EFSC Theatre Department Earns Superior Ranking for “Into the Woods”

Eastern Florida State College recently announced that its Theatre Department earned a “Superior” ranking from the Florida College System Activities Association Theatre Division for its spring production of the musical Into the Woods, which was presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

A Superior is the highest honor a production can receive. This special recognition, based on a 100-point rubric, evaluates theatrical productions through a comprehensive overview of acting, directing, ensemble, costumes, lighting, sound, scenic design, and other key categories.

“This remarkable achievement is a testament to the extraordinary talent and dedication of our Theatre Department,” said College President Dr. Jim Richey. “Earning a ‘Superior’ rating with a near-perfect score from the Florida College System Activities Association reflects a true commitment to excellence and highlights not only the artistic skill of our students, but also their passion and teamwork. We are incredibly proud of everyone involved in bringing this outstanding production to life and honored to see their hard work recognized at such a high level.”

EFSC’s production of Into the Woods, which ran from April 10–12, received a 96/100 from the FCSAA’s attending theatre professional, Althea Wilson, who noted, “Even among Sondheim musicals, this is a particularly difficult one. Every actor onstage put their all into the production. They created a wonderful world that the audience wanted to inhabit. Perhaps most importantly, I believed them. They found a way to inhabit the show’s world as both fairy-tale characters and everyday human beings, a challenge even for more experienced actors.”

Into the Woods follows a collection of iconic fairy tale characters who set out to fulfill their deepest wishes, unaware that their paths will collide in unexpected ways. When their stories intertwine, they’re forced to confront the unforeseen fallout of getting exactly what they asked for.

Revered as the greatest American musical theatre composer of all time, Stephen Sondheim weaves unconventional harmonies, counterintuitive downbeats, and fast-paced lyrics throughout Into the Woods. EFSC’s Theatre Department rose to the challenge, producing the three-hour musical with 18 on-stage performers, over 350 lighting cues (double that of a typical play), and a live 22-piece orchestral accompaniment led by EFSC’s Director of Instrumental Activity Jon Oxford.

“Early on, there was a possibility of us using professionally recorded tracks,” said Selena Ambush, Director of Theatre Arts. “But Professor Oxford was so enthusiastic about this opportunity to collaborate. He elevated the whole production. The experience of collegiate musical theatre performers getting to work with a collegiate live orchestra, and vice versa, is unique unto itself.”

For Ambush, Into the Woods succeeded not only as “a dream production” but also as an experience that brought students across EFSC’s Performing and Visual Arts Department together.

“A couple of weeks after the production, I watched six theatre students have an impromptu pizza party with four orchestra students in the lobby,” said Ambush. “They knew each other and were happy to see each other. It showed the connection they had built. That’s the dream—that students support each other like that.”

It was a fitting finale for a production that brought people together and moved audiences to tears.

The play’s cast included: Alora Brown, Destiny Bryant, Emmy Cooper, Sparrow Creamer, Risa Fabian, Amelia Harrop, Jeanine D. Henry, Jackie Hill, Justin Jacobson, Wolf Justice, Madison Kilgore, William Lochary, Luke Martin, Sadie McCoy, Susan Neves, Ricardo Quelal, Breckyn Redding, Kayla Rolle, Jayden Shaffer, Mia Sparano, Rylie Sweet, and Michael Wimberly.

The play’s creative team included a combination of faculty, staff, and students such as Selena Ambush, Alora Brown*, Risa Fabian*, Taylor Hamilton*, Lilly Hastings, Jeanine D. Henry, Nathaniel Knepper-Quijano, Dr. Robert Lamb, William Lochary*, Paul McKee, Jon Oxford, Ricardo Quelal*, Rolando Ramos, Dr. Dale Rieth, Patrick Rhue, Katrina Scott, Mia Sparano*, Rylie Sweet*, and Jordan Ziegler*.

Note: *denotes a student artist

For more information about EFSC’s Performing Arts programming, visit easternflorida.edu/go/arts or call 321-632-1111.

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