Cambridge-area teens join Drayton Entertainment’s youth production of The Little Mermaid - CambridgeToday.ca

This month, tucked away in the heart of Waterloo’s St. Jacob’s Market District, is a bewitching theatrical experience that is bound to spring up in conversation as rapidly and dramatically as a magical beanstalk might spring up in a backyard. INTO THE WOODS is currently playing at Drayton Entertainment’s St. Jacob’s Country Playhouse in Waterloo. Boasting a cast of Canada’s top musical theatre talent, it is an embarrassment of riches that is not to be missed. With Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and Book by James Lapine, INTO THE WOODS is oft considered to be one of Sondheim’s most accessible musicals. It brings to life familiar fairy tales and then deconstructs them to explore complex yet relatable human experiences such as grief, loss, and betrayal. The stories of Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, and Rapunzel are cleverly woven together via two original characters – the Baker and the Baker’s wife - who desperately want a child and discover they have been unsuccessful due to a Witch’s curse.

Drayton Entertainment presents INTO THE WOODS by Stephen Sondheim at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse from October 7 to October 25, 2026Stephen Sondheim is one of musical theatre’s most celebrated creators, known for his clever lyrics, memorable music, and unforgettable characters. Now, one of his most beloved works, Into the Woods, brings together familiar fairy-tale favourites including Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel. With music and lyrics by Sondheim and a book by James Lapine, Into the Woods is a witty, heartfelt musical about wishes, choices, and what happens after the storybook ending. Be careful what you wish for, as the line between reality and fantasy blurs when an epic fairytale comes to life – with real world consequences. In a quest to reverse a curse placed on them by the witch next door and fulfill their deepest hope, a baker and his wife venture into the woods to find four magical ingredients. On their journey, they encounter Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Jack, each on a quest to fulfill a wish of their own.