Sedona Charter School students to stage ‘The Fork in the Road’ 4 min read

Levi Kraut plays Hansel and Amaray Helfrick plays Gretel during a rehearsal for the Parangello Players musical “The Fork in the Road” by Elyce Monet at Sedona Charter School on Wednesday, Nov. 6. David Jolkovski/Larson Newspapers

Sedona Charter School and the Parangello Players will be performing “The Fork in the Road: A Fractured Fairy Tale” on Fridays, Nov. 15 and 22, at 7 p.m., Saturdays, Nov. 16 and 23, at 7 p.m., and Sundays, Nov. 17 and 24, at 2 p.m. 

“Hansel and Gretel [are] walking in the forest on their journey to the Gingerbread House, where they are sure to get lots of cakes, cookies and gingerbread,” the synopsis stated. “But when they come to the fork in the road, they must make a choice … will they take the low road or the high road? Join them as they learn lessons from their choices along the way.” 

Levi Kraut explained why his character Hansel takes the low road: “Because he’s hungry.” 

Kraut added that playing a more villainous role than he is used to is artistically challenging and fulfilling because he gets to express a wider range of emotions.  

“Hansel was just really wanting to get to the ginger house fast. I think he took the low road because he was just very selfish and greedy.” “I don’t usually get to play the bad guy,” Kraut said. “I’m actually really a pretty kind person, if you ask any of my friends. So when I get to be the bad guy, it comes along very rarely, I finally get to [act] mischievous. It’s the whole role. It’s super cool.” 

Miranda Martinez plays the Wicked Witch of the West.

“She’s a happy, good-hearted soul, and she just is very kind and always looking out for her brother, and what I like about her is that she’s always welcoming and very sweet,” said Amaray Helfrick, who plays Gretel. 

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The show will incorporate a range of characters from other fairy tale storylines. Flint Jones, who will  be performing as the Big Bad Wolf, had similar sentiments since he gets to howl on stage.  

“It’s a fun play because it’s like all of the fairy tales mixed together, and it is super creative,” Jones said. “I just love seeing the audience’s faces.” 

Kids rehearse for the Parangello Players musical “The Fork in the Road” by Elyce Monet at Sedona Charter School on Wednesday, Nov. 6.

“I love playing Belle,” Leila Flores said. “Because I feel like she’s kind to people … and she’s just really awesome.” Flores also observed that being cast in the role had helped her learn to sing with another person: “If I sing alone I feel like I’m, like, more engaged than singing together with someone.” 

The show will include 10 songs by Michael Bublé, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Ariana Grande and John Legend.

Skyler plays Snow White and Leah Litvin plays Rapunzel. The play debuts Friday, Nov. 15.

hard on it, and I really enjoy my role,” Kraut said, encouraging residents to turn out. “And it’s always nice to see a familiar face … It’s a super-fun play. And it teaches kids it’s not good to be greedy. You should always listen to your siblings, because you’re going to have to in life, even when you don’t want to.” 

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit parangelloplayers.com/events.

Cast
Hansel: Levi Kraut
Gretel: Amaray Helfrick
Father Talking Tree: Karry Yang
Son Talking Tree: Ryder Barre
Beautiful Flowers: Clara Jones,
Iris Kraut, Penelope McCombs,
Audrey McInnis, Ezra Kraut,
Anastasia Zub
Merlin: Davi Yuen
Peter Rabbit: Tristan Sperry
Cinderella: Mila Kraut
Belle: Leila Flores
Big Bad Wolf and Sleepy: Flint Jones
Gingerbread Man: Clara Jones
Bashful: Rio Bonavito
Doc: Toby Lillesve
Happy: Emerson Harmon
Sneezy: Ryder Barre
Dopey: Tristan Sperry
Grumpy: Karry Yang
Goldilocks: Valentina Marcaccini
Wicked Witch of the West:
Miranda Martinez
Flying Monkeys: James McInnis,
Patrick McInnis, Samuel Roeder
Snow White: Skyler
Rapunzel: Leah Litvin
Writer, director and producer: Elyce Monet
Assistant director: Danielle Richter
Assistant director: Maija Alanen
Sound and lights: Randy and Danielle Richter

Levi Kraut plays Hansel during a rehearsal for the Parangello Players musical “The Fork in the Road” by Elyce Monet at Sedona Charter School on Wednesday, Nov. 6. David Jolkovski/Larson Newspapers
Joseph K Giddens

Joseph K. Giddens grew up in southern Arizona and studied natural resources at the University of Arizona. He later joined the National Park Service in many different roles focusing on geoscience throughout the West. Drawn to deep time and ancient landscapes he’s worked at: Dinosaur National Monument, Petrified Forest National Park, Badlands National Park and Saguaro National Park among several other public land sites. Prior to joining Sedona Red Rock News, he worked for several Tucson outlets as well as the Williams-Grand Canyon News and the Navajo-Hopi Observer. He frequently is reading historic issues of the Tombstone Epitaph newspaper and daydreaming about rockhounding. Contact him at jgiddens@larsonnewspapers.com or (928) 282-7795 ext. 122.

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