“Into the Woods” – a 1986 musical written by Stephen Sondheim – is an exploration of the temptations and consequences of selfish wishes. But beneath its complex themes, what’s the show’s backbone? 

The magic of fairy tales. 

That child-like wonder is exactly what director Thomas Times is trying to capture in his recently opened interpretation of “Into the Woods” with Sunnyvale Community Players (SCP), which runs through Sept. 27.

“We’re really focusing on what it was like to hear these stories as a kid because the world is so crazy right now,” Times said. “As a society, we just need more lighthearted fun.” 

To bring such an energy to the stage, he’s changed some roles to be played by youth actors ­ – ranging from elementary students to teens – instead of adults. The role of Jack is played by a youth actor, and both Little Red Riding Hood and the Narrator are split between two youth actors. 

Traditionally, the Narrator speaks directly to the audience, walking them through the interwoven storylines of familiar characters like Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel. Now, the two Narrators tell such tales to each other, bringing them to life by playing with their toys. One of the Narrators is Owen Waggenspack, a student at Egan Junior High School. 

“Being Narrator is a team effort,” Owen said. “I have a younger brother, so it’s a lot of the brother dynamic.” 

But apart from these aged-down roles, the rest of the cast are adults. Most are coming from their day jobs. To ensure a seamless transition to the playful environment, Times has the cast play little kids’ games like Zip Zap Zop. 

“The show is very fun and fast-paced,” said Rhea Leonard, who plays the Baker’s Wife. “We’re able to get into the atmosphere of being silly when we play games before we start.” 

Owen said these games have helped the cast grow closer, bridging the gap between ages. He also attributed the cast’s chemistry to the supportive environment and how included SCP makes youth actors feel.

“I was a little intimidated because everyone was really good,” Owen said. “But it’s become more of a family, so we’ve been able to learn and grow together.”

In addition to forming a community, Times sees these games as a tool for actors to become more comfortable with the imperfect – something inevitable in the rehearsal process. 

“A lot of people are scared to rehearse because they’re scared to make mistakes,” Times said. “But our cast has been open to making those mistakes, knowing that they’ll lead us where we need to go.” 

Such a willingness to learn is especially important when considering the show’s demand. There’s the typical Sondheim-style obstacles – overlapping lyrics and time signature changes – but cast members have also had to learn something completely foreign to most of them: Folklórico-inspired formations. 

Folklórico is traditional Mexican folk dancing that employs a wide variety of formations, using people to create geometric shapes and patterns. Formations can convey emotion, draw attention somewhere or, in this case, signify moving through the woods. 

Times wanted to include this element after he watched choreographer Megan Spoelstra’s Folklórico show at Lincoln High School. Spoelstra teaches at the school and heads its Folklórico program. 

“I noticed how many formations there were, and how they would move, looking so fluid when they did,” Times said. “Watching that, I was like, ‘Oh, I’m stealing that for the show.’” 

According to Times, implementing them has felt daunting at times. However, it’s a challenge that the cast has wholeheartedly accepted and seen through. 

“It really is beautiful how we’ve taken two pieces of art that shouldn’t necessarily work together, and managed to make them work together in a really beautiful and unique way,” Times said. “It’s been really inspiring to watch.” 

And now, he’s excited for the audience to watch it as well. They can expect to feel a range of emotions, regardless of their age, Leonard said. 

“You can take away something different every time,” Leonard said. “It really just depends on where you are in life and what you resonate with at the time.” 

“Into the Woods” is being staged in the Sunnyvale Theatre at the Sunnyvale Community Center, 550 E. Remington Drive. Tickets are $29.70-$59.42.