I first became involved in community theatre in 1988 in my home town of Palmerston North (New Zealand), performing as a chorus member in a musical revue called «Spice Is Nice» (a risque collection of comedy sketches and songs). From that point on, I was hooked! Since then I have performed in at least one or two (sometimes three) musicals or plays each year. Since moving to Switzerland (6 years ago) I have been acting with «Upstage», the English-speaking theatre group, and, more recently, been a founding member of the improvisation group «Are You Serious?!»

I am very happy to be a part of the «Into The Woods» cast. The songs of Stephen Sondheim are special to perform, and especially to listen to.

When not performing I work full-time as a Software Developer.

I was born with a passion for music.

I started my musical training as a five year old with the recorder, switched to piano and guitar and eventually ended up with my current main instrument – my voice. For ten years I've been training my voice now, in all sorts of styles from classical via belting and musical to pop.

While training to become a (secondary school) teacher, I had my first experience on the musical stage as Consuela in «West Side Story». In the opera-musical «Jour de Gloire» I played the part of evil Therese and in «Linie 1» I was Lola and a tourist guide. At the moment I'm involved with The Charmonies and sing as a soloist.

With Cinderella I get to play a «good/nice» character for the first time in my life, and I'm really enjoying it immensely.

www.elenasantana.ch

I was born in 1988 and had my first real musical experience at the age of eight years old, when I began to play the cello. Since then I've participated in many different ensembles, orchestras and smaller musicals. In 2003, together with some friends, we founded the Heavy Metal band Cideraid where I play the bass guitar and am the lead vocalist. Up to now we've had many concerts all over Switzerland.

In 2008 I graduated from Gymnasium with music as my major subject.

«Into the Woods» is my first musical as a vocalist and I enjoy working with Robb as I did in the past in his gospel choir «Prisma».

I probably caught the acting bug the moment I started breathing. Originally acting in German and Wallisertiitsch, I eventually became involved in English language theatre, thus combining my love for English with my love for the performing arts.

I have performed in various plays staged by the university drama group and by «Upstage», playing parts such as Betty Whitehouse in J.B. Priestley's «Dangerous Corner», Prince Tomjon in Terry Pratchett's «Wyrd Sisters», Tatyana in Anton Chekhov's «A Jubilee». Most recently I made a ghostly appearance as Ruby in David Tristram's «Ghost Writer».

I've also worked as an actor for Stattland and am founder and leader of Berne's English-language improvisation group «Are You Serious?!».

Music, singing in particular, has always been one of my passions. However, «Into the Woods» is the first musical I'm involved with as a singer. I originally heard of and fell in love with this musical while reading up on fairy tales for my studies of English literature. I am absolutely delighted about the opportunity to take part in it.

I enjoyed singing instruction from 1997 to 2004 with Denise Bregnard (belting and classical voice). Since 1998 I have been singing solo and in ensembles regularly. From 2004 to 2006 I sang in the Musical Ensemble «The Cast», and in 2005 I played the part Der Junge im Mantel in «Linie 1» in Bern.

I have played in several productions of the University of Berne's English Drama Group, such as «The Duchess of Malfi» (2005), the English panto «Sleeping Beauty» (2006) and «Till Death Do Us Part» (2006).

I sing with The Charmonies and Ensemble Leonardo, and deliver Singing Telegrams. In spring 2008 I played in «Geierwally» and the role of Jaques in Shakespeare's «As You Like It» in Bern.

www.marcelroe.ch

I took my first steps on stage between my father's feet, while he was performing with his band when I was just a little toddler. Later on as a teenager I was part of the comedy group «Cabavari Burgdorf».

Touring with «Up With People» opened up the world of musical plays to me. After teaching elementary school for a couple of years I decided to follow my dream: I moved to New York City and studied musical theatre performance at the «American Dramatic Academy».

I was one of the founding members for the a cappella groups «Ignor Gravity» and «Henry's Chair» and performed in «Hair» and «Linie 1». I was also part of the musical «Cliché», where I was not only on stage but also was acting as the musical director.

At the moment I am singing in different ensembles (The Charmonies, Ensemble Leonardo) and am performing as a soloist.

Music is such a big part in my life. I also teach an early childhood music programm in English and Swiss-German (Weltenbummler) in Bern.

I was born in Bern in 1974. I had my first experience on stage in school and later in our theatre group in Gymnasium. I find it fascinating to play a role with a person's character and emotions.

Since 2005, I have sung in the Berner Kantorei choir, where we perform demanding sacred music. To sing makes me feel good, and training and performing music together with others gives me joy and satisfaction.

«Into The Woods» is my first musical, and I am looking forward to combining acting, singing and dancing. What I like most about the play is that it has many sides to it - it is funny, but also philosophical.

I work as a webpublisher (tomogramm.ch Webdesign Bern) and as a masseur (Goldhand Massagepraxis Bern).

I was born in 1978 in the Czech Republic. I have lived in Bern for 5 years and currently I am finishing a doctoral thesis in sociolinguistics. I have a degree in English and Music. Apart from classical music, I have always loved musicals. In fact, my interest in sociolinguistics was triggered by «My Fair Lady» when I was a child. Over the years I have sung songs from various musicals, attended the musical summer school at JAMU Brno and played several roles in our English department's production of «Oh What a Lovely War». At present I sing in the Melodia choir in Bern, which specialises in eastern European folk songs. It is an interesting challenge to take part in such a varied and witty musical.

I was born in November 1988 in Berne. Even as a toddler I was fascinated by music. This passion grew in primary school where we performed several musicals and where I participated in various concerts. After a few years of learning to play an instrument, I became increasingly interested in singing. At Gymnasium/Grammar School I chose music as my major with a focus on voice. At the moment I am training in dance, acting and singing at the Swiss Musical Academy in Berne. I've been given the opportunity to participate in different projects, for example, in several choir projects of the music school Köniz as well as in Benjamin Britten's children's opera «Noah und d'Sintfluet» (Noye's Fludde). At the Muristalden Gymnasium I took part in the musical theatre «Krabat» and sung several solos at choir concerts. Most recently, I played the part of Johnny in «Happy End» in Zurich, Basel and Berne.

I was born in Sisak, Croatia, where I was infected with the theatre bug after working with the theatre group 'DASKA' Sisak and in the town cultural centre for a few years where I acted in several plays. The quality of 'DASKA' Sisak was confirmed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where they performed at in the late 1980s and again in the late 90s. During my time in theatre I also graduated from music school, majoring in the tenor saxophone.

After surviving the war on Croatia I continued to travel and work my way around the world. Since the end of 1995 I have spent time on the west coast of Africa, in south-east Asia in Hong Kong, Singapore and Jakarta and since 2002 I have worked as a Surveillance Shift Manager in a casino in Bern.

In Bern, I have been a part of «Upstage» English-speaking theatre group and «Are You Serious?!», the improvisation theatre group, since its early beginnings.

For me, performing in «Into The Woods» has reminded me of the great qualities of life that we all enjoy.

I was born in Fribourg, Switzerland, in 1995. Since my early years I have wanted to sing and perform.

I won the finale of the Kiddy Contest 2006 at the age of 11 and through this gathered my first experiences on TV and on stage. This was followed by CD recordings, a big tour and a lot of performances. In 2008 I performed Nelly, the Beaver in the musical «Fatura» and was elected Vice Miss Teenie Switzerland.

I am a self-educated singer and I am happy to have Robb Corell as my coach, who understands my enthusiasm and helps to perfect my voice and my acting.

I would like to study dramatics at university and to visit an actor's school. My dream is to go to the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute in New York.

www.fariba.ch

Throughout my childhood and teenage years I was dancing, playing a musical instrument or acting. It was during my Community Arts studies at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA), also known as Paul McCartney's fame school, that I first received professional singing training and discovered a passion for singing.

Since returning to Berne, I have been involved in numerous projects. For «Upstage» I divide my time between onstage and backstage, I toured with the Berne Gospel Choir and taught one or two workshops. More currently, I have just completed the Coop-Christmas-Tour with Chris Nash, Natascha Gfeller und Stephanie Tukker. Next on the list is a Big Band project with Chris Nash, due to happen this coming summer.

I may no longer earn my living as a Community Artist but I have not strayed far. In my ‘other life’ I work as an event manager, presently working for the International Jazzfestival Berne.

One of my earliest memories is standing in the wing of the Käfigturm Theatre watching my mother perform in a musical. It’s great to now be following in her footsteps. «Into the Woods» is a fabulously hilarious musical, excitingly challenging and I am thoroughly looking forward to taking on the role as the Witch.

I was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, before moving to Bern along with my family in 1995. Since moving to Bern I have acted in a number of plays with «Upstage», playing roles as diverse as a nervous aunt in «Lost in Yonkers» and Hwel, an ageing playwright in «Wyrd Sisters». My only musical role to this point has been as a part of the chorus, performing in the pantomime «Cinders - The Real Story», so I welcome the opportunity to join this wonderful group as the Grandmother in «Into the Woods».

Although having no formal training in dressmaking, I spent the majority of my formative years surrounded by wedding dresses and other special gowns in my family's dress factory. I cannot claim that my abilities are hereditary; however I do believe that my grandmother and father are an inspiration to me.

I have been making/assembling the costumes for «Upstage» for a number of years, with my greatest challenge being the need for over 30 costumes for use in «Wyrd Sisters».

I was born in 1973 in a small country on Borneo Island called Brunei. I was educated in an English convent school. I have fond memories of my years growing up, especially due to a keen interest in music and art. From 1993 until 1995 I worked as an Air Hostess for Royal Brunei Airline. In 1996 I got married and moved to Switzerland. Here in Switzerland, I have finally been able to fulfil my dreams in the fine arts, having had a lot more opportunity to work in both music and art. In the year 2007 I finally started taking singing lessons. As this wasn't enough for me, I enrolled at the Swiss Musical Academy in 2008, specializing in singing, acting and dancing. In December 2008 I finished my course and am now eager to give my first performance on stage by playing Rapunzel in «Into The Woods». I feel very honoured to be a part of this play, especially with such an inspirational coach as Robb Correll.

While working as a primary teacher, I completed my MAS (Master of Advanced Studies) in theatre education (Theaterpädagogik). During my studies I performed in several plays in alternative theatres in Constance, Zurich and Berne as well as in «Les Misérables» on the Seebühne in Thun. As a director I have staged various plays, among them Chekhov's «The Seagull» and Ionesco's «Rhinoceros». I have also written several plays and have put them on stage with different amateur theatre groups. In summer 2009 I will receive my degree as a musical performer from the Swiss Musical Academy in Berne.

www.reiflertheater.com

I was born on the 18th of August 1983 in Los Mochis, Mexico. At the age of just four months I was adopted by an English lady and a Swiss gentleman.

My love for music, theatre and singing was given to me primarily by my mother. She was a professional ballet dancer and is a fan of good music.

Having appeared in several school plays, as well as singing and playing the trombone, my fascination with musicals has grown so much that I felt it was time to experience one myself, and thus I chose to participate in this production.

The role of Cinderella's Prince is, as far as I can judge, just right for me. It is a special honour to play this role and to be a part of this production.

Stage experience, performing in a ballet, for Kate Baur began at the age of 12 years old with the San Diego Ballet, where she danced in the «Nutcracker» from Tchaikovsky. The fascination of filling the space with dance and movement, inspired her to study ballet diligently in various dance schools: San Diego Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Washington Ballet. In each of those cities she performed with the Ballet school company. The leap over the ocean to seek new challenges in Europe and to begin her professional career was an exciting step. At the Stadtheater Bonn, Kate found her first engagement in Europe with a professional dance company. After three years dancing in Germany, she was hired by the ballet company of the St. Gallen Stadttheater. Soon after Kate met her husband, a musician in the Symphony and Opera Orchestra St. Gallen and as time went by, she allowed her feet to grow roots and has been living since in Appenzellerland with her family. Kate Baur teaches and has choreographed diverse dance and theater productions. Inspiring and original has been the collaboration with Robb Correll in his theater and musical productions: «Grease», «The Fantastics», «The Tempest», «Midsummernight's Dream». Kate's fascination, creating movement on stage, grows with each new project.

Martin Klopfenstein trained at the Musikhochschule Bern as well as at the Manhattan School of Music in New York where he obtained his Master of Music.

He also took part at many international master classes, for example at the Cleveland Summer Piano Academy and at the Verbier Academy.

For his music, Martin Klopfenstein received several awards (Kiefer-Hablitzel-Stiftung, Migros-Genossenschafts-Bundes, Ernst Göhner-Stiftung, «La Suisse Assurances»). He also won the «Concours Piano 80» in Winterthur.

Since 1997 he works as a piano teacher at the Musikschule Region Thun. He is also involved in numerous projects as a pianist and arranger.

As daughter of a dancer I became acquainted with the theatre world at an early age. However my interests lay more in the cosmetic and stylistic side of the business. Through training and many special courses I was able to work my way from what had been a hobby to a professional level. At the same time I was often drawn back into showbusiness. I had the opportunity to work in many theatre as well as film productions including with «Casino Royale» director Martin Campbell. However, being mother and family oriented I decided not to pursue an international career. I now concentrate on my work at the hair-dressing salon and national theatre productions.

I feel honoured to be able to support «Into The Woods» team with my experience and look forward to a successful production.

Robb Correll studied singing and acting before coming to Switzerland in 1979 as a music and drama teacher. He also has degrees in English Literature, Theology and Education and works - sometimes simultaneously, sometimes serially - as a voice and performance coach, music and theater director, conductor, singer, actor, pastor, teacher (K-12) and university lecturer.
www.selbstlernag.org

Robb is a certified trainer in NLP (Neurolinguistic Programming) and gives seminars in Improvisational Theater, Power Learning and Vocal Awareness.
www.robbcorrell.com

He has also founded and runs – together with his wife – a private school, Sesam (K-9) – a day school committed to the development of young peoples' individual gifts and talents.
www.tagesschule-sesam.ch