Into the Woods was one of my top “must see” shows when I first learned Lakewood Playhouse was staging the Stephen Sondheim gem. Not only is it cleverly written and cute, but it is just a fun spin on the fairy tales most everyone learned as a child.



My daughter was going to try out for the role of Red Riding Hood for this show, in fact, but her Tacoma Youth Chorus rehearsals and the troubles with operating two households just couldn’t make that happen. So it was with great fanfare that I took my daughter and one of her friends to the show last weekend. I found her laughing and singing along beneath her breath.



I just wanted to stop the show and give her a big hug, but the show continued. And that is a good thing since it was a show worth watching.



Tops on the stellar performances was that of the witch (played by Alison Monda). She was just amazing. Enough said. Great, just great. But the balance of the playbill landed solid performances. Even the cow (Kat Christensen) rocked her small role as a cow with an attitude. Her take on bovine behavior should be a case study in making small roles great. This young actor is going places in this craft.

Jesus Christ Superstar

Don’t read further. Just go to the phone or Internet and order tickets to see Capital Playhouse’s staging of Jesus Christ Superstar, the rock opera that brought Christianity to the rock and roll set. Tickets are selling out fast, so fast that the theater had to announce it was adding shows before opening weekend was even over. The cast includes Jamie Cooper, who is returning from his new life in New York to play the title role. Rocking out is Bruce Haasl as Judas Iscariot and Sara Flotree as Mary Magdalene.



[Lakewood Playhouse, Into The Woods, through April 26, 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, $16-$24, 5729 Lakewood Towne Center Blvd., Lakewood, 253.588.0042, lakewoodplayhouse.org]



[Capital Playhouse, Jesus Christ Superstar, through April 12, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, $23-$35, 612 E. Fourth Ave., Olympia, 360.943.2744, capitalplayhouse.com]