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| Joshua Sherman Twitter: @JShermanActor Facebook: www.facebook.com/joshua.sherman.actor |
Today we spend some moments in the woods with Joshua Sherman who is returning to the stage at the Rose Marine as the Baker. Many may remember Joshua for his show stopping vocal performance in IN THE HEIGHTS or his chilling take on Central American Military Politics in THE FIFTH SUN. In our production of INTO THE WOODS, Joshua shows us a tender side that has many people questioning the heroism under his submissive demeanor.
A Baker is more than just bread...
...Is he a
hero or just a baker?
he·ro
hi(ə)rō
noun
1. a person, typically a man, who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities
That is the definition of 'hero' word for
word. So... feminist, don't be angry! Besides, you gals have heroine. The word.
Not the drug... Well, that went downhill quickly; such is a hero's life.
Much like The Baker in Stephen Sondheim’s
classical hit musical 'Into The Woods'. It seems like everything The Baker does
in this high energy musical puts himself in harm’s way. Not only his physical well-being
but within himself as well.
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| Joshua as The General in The Fifth Sun |
It's hard to say if he is a hero or not. I
mean, by definition listed above... he's not very heroic. He shows some courage
but he is not idealized for it! He has
some achievements, and I say they are rather outstanding! But... he didn't
reach his achievements alone. In fact, he wouldn't be able to do much alone!
And as for noble qualities... He's a baker! His father and mother, who died in a baking accident, were merely bakers before him. No nobility there.
By definition The Baker is no hero.
That being said; I believe he is a Hero.
Just, not in the traditional sense. The Baker doesn't save the day. He doesn't
fight off evil with his abilities to make cakes and pastries. (Which are very
good, mind you.) He doesn't wear a spandex suit and don a cape and mask to
gallivant around the woods or
village looking for crimes to solve! But what he
does do is much more important. He chooses not to run away. He chooses to make
his own happiness, to forge his own path in life surrounded by people he cares
about, when things are at rock bottom. His super-strength comes not in the form
of being able to lift a tree from the
ground but rather being able to pick himself up after being shattered
completely; Gluing himself back together and filling in the missing pieces with
reflections of what he's lost.... and then some! And we all know how difficult
that can be sometimes.
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| Joshua Sherman & Lorens Portalatin starred as Nina & Benny in Artes de la Rosa's In the Heights |
This is the beauty of fairy tales.
(Especially the Grimm Fairy Tales that Into The Woods is based on.) That there is
evil in this world and sometimes, evil wins. Think about it; Snow White takes
that bite. Little Red Ridinghood strays from her path. Jack steals from the
giant. The big bad wolf destroys the houses of the first two piggies. But, with
that in mind; if you just persevere, if you just keep on going through the
woods and all of the bad, if you consciously make the choice to get your
happily ever after… You’ll get it. It might not be what you had originally
thought it to be. But it’ll be there. That’s what The Baker does.
He is a hero…he is the hero of his own life.
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| Alden Bowers Price and Joshua Sherman star in INTO THE WOODS February 21st - March 16th PHOTO BY MARK MAYR |
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