Into the Woods Sr. Cast

Annawyn Shamas (Narrator/Mysterious Man), a theatre graduate of Oklahoma State University, was given both the Best Actress Award and Outstanding Theatre Student Award by OSU Theatre Faculty her senior year. Here is Colorado, she won Best Actress for her portrayals of Amelia Earhart in Amelia Lives and Dorothea in Eleemosynary. Her 69-year directing/acting career found her working in Ohio, Texas, California, Colorado, and Oklahoma. Shamas’ productions won awards through the OCTA/CCTC organizations and were recruited for international performances in England, Monaco, and Germany. In 2024, Annawyn was honored with a Distinguished Alum Award from Oklahoma State University for her contributions to community theatre. She is currently working on honoring her mother by establishing the Evelyn DeBenning Storybook Trail in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Alan Rubin is thrilled at having a rare chance at this point in his acting career to play a 15-year-old as Jack in this senior production of Into the Woods (although Alan fits the part, being very immature for his age). Many thanks to Amy and Stephanie for having the courage to attempt this production, and to my remarkably talented castmates for bringing this wonderful show to life. Most recently, Alan has performed as Santa in the Colorado Railroad Museum’s production of The Polar Express, in several roles in musical theater produced by Ovation West, Wheat Ridge Theater Company, The School at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, and the Colorado Ballet as the Friar in Romeo and Juliet.

Susan (Jack’s Mother/Rapunzel) began her acting career as a professional child actress in New York City. Her most memorable role was that of Nikki Lee Blake in the Patty Duke Show. As an adult, she studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, and was involved in community theater in New York and New Jersey. Her plays included The Diary of Anne Frank, The Sisters Rosenzweig, The Vagina Monologues, and more. Recent credits in Colorado include Radium Girls, Love Letters, Stu for Silverton, October Surprise, and La Llorona del Rio Rimac. She will be appearing in Tartuffe with the Upstart Crow Company. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to appear in Into the Woods, Sr. as Jack’s Mother and Rapunzel!

In a different time and space, Lacey Ruskin (Little Red Riding Hood) made a living as an actor. Since then, she has settled in Colorado, earned a graduate degree, spent 13 years teaching theatre in Denver area public schools and returned to the world she loves, nonprofit development and operations. Her last show was 12 years ago, and just happened to be Into The Woods. Devastated that somehow she had become too old for Little Red Riding Hood, she played the part of Jack's Mother. Low and behold....a 55 and over production and she finally gets her wish! Thanks to Stephanie, Amy and The Venue for the opportunity to be young again!

Meet Tom Scripps (The Baker)! Tom has been a member of the Evergreen Chorale since 1984 when he moved to Evergreen. Over the years he has performed in fifteen Chorale and Evergreen Players productions. Recently retired, he and his wife Barb have three married children all living in northwest Denver including one grandchild.

Ellen Shamas-Brandt is excited to join Into The Woods, Sr. as Cinderella! She is most thrilled to be performing again with her mother, Annawyn, for the fourth time! She has acted in church, community, and professional productions throughout her life. Three of her favorite shows are Once (Baruska) with the Town Hall Arts Center, We’re Still Here (River Spirit) with Empathy Theatre Project, and Quilters (Ensemble) with the Main Street Players. She has served as a musical director, director, and collaborative pianist for many productions as well. An enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation, Ellen founded Celebration of Native Arts in 2023 to promote the works of Native American/First American performing artists. She has enjoyed working with Stephanie, Amy, her mother, old friends, and new friends in this show!

Greg Aigner (Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf/Lucinda) did one show in high school, but caught the bug at Ft. Lewis College in Durango, where he minored in Theatre. After traveling with Up With People, he settled in the Denver suburbs where he was quite active in community theatres; including the Main Street Players, Lakewood Players, South Suburban, Adult/Children’s Theatre, and Bonfils Theatre. He’s a retired Jeffco teacher and has directed over 40 talent shows at local schools. He’s most proud of producing a couple of plays, a couple of children, and more than a couple of pranks on family and friends!

Shar Funk is delighted to play not one, not two, but three parts in this amazing production (Cinderella’s Mother/Cinderella’s Stepmother/Granny)! Thank you to this superb (and patient!) cast for welcoming her back to the stage; Shar’s last role was in high school which was a LONG time ago 🙂 Since then, Shar has kept busy with a variety of “roles” : mother to two incredible kids, racket sports enthusiast, former “Marketing Whisperer”, part-time bibliophile, avid traveler, and wife to a wonderful, supportive (and also patient!) husband!

Shane began doing theatre over 40 years ago! Recent local acting credits include We’re Still Here (Empathy Theatre Project), In The Next Room, or The Vibrator Play (Theatre Company of Lafayette), The 25 th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Uniitive Theatre), Man Up (Empathy Theatre Project), Tony and Tina’s Wedding (Moon Theatre), and Gypsy (Longmont Theatre Company). Also a director, recent credits include Time Stands Still at Coal Creek Theatre of Louisville, Stop Kiss (CCTL), Epic Proportions (CCTL), and You Can’t Take It With You(Moon Theatre). Some favorite shows he’s worked on include Almost, Maine, The Foreigner, Angels In America Parts One and Two, The House Of Yes, and The Last Five Years. Shane would like to thank Stephanie and Amy for this rare and unique opportunity.

Christy (Florinda/Rapunzel’s Prince) is a retired Jeffco theatre educator. She performed on stage from childhood through college, and sang with the Colorado Symphony Chorus. She now prefers backstage work to being in the spotlight, and thrives as a Costume Designer for school, community, and professional theatre companies. Although it has been decades since she last appeared onstage, she’s very much enjoying the process and the company.

“Being a cast member in 'Into the Woods' has been a privilege and a challenge," observes Lisa Feldman who plays the Baker's Wife. After a 30+ year hiatus from performing while working and raising a family in California, the move to Conifer presented opportunities to become involved with the local theater where she took classes, performed in showcases and a one-act play. Currently she is also performing in "We Ain't Done Just Yet," which is a musical review sharing and commiserating with the audience the good, bad and the sometimes ugly of being an older adult. "I feel so fortunate to be working with this fabulous group of performers in 'Into the Woods'. I've learned so much and there's never a shortage of laughter with this ensemble.”