{"id":217199,"date":"2026-04-03T08:22:38","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T08:22:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/217199\/"},"modified":"2026-04-03T08:22:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T08:22:38","slug":"arts-alive-podcast-actress-singer-ryan-joustra","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/217199\/","title":{"rendered":"Arts Alive! podcast: Actress\/singer Ryan Joustra"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ryan Joustra is not a real witch \u2013 as far as we know \u2013 but she\u2019s playing one onstage through April 26 at Demens Landing Park. It\u2019s there you\u2019ll find the American Stage production of the Stephen Sondheim\/James Lapine musical Into the Woods.<\/p>\n

Fairy tales come to life in this whimsical and humorous tale, and as might be expected, there\u2019s a witch at the center of the goings-on. The Witch, as she\u2019s known, makes trouble for the Baker and His Wife, Rapunzel, Jack (of beanstalk fame) and the others.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

From left: The Witch (Ryan Joustra) and Rapunzel (Kayah Bonilla-Mas). Publicity photo.<\/p>\n

Is she, to borrow from The Wizard of Oz, a good witch or a bad witch? In today\u2019s Arts Alive! interview, Joustra provides her thoughts on the matter. She also discusses the show\u2019s impressively large cast, and how the backstage designers and crew have made their madcap comings and goings appear seamless (hint: The word is teamwork).<\/p>\n

The St. Petersburg native recaps her impressive resume (she majored in Vocal Performance and Professional Music at Berklee College of Music), her work in American Stage\u2019s Tales By Twilight series, and her longtime membership in the Dirty John\u2019s comedy troupe.<\/p>\n

Click on the arrow to listen to the conversation.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/media.stpetecatalyst.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Arts-Alive-Joustra-final.mp3<\/a><\/p>\n

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