Fall Musical Kicks off Thursday at St. Michael-Albertville High School

students began work on this fall's musical just the second and third weeks of school. 

"The pit orchestra had music in hand the third week," music director Adam Sroka said.

"It goes fast," said vocal director Lynsey Bosl just before one of the final dress rehearsals Monday. Students in full costumes and make up were scurrying to their places to begin what was to be a "straight-through" rehearsal.

"No stopping," Director Bob Zahler told the cast and crew. "We're going to do this start to finish."

This year's prodction of "Into the Woods" with a cast, crew and orchestra of close to 50 STMA high school students intertwines the plots of several Brothers Grimm fairy tales including Cinderella, Jack & The Beanstalk, The Baker & His Wife, Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel with appearances by Sleeping Beauty and Snow White. While there are several interpretations of various fairytales, director Zahler cautions that there are very serious themes and "it's often not until the end that one realizes how much Into the Woods attempts to teach the audience."

 "This is one of my favorite shows of all time," Zahler said. He also boasts of the strong talent in the cast. "Last spring Mrs. Bösl and I looked at our talent pool and knew that we had the right people to pull off a very difficult show like this. This is an extremely talented cast who risen to the challenge of very demanding music."

The two-and-a-half-hour production directed by Zahler and assistant director Ashley Budde begins at 7 p.m. Thursday. There are 7 p.m. performances Friday and Saturday night as well. Tickets are $8 and available at the high school. There will be an intermission and refreshments available for sale.