Alumni complement student cast
Three-day run, 7:30 p.m., Thursday-Saturday, April 16-18,
Forum Theatre
UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- The cast of the spring stage production, "Into the Woods" is in rehearsal at Penn State New Kensington. The three shows performed by the Drama Club are set for 7:30 p.m., Thursday to Saturday, April 16 to 18, in the campus' Forum Theatre.
Bill Mitas, instructor of theater arts at the campus, directs the musical based on characters from the books by the Brothers Grimm. The Tony award-winning play is adapted from the book by James Lapine with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.
The musical intertwines the plots of several Grimm’s fairy tales -- "Little Red Riding Hood," "Jack and the Beanstalk," "Rapunzel," and "Cinderella." The storybook characters are brought together for a fairytale about wishes, family and the choices we make. The story revolves around the wishes of four characters -- a baker and his wife who want to have a child; Cinderella who wants to attend the king's festival; and Jack who just wants his cow to 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. Everyone's wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later.
“This is a great show, and I am honored to be a part of it,” said Juliann Motosicky, one of three campus alumni who are a part of the cast and crew. “Everyone should see the show because it has a true meaning behind it and represents how everything may not work out how you want it, but it will always be okay in the end.”
In addition to Mitas, the crew includes Capo, assistant director, Beth Minda, vocal director, Rob Stull, musical director, and Motosicky, choreographer.
Tickets for the production are $7 for students and $15 for the general public, and are available by calling 724-448-8942.
Alumni Cast
The alumni cast features three former campus students who had starring roles in Mitas’ previous productions. Besides Motosicky (“Little Shop of Horrors,” “Grease,” “Cabaret,” “Tribute”), Chris Capo (“Bat Boy,” “Cabaret,” “Glass Menagerie,” “Almost, Maine”) and Klase Danko (Almost, Maine,” Bat Boy”) bring their veteran experience to the play.
Motosicky graduated from the campus in 2012 after earning a bachelor’s degree in corporate communications. She choreographed the campus musicals when she was an undergraduate and is grateful for the opportunity to work again under Mitas as choreographer and actor and to work with current students.
“It's great to give back to the students and community, and share my experiences and passion with them while on stage and as I teach,” said Motosicky, a financial services associate for First Commonwealth Bank.
The Fawn Township resident can also draw on her experiences in 2011 at Walt Disney World. An internship is a requirement for the Corporate Communications program at the campus, and Motosicky secured one with the Disney College program. She spent a semester as an attractions cast member, working in the Innovations building at Epcot.
“It was such a great experience and an awesome networking opportunity,” said Motosicky, who twice won the Best Actor award at the campus’ annual Academic and Student Achievement Awards ceremony. “I was able to go on auditions and casting calls for Disney, so that was really cool. I met so many people from all around the world and still to this day I talk to most of them.”
The internship also led to some televison and film work. Motosicky was in the Nickelodeon TV series, “Supah Ninjas” and a Lionsgate feature film, “Abduction.”
When she is not choreographing the “Into the Woods” musical numbers, Motosicky will play the role of Cinderella’s deceased mother, whose soul guards and aids her daughter from a tree. In addition, she will play the granny of Little Red Riding Hood.
Student Cast
The full cast includes Isabella Bordonaro, Motosicky, Nathan Traini, Erin Bruce, Candice Kubican, Becky Minda, Beth Minda, Jonathan McCabe, Wati Kumwenda, Laura Gensamer, Megan Goedicky, Capo, Matthew Mlynarski, Danko, Kaylyn Farneth, Leonard Morris, Mitchell Hastings, Nick Keller, Marissa Russo and Jadyn Perry.
Traini, a freshman, has dual roles of the Wolf and Cinderella’s Prince. The contrasting characters presented an opportunity for Traini to perfect his verbal and physical skills.
“I'm drawing on my animal instincts to be the wolf,” said Traini, who was honored by the city of New Kensington for an Eagle Scout project. “As for the prince, I have cousins in California that talk proper, which helped me with the speaking. But the body is the only way you can express aloofness physically.”
The lead role of Cinderella will be played by Bordonaro, a sophomore in the Division of Undergraduate Studies program. Bordonaro was drawn to the auditions because she loved the film version of the play. “Into the Woods” is a Disney movie that premiered last year.
“Cinderella is one of my favorite Disney princesses,” said Bordonaro, a member of the Dean’s List and recipient of the Erick Sean Link Memorial Scholarship. “The Cinderella in ‘Into the Woods’ is not the same as the Disney princess, but growing up watching princess movies definitely helps get into character.”
Traini and Bordonaro are graduates of Valley High School, and both appeared in the campus’ fall 2014 production of “Beyond Therapy."
(Regina Cherish, a senior communications major and intern in the Public Relations office, contributed to the story.)
“Into The Woods”
Director: William R. Mitas
Assistant Director: Chris Capo
Vocal Director: Beth Minda
Music Director: Rob Stull
Choreographer: Juliann Motosicky
Cast and Characters
CINDERELLA , Isabella Bordonaro,
A young, earnest maiden who is constantly mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters.
CINDERELLA'S MOTHER, Juliann Motosicky
Deceased with her soul guarding and aiding her daughter from a tree.
CINDERELLA'S PRINCE, Nathan Traini
Vain and gorgeous, he is a disloyal lover who is currently searching for the next new, exciting thing.
CINDERELLA'S STEPMOTHER, Erin Bruce
Mean-spirited, demanding stepmother of Cinderella.
FLORINDA, Candice Kubican, and LUCINDA, Becky Minda
Cinderella's stepsisters who are black of heart. They follow in their mother's footsteps of abusing Cinderella.
GIANT, Beth Minda
Voiceover, the Giant's wife is an angry and vengeful 'monster.' She is seeking restitution for her loss.
JACK, Jonathan McCabe
Fearless Giant killer who is 'almost a man.' He is adventurous, naive, energetic, and bright-eyed.
JACK'S MOTHER, Beth Minda
Browbeating and weary, Jack's protective mother who is independent, bold, and strong-willed.
LITTLE RED RIDINGHOOD, Wati Kumwenda
A spoiled young girl who is strong-willed, quick-witted, fearless, yet youthful and naive.
MYSTERIOUS MAN, Laura Gensamer
A mischievous vagrant and nosy meddler. He is a good-natured protector and observer.
NARRATOR, Laura Gensamer
An intellectual and pleasant story-teller who helps to orchestrate the show and illustrate lessons to the audience.
RAPUNZEL, Megan Goedicky
A loopy-but-lovely maiden who is sheltered by the Witch and terribly lonely. She yearns to experience the world.
RAPUNZEL'S PRINCE, Chris Capo
Just as vain and gorgeous as his Prince brother, he is always chasing the newest, most exiting endeavor.
THE BAKER, Matthew Mlynarski
A harried and insecure baker who is simple and loving, yet protective of his family. He wants his wife to be happy and is willing to do anything to ensure her happiness but refuses to let others fight his battles.
THE BAKER'S WIFE, Klase Danko
Determined and bright woman who wishes to be a mother. She leads a simple, yet satisfying life and is very low-maintenance yet proactive in her endeavors.
THE WITCH, Kaylyn Farneth
Sarcastic, ugly-then-gorgeous, obsessive protector of Rapunzel who is straightforward and aggressive.
WOLF, Nathan Traini
Hungry and insatiable hunter who takes advantage of the weak by misleading and captivating his prey.
STEWARD, Leonard Morris
Cinderella’s Prince's loyal assistant,
GRANNY, Juliann Motosicky
Little Red Ridinghood’s sweet old Granny
CINDERELLA’S FATHER, Mitchell Hastings
Cinderella’s Loving Father
MILKY WHITE, Nick Keller
Jack’s Best Friend
SNOW WHITE, Marissa Russo
SLEEPING BEAUTY, Jadyn Perry