From MTI:

"Be careful what you wish for, as Stephen Sondheim’s and James Lapine’s cockeyed fairytale comes to life in this adaptation of their groundbreaking, Tony Award-winning musical.  Into the Woods JR. features all of your favorite characters — Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack (and his beanstalk) and the Witch — in this lyrically rich retelling of classic Brothers Grimm fables.

The musical centers on a baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King's festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a witch's curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse, and wind up changed forever.

With unforgettable roles, minimal dancing and no chorus, Into the Woods JR. showcases a medium-sized ensemble of talented singers and actors. The sophisticated score has been adapted to make it more accessible to young performers."

The JGW Drama Club has been active at J.G. Whittier Middle School since 2018. The club has produced Hairspray Jr., Willy Wonka Jr., Moana Jr.,  The Lion King Jr., and Matilda the Musical over the past five years. They also host an annual talent show and chorus concert respectively, both of which have provided funds for their club in return. This has led to the club being able to sustain themselves without funding from the school department. Since established in 2018, The JGW Drama Club has gross profited over $15,000 in the past two years alone. Highlights of this paast year's season include marching in the VFW Santa Parade in November, hosting the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony downtown in December, and receiving a $10,000 grant to help our future endeavors.

Mr. Gariepy has been the music teacher at JGW since August 2018. An HHS and JGW alumni, Mr. Gariepy has a B.A. in Music from Bridgewater State University and teaches private music lessons in the area. He specializes in professional voice instruction and has directed various other productions including Hairspray Jr. (2019) and Willy Wonka Jr. (2021). He has also starred in local productions like Firehouse Newburyport's RENT (Role: Benny, 2021) and Pentucket Players' Into the Woods (Role: Wolf/Cinderella's Prince, 2021)