From Disney to reality, Hoffman Estates High School’s production of the musical “Into the Woods” is a unique transition from the onscreen hit to the live, stage production.

“You can find a message in every play, but in this one it is very much coming out as how the world is not always ‘happily ever after’,” said Jason Stevens, head director of the musical.

The transition is evident in the sense that unlike the common Disney theme of happily ever after, this musical is about the realities of making your own choices to do the best for yourself as a person.

“It’s really good for the whole community, not just for people who like theater or know theater; everyone knows the stories of Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella so everybody will find something that they will enjoy,” says Christina Ordonez, technical coordinator.

Many people think of musicals as just mainly singing and dancing, but according to Stevens, it’s much deeper than that.

“The musical is very real and the relationships are real and become very real as the musical goes on,” he said.

The cast, crew, and directors are very excited for this production. “The story is interwoven so beautifully; it’s a beautiful piece of American theater that people don’t know about,” said Stevens.

One of the lines towards the end of the show is ‘witches can be right, giants can be good. You decide what’s right, you decide what’s good.’ It’s not like fairy tales, castles, and princes…it’s like reality,” Stevens continued.

The musical will take place at 7 p.m. on March 6 and March 7 and March 12 –14. There also is a shortened children’s performance, which includes lunch, at 11 a.m. on March 14.