Casadie Smith
  • Music Theatre
  • Class of 2017
  • Salina, KS

Casadie Smith Among Kansas Wesleyan Students Performing in KWU-SCT's "Into the Woods" Cast and Orchestra

2016 Apr 11

Kansas Wesleyan University is proud to partner with the Salina Community Theatre (SCT) to present the musical production "Into The Woods," which will be on stage at SCT for three weekends, April 8-24, 2016. Twenty-eight KWU students, faculty and alumni are part of the cast, crew and pit orchestra for this production.

A childless baker and his wife endeavor to lift their family curse by journeying into the woods, where they encounter Rapunzel (and her witchly "mother"), Cinderella, Jack (of Beanstalk fame), Little Red Riding Hood and other classic fairy tale characters, and they all must learn the responsibility that comes with getting what you want. Tickets are available from the Salina Community Theatre box office (http://salinatheatre.com/project/into-the-woods/).

Last spring, Michael Spicer, Executive Director of the SCT, directed Godspell on the KWU campus. With the addition in 2015 of Karen Babcock Brassea, director of Kansas Wesleyan's new music theatre major and choreographer for "Into the Woods," the university has expanded opportunities for students interested in theatre performance.

PHOTO: Sadie Smith '17 (Salina, KS), a KWU junior music theatre major, is the Baker's Wife, with KWU alumnus Matt Schwann '10 as the Baker.

Other KWU students in the cast are: Tina Butts '18 (Junction City, KS) as Snow White, Kenneth Dixon '19 (Salina, KS) as the Wolf), Christian McQueen '18 (La Verne, CA) as Rapunzel's Prince, Angel Reinert '17 (Salina, KS) as step-sister Florinda, Curtis Wedel '19 (Garden City, KS) as the Steward and Jaicee Wilson '16 (Salina, KS) as Cinderella's Prince.

Also in the cast are KWU alumna Twila Schneiders '84 as Cinderella's Mother, and as Granny, and KWU Music adjunct faculty member Michelle Cardinal Dolan as the Stepmother.

KWU students in the pit orchestra are Emily Garner '19 (Berryton, KS) and Taylor McClain '18 (Junction City, KS) on violin, Thomas Forrester '18 (Salina, KS) on cello, Keighley Miller '16 (Salina, KS) on bassoon, pre-freshman Addison Kindel (Salina, KS) on trumpet, Jacobi Blair '18 (Salina, KS) and Anna Taylor '18 (Valley Center, KS) on saxophone, Hannah Applequist '16 (Salina, KS) on percussion and Melissa Larson '18 (Salina, KS) on synthesizer.

They are joined by KWU alumni Gus Applequist '14 (bass) and Adam Hulstine '07 (piano). Also performing in the orchestra are KWU instructors and Salina Symphony members Denise Blehm (violin), Doug Beyer (viola) and Julia Lankhorst (flute).

The orchestra is under the direction of Dr. Jesse Henkesiefken, Director of Orchestras and String Studies at Kansas Wesleyan University. Rehearsal Music Director is Ken Hakoda, KWU Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Music and Director of Vocal Studies, with the assistance of rehearsal accompanist Judy Weber, KWU Music accompanist.