Performing Art School to perform 'Into the Woods'

A group of local children will display their talents in the upcoming production of “Into the Woods Junior.”

The performance is part of a three-week long Performing Arts School at the Historic Palace Theatre.

Starting on July 9, the groups of kids, in grades second- through eighth-grade, have been learning about theater and perfecting their acting skills. They will perform the musical at the end of the school in front of their family and friends.

“Into the Woods Junior” tells the story about a variety of different fairy tale characters combined into one. The show focuses on “Jack and the Beanstalk,” “Cinderella” and “Baker and Baker’s Wife.”

“I like how all the stories intertwine,” said Ben Flaherty, who is playing the role of Baker.

Flaherty, 11, said his character is tasked with traveling through the woods searching for objects that will break a witch’s spell preventing him and his wife from having children.

This is Flaherty’s second time at Performing Arts School. He said his favorite part of the school is seeing his “friends in the group.”

He first got interested in acting through his aunt and cousins who have done shows. He said he decided to try it out and thinks he is doing pretty well at it.

Ellie Igoe, 10, is playing Little Red Ridding Hood.

“I like all of the characters and the different songs and the dancing,” said Igoe.

This is her second time at theater school. She said her voice teacher, who has also performed at the palace, encouraged her to get into theater, which is how she began acting and performing.

Delaina Lombardi, 14, is playing the narrator of the show. This is her fifth time at Performing Arts School and enjoys how the teachers act like kids and they can have fun and play games.

Lombardi got interested in performing when her father John was first serving on the Common Council for the city. She said by him working with the city she got familiar with the Palace and started doing different shows and participating in the school.

As for the show, Lombardi believes the audience will enjoy the twist at the end of the different stories.

“How all the stories come together,” she said.

Lacey Beightol, 13, has been participating in all seven of the Performing Arts Schools. She said a family friend was going to be the vocal director for the school the first year and she decided to attend.

“I did it and loved it and kept coming back,” she said. “We have lots of fun and in the end we get to put on a show for family members.”

Beightol is playing the role of Cinderella. She enjoys the “Happily Ever After” part of the show.

“All of the fairytale characters come together and meet each other in some way,” she said. “All of the songs are very catchy and the lyrics are really good.”

The show will be performed at 7 p.m. Wednesday and 1 p.m. Thursday at the Palace Theatre, 2 East Ave. Admission is $5.

For more information visit www.lockportpalacetheatre.org.