Call & Response is a series of Q&As with bands, artists and random people we dig that live in Montreal, visit here, or have some dubious connection to the city.

We all know what happened when Little Red Riding Hood went into the woods, and Jack's foray into his fantasy beanstalk world isn't news to most people. But put them all together - with a bit of song, dance, and a few more forest creatures - and you get the acclaimed musical, Into the Woods. Of course, even that's a bit of a simplistic explanation of the show, so Midnight Poutine invited some of the cast of Music Theatre Montreal's upcoming production of Into the Woods to chat about the show, themselves, and the grand world of musical theatre in this Call & Response.

First off, could you introduce yourselves by name, your role in the production, and favourite flavour of ice cream?
My name is Kelly Herrmann, and I'll be playing the role of the Baker's Wife. Buy me a pint of Ben and Jerry's Phish Food and you're my friend for life.

My name is Kenny Wong and I play Rapunzel's Prince. My favourite ice cream flavour is Green Tea.

I'm Tara Bissett, and I play the Witch. Favourite ice cream... chocolate, all the way. The more chocolate you can squeeze in, the better. Or sometimes chocolate with peanut butter. There's a local Italian café near my place in Dorval that makes to-die-for peanut butter cup/chocolate gelato.

How long have you been working on this production?
We were cast back in April, expected to be familiar with our roles and music when rehearsals began in mid-August, and have been rehearsing ever since.

Besides family, friends, other music, and long walks on the beach, what influences your creativity?
TB: I'd say asking questions and being curious about everything!

KW: Knowing that there are endless possibilities of characters, relationships, circumstances and scenarios out there in the world.

KH: Showers. Seriously; I get all my good ideas in the shower.

Could you help me understand the significance of Into the Woods in terms of when it was first performed, and why it was chosen for your company this season?
Into the Woods was kind of Sondheim's comeback when it first came out in the late '80s. He had been involved in some work that people really liked (like West Side Story and Sweeney Todd) and then wrote some stuff that flopped (like Merrily We Roll Along). And then he wrote Into the Woods, and people really, really liked it. We hope that people will really, really like our production, too! I think the idea for us was to pick a show that people could relate to, but also something that had real depth and meaning.

Of course, another reason is that this show is a great ensemble piece; it's not just a matter of one or two stars and a chorus, it's a wonderful mix - it's a show that gives an opportunity for all actors to be challenged, and have fun creating their characters.

Does the cast have any warm-up routines? Favourite pieces? Are you expecting any related high-jinks during the performances?

Warm-up: An African song, Schuma, which our director taught us at one of our first rehearsals has become somewhat of a standard warm-up for the cast. It's a great way to get the energy up and shake off the stresses of the day before diving into the woods. (Ed. note: this pun was definitely intended).

Favourite pieces: We agree that we love all the music, but one of our favourite songs is 'No More,' sung by the Baker. It's done wonderfully by Jonathan Eidelman and Mike Sornberger.

High-jinks: Our lips are sealed! You'll have to come see the show to find out!

What is it like to be a part of the English theatre community in Montreal?
TB: This is such a great community - and remarkably small. I've had the privilege of working with a number or English-language theatre/musical theatre groups around the city and by far one of the common themes I run into time and again is an incredible passion and dedication cast, crew, producers, have for theatre and community.

What do you love most about Montreal?
The weather... no, we're just joking. The diversity - of people, of language, food, art, of things to do. On any given day, take a look at what's going on in Montreal and you'll see everything under the sun. Or just walking around the city, up Mount Royal, going to the plethora of bars and pubs, or of course grabbing a poutine!

Speaking of poutine, what do you love most about poutine?
The fries, the cheese, and the gravy... so pretty much everything in it. There's also the love of introducing it to out-of-town guests and watching their reactions when they're told what it is we're ordering. They're like, "What..??!", then they taste it and it's not quite as bad as they thought!

What do you hate most about poutine?
Nothing, except maybe the outside comments about having a heart attack in the future. Yeah, probably how you feel after you eat can be a little heart-clogging!

You guys had a slight hiccup there with the cancellation of your first venue and a swift recovery with finding a new venue last minute. What can you say is the best thing you have taken from that experience?

We all remember the day our director, Jonathan, told us the show was in jeopardy - that we'd lost our theatre, and there was a chance we'd have to cancel. Looking around the room you could see the shock we all were feeling. And then it was a matter of getting up, dusting ourselves off, and figuring out what the next steps would be. Adversity brings people together, and this is no exception! We're really coming out of this stronger, more determined and cohesive as a group. It's inspiring to watch and be a part of. The show is probably better for it too - it's got that extra layer of passion and significance.

What was the first show you ever saw on stage? Was it everything you had ever imagined?
KW: The first professional show I saw was The Lion King in London, England. It blew me away! It was so beautiful and I knew I wanted to be part of something like that and now I get to be.

KH: The first show I remember seeing was a middle school production of Annie when I was about 6. A few years later I saw Bernadette Peters in the revival of Annie Get Your Gun. That was also pretty miraculous. She's what made me want to give theatre a try.

TB: I can't remember the very first show, but I do remember the first show that had a huge impact on me: CATS. I clearly remember walking into the theatre and stopping in my tracks. I was in complete awe of the set; if you've seen CATS, you'll know how the set kind of spills into the audience. It's a back-alley-garbage-dump-type set created to be proportional in size to a cat, so you have these massive tires, and tuna cans, and garbage pails, fish bones - it was amazing! I think that was the show where my passion for theatre, in particular musical theatre, was sparked.

What's the best way to spend a million dollars in ten minutes?
KH: Pay off my university tuition, get a latte, and give the rest to some sort of charity that supports arts education. I don't know if I could do that all in 10 minutes. Maybe skip the latte.

What's the best place you've ever been to?
KH: Cortona, Italy. It's the town where they filmed "Under the Tuscan Sun" - spectacular views, architecture, art galleries, purses, gelato, and fewer tourists than a lot of places in Italy.

TB: South Africa/Swaziland - or anywhere you can see the southern sky - unbelievable.

KW: New York City, no question. My favourite place of all time. I'll be moving there in the future.

What's the worst place you've ever been to?
KH: A public toilet in Bejing. Tara agrees that's pretty bad!

How did you spend your 16th birthday?
KH: The only thing I remember about my 16th birthday was failing my driving test. Gosh, that's really awful - I wish I had a better answer to this question.

KW: I think that was the year my mom set up a surprise birthday party for me - that was fun!

TB: Seeing CATS and a barbeque dinner with my family with my Dad's famous hamburgers. Mmm.

Coke or Pepsi?
All three of us agree: Coke.

Make sure to catch this great production, starting tomorrow at Concordia's D.B. Clarke Theatre, 1455 de Maisonneuve.

Show times:
Thursday, October 13th - 7:30pm
Friday, October 14th - 7:30pm
Saturday, October 15th - 1:00pm & 7:30pm
Wednesday, October 19th, - 7:30pm
Thursday, October 20th - 7:30pm
Friday, October 21th - 7:30pm

Tickets:
Students - $12
Regular - $20 in advance, $25 at the door