For the Robinson family, stepping into the magical world of “Into the Woods” is more than just a chance to perform: it’s an opportunity to bond, grow and create something unforgettable as a family.
Senior Jakob Robinson, his sister junior Lucy Robinson and their mother Jen Robinson all participated in the musical “Into the Woods” March 7-10 at the Palace Theatre.
All proceeds from the show, organized by the Butterfly Guild, raised money to support children in palliative care at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and provide resources for their families, Jakob explained.
“It’s great to do what I love and also know it’s for a bigger cause,” he added.
The opportunity came up because they knew of the company and had previous interactions with the director, Jakob said.
He added that this show has been a big influence in their family since they were little kids.
“My mom used to sing songs from ‘Into the Woods’ to my sister and I when we were younger,” he explained. “It’s fun to be able to do the show with all three of us together.”
This opportunity could not be more perfect for their family, Jen said.
“‘Into the Woods’ debuted when I was in high school, and I was obsessed with the entire production,” she added. “So, to do this show when my kids are the same age I was when I fell in love with it is really a full circle moment.”
Although Jen had a big influence on Jakob and Lucy, their love and passion for theatre is completely self-driven, Jen explained.
Their experience was a great new memory and full of bonding experiences, Jakob said. It had many highlights and little to no lows, he added.
“One of the highs has been getting to learn the music and sing all together, and it’s fun to practice throughout the house as well,” Jakob said. “It makes it casual and fun.”
Having family as castmates turned out to be very beneficial for the Robinsons, especially since the practice times were fairly short, Lucy said.
“We have rehearsal almost every day from 7 to 10 p.m., and then outside of that we also work at home in our free time,” she explained. “We had lots of time to work together and to bounce ideas off of each other.”
However, that is not the only benefit of working with family, Lucy said.
“You always have someone to count on,” she added. “There’s always someone who has your back.”
Jakob said he agrees with Lucy’s perspective, as there are people in the cast who she can lean on during and outside of the production.
Their relationships outside of the show also positively impacted their performances within the production, Lucy added.
Jakob said he agrees being related strengthens their bond on the stage. He explained during a scene when he and Lucy had to get into a feud, their sibling relationship made it easy to act like rivals and argue on stage.
“It makes it a lot simpler to open up and be more free because you know you’re going to be met with no judgment,” he added.
For Jen, seeing her children perform on stage is a very special experience for her, she said.
“Working with these two is super fulfilling,” Jen explained. “As a parent, watching your kids grow and develop, watching them connect and build relationships and seeing them discover different parts of themselves is incredibly rewarding.”
Pursuing the arts after high school is a goal for both Jakob and Lucy, Jakob said.
“I’m currently in the process of auditioning for a bunch of musical theatre programs across the country in hopes I’ll study it and be able to pursue a career involved in the arts,” he explained.
Jen said she also continued to pursue the arts in her adult life.
“From musical theatre and vocal performance to coaching and music directing, music and theatre are a constant in my life,” Jen explained.
