REVIEW: "... A COMPANY'S DREAM COME TRUE..."

BY: CHRISTINE DOLEN

"Into the Woods is, for DreamCatcher, one dream caught and delivered. Here’s hoping more will follow."

AN EXCERPT:

"DreamCatcher certainly hasn’t stinted on assembling an impressive cast. Director Justin Fortunato has big talents and big voices to work with, and he makes the most of the actors’ many gifts.

Before the show’s opening, the casting headline was that Tituss Burgess, with the blessing of the musical’s creators, would be the first male actor to play the Witch. What the Broadway and TV veteran brings to the stage is no stunt. As the under-a-curse Witch, he’s funny, commanding and conniving. Once the spell is reversed, though he may look like a contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race, Burgess plays it straight, as a mother suffering all sorts of losses. His acting is sharp and nuanced, and his voice, particularly on Stay With Me and Witch’s Lament, is glorious and haunting.

The cast of INTO THE WOODS

The cast of INTO THE WOODS

Across the boards, though, the performances are strong. As the Baker’s Wife, Arielle Jacobs, compelling in big musicals and intimate plays, is well-matched with J.J. Caruncho as the fatherhood-skittish Baker. Annemarie Rosano is a lovely, conflicted Cinderella. As her prince, Justin John Moniz (who also plays the ravenous Wolf) has the comic chops and huge voice to pull off Agony with Matthew Janisse as Rapunzel’s Prince. Marina Pires, turning the notes of Rapunzel’s theme into a siren song, finds the character’s comedy, frustration and postpartum craziness. Magan Dee Yantko is a sassy Little Red Riding Hood, and Bruno Vida has a breakout performance as Jack.

Wayne LeGette anchors the show as the Narrator and Mysterious Man, while fellow Florida actors Laura Hodos as Cinderella’s condescending stepmother, Laura Turnbull as Jack’s frustrated mom, Elizabeth Dimon as Granny and the voice of the Giant, and Jeni Hacker as Cinderella’s late mother enrich the company’s vocal mix.

Into the Woods is, for DreamCatcher, one dream caught and delivered. Here’s hoping more will follow."



"Siblings bring "Into the Woods" at the Arsht Center

By: Rod Hagwood

an excerpt:

"The Carunchos are mindful of the marketing push the movie version has given them. "It's a happy accident," Natalie says. "We think it's great that 'Into the Woods' is in the air."

And the name DreamCatcher? Their Aunt Christie suggested it in 2007, when J.J. and Natalie were struggling to come up with a name for their theater company.

"I looked over and said, 'I think you just got it," J.J. recalls. "I used to have a lot of nightmares when I was a kid. My mother bought me [a dream catcher] and said, 'This will help.' I still have one above my bed in New York City. The idea is that the bad dreams get stuck in the web and the good dreams come down to you through the feathers. In the light of day, the light hits them stuck in the web, and the bad dreams are destroyed. It wasn't about hiding the bad dream. It's putting them in front of your face. But with the wind blowing on them and the light, maybe they are less scary than you think."

Natalie adds, "We gather actors and audiences together, and we turn the lights down, and we tell them this dream. And in that experience, they are able to confront everything. They take the good dreams with them and remember the bad dreams. But once the lights are turned back on, they are maybe a little more brave. It's a beautiful image that we are trying very hard to honor."


"Fairy tales come alive with music, laughs with INTO THE WOODS"

BY: Robert Beatty

an excerpt:

“We’re thrilled to welcome DreamCatcher Theatre – our newest collaborator and a creative partner that shares our belief on the transformational power of theater,” said Scott Shiller, executive vice president of the Adrienne Arsht Center. “All eyes are on Into the Woods as the Hollywood film debut of the beloved musical proved to be a holiday blockbuster. We’re excited to keep the momentum strong as we present the theatrical version – starring a brilliant mix of nationally-recognized and local superstars. This is a show for all ages and for all time!”

“DreamCatcher was founded of the deep belief that the stories we choose to tell, and how we tell them, truly matter. There is no better story to start our journey than Into the Woods,” said Natalie Caruncho, co-artistic director of DreamCatcher Theatre. “We have assembled a brilliant cast who are not only accomplished storytellers, but who also share our vision that great theatre can change lives.  And we are so excited to be able to tell this beautiful story in partnership with the Arsht Center as part of their 2014-2015 Theatre Up Close season. We look forward to having all of South Florida come out to dream with us!”

ANNOUNCEMENT: Into the Woods Takes the Stage...

By: Mike Halterman

an excerpt:

"This musical, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine, who was also the original director in San Diego and on Broadway, is a larger-than-life fairy tale with fanciful characters and an enjoyable plot. The characters seen in the film were inspired, either directly or indirectly, from much-loved fairy tales. Characters from “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Cinderella,” “Jack and the Beanstalk,” “Rapunzel,” and others can be seen interacting with one another to create an all new fairy tale that you’ll remember for a long time.

The DreamCatcher Theatre’s repertory company will be supplying the actors for this production. The company is native to South Florida and was started by Natalie and JJ Caruncho of Miami, who are brother and sister and both trained actors and singers. They will be making their Arsht Center debut with this production."

"Sondheim Approves Gay Man to play INTO THE WOODS Witch"

click here for the full article from Advocate.com

By: Brandon Voss

an excerpt:

"Into the Woods is the inaugural production of DreamCatcher Theatre, a South Florida company led by brother-sister duo Natalie and J.J. Caruncho. "We wrote a letter, through MTI, addressed to Mr. Sondheim and Mr. Lapine regarding Tituss playing the Witch and we were approved," Natalie Caruncho tells Playbill.com. "It was a special moment for us."

Directed by Justin Fortunato, Into the Woods will begin January 22 and run through February 15 at Miami's Carnival Studio Theater.

Theatre Communications Group has announced that Sondheim is the most-produced composer in the U.S. for the 2014-15 season with 20 productions, including Into the Woods, which is enjoying a resurgence in popularity because of the Disney film.

Burgess, who appeared as flamboyant hairdresser D'Fwan in 30 Rock, will star as Titus, a gay singer and Times Square robot, in the upcoming Netflix series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. His theater credits include Broadway productions of Guys and Dolls and The Little Mermaid."

"Miami Brother, Sister bring 'Woods' to the Arsht"

By: Michelle Solomon

an excerpt:

"maz: How did you end up partnering with the Arsht Center?

Natalie: We originally went to the Arsht Center to see about using the Carnival Studio Theater to put onInto the Woods last summer. JJ and I are originally from Miami and we wanted to bring New York talent and Miami talent together back here back home. As we talked to the Arsht Center about what our mission statement was and discussed what our goals were, the conversation eventually led to us being invited into the Theatre Up Close season.

maz: Did you stage Into the Woods because of the film just coming out?

JJ: I haven't seen the movie. Hopefully I'll see it after we close, but no the movie wasn't in our minds at all. We have been working on this for over a year and a half. After we had found the slot we realized that the movie was happening. It wasn't about anything in our strategy.

maz: Why this show? What attracts you to it?

JJ: When we talked about Dreamcatcher, our mission statement was that we wanted to find stories worth telling and to tell them. It's very simple – we want to be an artist driven company. We have a deep belief that as artists there are stories that we choose to tell and how we choose to tell them really matters and that can have an important impact on people's lives. This story has had a big effect on Natalie's artist journey and mine. It's our favorite musical. It's also Natalie's first musical – she was The Baker's Wife when she was 14.

Natalie: I went to high school at Gulliver Prep and it was my first show. It definitely was when the theater bug bit.

JJ: I remember seeing it when I was little and I said, "Can theater be that? Is that an option?" When we had to think about our first show, it was a no-brainer. This show gets across exactly what our mission statement is.

Natalie: Over the past year, we've been on a tremendous learning curve with the show. We're both professional actors and working actors. But we've really been learning what it takes to put on a piece of theater and it seems wild to have our journey mirrored in a show itself. JJ and I will have conversations after something will happen and it feels like a parallel journey of the show."

REVIEW: 'Into the Woods' weaves together classic fairytales post 'happily ever after'

By: Ashley Martinez

an excerpt:

"This whimsical musical will leave audiences feeling this not-so-happily-ever-after is a dream come true."

"The ensemble was created with care, as each performer presented remarkable vocals fitting each role perfectly, from the high soprano of Cinderella (Annemarie Rosano) to the rich tenor of The Wolf (Justin John Moniz). Most impressive of all were the ensemble scenes as the cast of 20 appeared on the intimate Carnival stage, providing a powerful stage picture. The bright, colorful costumes, strong choreography and dynamic vocals combined to create something marvelous.

J.J. Caruncho had a dual role to play as both the co-artistic director of DreamCatcher Theatre and the Baker – and he excelled in both. With his warm voice and sincerity, he made the Baker someone to root for, and added a level of realism through his carefully-placed comedy and exploration of his frustrations.

Broadway veteran Tituss Burgess was announced for the role of the witch, a character traditionally played by a woman. In the first act, he did a seamless job leaving audience members none the wiser that there was anything different in this portrayal of the iconic figure. His powerhouse vocals shone, as did his sharp sass. However, in his more tender moments singing “Our Little World,” it felt he was reaching to hit the notes as he sang in falsetto. However, in the second act, he commanded “Last Midnight.”

The Baker’s Wife (Arielle Jacobs) also exuded charm and powerhouse vocals in “Moments in the Wood.” "

"South Florida Stages are hot in January"

By Christine Dolen

an excerpt:

" Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine: Into the Woods is a not-so-happily-ever-after musical that’s hot at the moment thanks to the still-in-theaters Disney film version. The brother-sister team of J.J. and Natalie Caruncho are launching their new company, DreamCatcher Theatre, at the Arsht Center’s Carnival Studio Theater this week with the full, original show — something that should satisfy the purists who groused about dropped characters, eliminated music and a death that didn’t happen.

Truth is, the Carunchos started working on their debut show long before they had an inkling that the movie would be coming out in 2014. And they had a twist in mind: Broadway actor Tituss Burgess, known for his high tenor pipes, will be starring as the Witch — Rapunzel’s complicated mother. He’s ready.

“I’m a walking contradiction on so many levels. I’m gay, black and a Christian,” Burgess says. “It’s not a drag role. We are absolutely honoring what Sondheim wanted. You’ll see my beautiful shaved bald head and a touch of lipstick after my transformation. ... What a lovely way to show [people who become] families by choice.”

DreamCatcher Theatre production in the Carnival Studio Theater at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, through Feb. 15; $50; 305-949-6722 or www.arshtcenter.org. "

 

MIAMI AUDITIONS for INTO THE WOODS have been ANNOUNCED!

Hello Fellow Dreamers.

The time has come and we couldn't be more excited! See? 

DETAILS for our MIAMI AUDITIONS

LOCATION:

ADRIENNE ARSHT CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

1300 BISCAYNE BOULEVARD

MIAMI, FL 33132

DATES/TIMES:

JULY 12TH EPA

10-6PM

LUNCH 1-2PM

(We will see non-union actors as time permits)

JULY 13TH OPEN CALL

10-6pm

LUNCH 1-2PM

JULY 14TH CALLBACKS

10-2PM

PLEASE COME PREPARED WITH HEADSHOT/RESUME STAPLED TOGETHER AND A BRIEF SONG IN THE STYLE OF THE SHOW. SONGS FROM THE SHOW ALSO PERMITTED.

 

 

 

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE!

#comedreamwithus

 

 

NYC AUDITIONS ARE SLATED FOR SEPTEMBER-- DETAILS TBA!

GET YOUR SUBSCRIPTION for Theater Up Close 2014/2015

Have you gotten your SUBSCRIPTION for the ADRIENNE ARSHT CENTER'S Theater Up Close 2014/2015 series?? See below for Details.

SERIES STARTS AT ONLY $160

Deadline: June 23rd

SUBSCRIBE NOW

RENEW NOW

For the coming 2014-2015 Theater Up Close season, we’ve put together six plays that will keep you spellbound. They encompass epic story-telling, memorable music, fairy tales, stunning feats of magic, wicked laughs, searing truths, love, betrayal, and a heartbreak or two. We’ll reacquaint you with characters you’ve loved all your life and introduce you to some fascinating people you’ll never forget!
 
Adrienne Arsht Center & University of Miami Department of Theatre Arts Present
Peter and the Star Catcher
By Rick Elice, Based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson.
October 9 - 26, 2014
 
Zoetic Stage and the Adrienne Arsht Center Present
Detroit
By Lisa D’Amour.
November 6 - 23, 2014
 
DreamCatcher Theatre and the Adrienne Arsht Center Present
Into the Woods
Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Book by James Lapine. 
Originally Directed on Broadway by James Lapine, Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick.
January 22 - February 15, 2015
 
Zoetic Stage and the Adrienne Arsht Center Present
Trust
By Paul Weitz.
March 5 - 29, 2015
 
The House Theatre of Chicago and the Adrienne Arsht Center Present
The Magnificents
Story and magic by Dennis Watkins, Directed by Nathan Allen.
April 8 - May 3, 2015
 
Zoetic Stage and the Adrienne Arsht Center Present
Betrayal
By Harold Pinter.
May 14 - 31, 2015

Theatre Up Close promises eclectic season...

click here for FULL ARTICLE from the MIAMI HERALD

An eclectic lineup of theater artists, companies and productions will drive the six-show Theater Up Close series at Miami’s Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts during the 2014-2015 season.

........A new company led by the brother-sister duo of Joe Caruncho and Natalie Caruncho, DreamCatcher Theatre, will launch Jan. 22-Feb. 15 with a production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Into the Woods. Zoetic returns March 5-29 with Trust by Paul Weitz, the director-screenwriter whose credits include About a Boy, Little Fockers and the American Pie movies.

.........All Theater Up Close productions are in the Arsht’s Carnival Studio Theater at the Ziff Ballet Opera House, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami. Subscriptions cost $160, while individual tickets are $45. For information, call 305-949-6722 or visit www.arshtcenter.org.

 

ADRIENNE ARSHT CENTER ANNOUNCES 2014-2015 THEATRE UP CLOSE SEASON!

“It will take you somewhere wonderful!” 
– The New York Times

"Do you know what you wish? Are you certain what you wish is what you want?" Once upon a time, in the fairytale kingdom of the Brothers Grimm, a baker and his wife were sent on a quest into the woods by a mysterious witch. Thrust into a world of magic and adventure, they find their story intertwined with a whole group of legendary characters including Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and a certain young man named Jack who happens to have some very magical beans. Sondheim’s dazzling lyrics and sumptuous melodies, paired with Lapine’s captivating plot, make this Tony Award-winning Broadway musical about wishes, chasing your dreams and the importance of the stories we tell our children at once deeply touching and laugh-out-loud funny. This is a show for all ages, and for all time!

DreamCatcher Theatre, led by Miami native brother-sister team Natalie and JJ Caruncho, is South Florida’s newest regional theater company making its Miami debut with this wonderful production at the Arsht Center.

"New Theater Company Partners In Arsht’s Next Season Plus Zoetic, UM & House Theatre"

click here for the full article: www.floridatheateronstage.com

by Bill Hirschman

Miami-born siblings pursuing careers in New York have created a company whose first production will be Stephen Sondheim’s musical Into The Woods as part of the Arsht Center’s Theater Up Close series next season.

Sister and brother Natalie and JJ Caruncho are partnering with the Arsht, artistically and financially as co-producers, to mount a full production of the large-scale musical in January as the inaugural entry from their new troupe, DreamCatcher Theatre.

The number and frequency of expected future local productions will depend on the Carunchos’ availability as other assignments allow. But the company is designed as an open-ended operation that will employ both the Carunchos’ New York colleagues and local talent on an ad hoc basis.

Natalie wrote in an email Saturday night, “We are beyond thrilled that they are entrusting us with their support and a spot in their Theatre Up Close Season…. It is going to be an exciting adventure. The entire team has been incredibly supportive and encouraging. We couldn’t be happier to be starting our journey at the Arsht.”

click here for the full article: www.floridatheateronstage.com