinderella finds herself at a crossroads, where it feels like picking one direction means saying goodbye to the other option forever. I think this is an iconic, coming of age feeling a lot of people experience while growing up, and it can reoccur at any age. I think we can take comfort in Cinderella’s story by seeing that even if we  take a leap and regret it, our story doesn’t actually end. We can have an infinite number of redos- as many as we want. I’d like to thank my friends and family for their continuous support, and my cat Willow for helping me learn my lines.

Sean Stalvey (the Steward) Stew with me for a moment. Just before being presented with this role I have finished performing as Charlie Brown in the Forst Inn production of “Your a Good Man, Charlie Brown!”. I’ve been pondering (stewing) on the stark contrast of having played an innocent forlorn child to whom I relate to considerably and then diving into the apathetic character of the Steward.  The Steward’s personality and actions seem a complete contrast to my own personality, but I find him more understandable the more I develop his character.
Outside of the Forst Inn, I work a job in the service industry. I try my darndest to do a good job, but some days are so overwhelming, it doesn’t seem like the effort was worth it. When it comes to the fictional character of the Steward, I know that he is treated poorly by Cinderella’s Prince and that he is undervalued for the work he does. Perhaps the Steward was aspiring to do his job well, but all of his efforts were undercut and dismissed until he had no inspiration to do a good job anymore. When morale is low, why put in the effort? It is a personal conflict I deal with all the time. Personality wise, I feel like the character of the Steward reflects the same low amount of respect and bitterness as he receives from his superior and others.
I think the Steward shows what someone can turn into if they are not given the respect they deserve and they internalize the discouragement into bitterness and apathy, only doomed to pass it on to others. This character of course is only one of many, and his story is only one of plentiful lessons to be learned in “Into the Woods”. I already know that I am among a wonderful cast full of talented people, and I hope that this presentation of “Into the Woods” is one to be remembered ever after!