UT Tyler Partners with Area Theater to Present Spring Musical ‘Into the Woods’

UT Tyler Partners with Area Theater to Present Spring Musical ‘Into the Woods’ Performances Highlight UT Tyler Students, Community Members  

The University of Texas at Tyler School of Performing Arts, in  partnership with the Stage Notes Academy of Performing Arts Theater in Athens, will present the  spring 2025 production of “Into the Woods.” 

Performances will be 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 11 and 12, at the UT Tyler Braithwaite Recital  Hall and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 13, and 7 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at the SNAPA theater, located at 224 North Prairieville Street in Athens. The cast includes both UT Tyler students and East Texas community members. 

Directed by UT Tyler professor of music Dr. Sooah Park and academy owner/director Karen Holmes,  “Into the Woods” is a two-act musical written by Stephen Sondheim with music by James Lapine.  The story intertwines several classic fairy tales—“Cinderella,” “Jack and the Beanstalk,” “Little Red  Riding Hood” and “Rapunzel”—along with an original story about a baker and his wife, who are seeking to lift a curse preventing them from having a child. The characters must face loss, responsibility ,and moral dilemmas. Ultimately, they all learn that wishes come with consequences, and that no one is truly alone. 

“Watching our students step into these iconic roles with passion and dedication has been nothing short of inspiring,” said Park. “Their commitment, along with the incredible collaboration  from Stage Notes Academy, is making this performance an unforgettable experience for everyone  involved.” 

Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased through the academy’s website. Act Two may not be suitable for young children, Park added. 

UT Tyler student cast members listed by hometown are:  

• ATHENS – Daniel Holmes, Sariah Holmes, and Nicholas Wilcoxson
• EUSTACE – Brandy Buchanan
• HENDERSON – Caitlynn Vanzandt
• KERENS – Giovanni “Gio” Pinedo
• LONGVIEW – Marcus Howard and Andrea Ortiz-Sampallo
• LUBBOCK – Tabitha Gregory
• VAN – Lucy Holden

The UT Tyler School of Performing Arts offers comprehensive music programs designed to cultivate students’ musical talents and prepare them for diverse careers. Accredited by the  National Association of Schools of Music and recognized as an All-Steinway School, UT Tyler provides students with exceptional resources and educational experiences. For more information,  visit uttyler.edu/music.  

The Stage Notes Academy of Performing Arts in Athens provides a safe, enjoyable environment for individuals of all ages to learn and grow in the performing arts, while also enriching the local culture. To learn more, call 903.340.5041.  

With a mission to improve educational and healthcare outcomes for East Texas and beyond, UT  Tyler offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 10,000 students.  Through its alignment with UT Tyler Health Science Center and UT Health East Texas, UT Tyler has unified these entities to serve Texas with quality education, cutting-edge research and excellent patient care. Classified by Carnegie as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News & World  Report as a national university, UT Tyler has campuses in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.