Iqaluit (Feb 02/04) - "Once upon a time..." and so the rehearsal of Into the Woods begins, on a Sunday afternoon in the library at Inuksuk high school.

Each character in the play wants something -- much like the determined student actors, nearly 40 in all, taking part in the comedic broadway musical written by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine.

While set designers ponder where to get real trees (in a land without them) and costumers try to find long, white gloves for the princess characters, students must transform themselves into storybook characters who sing, dance and show wide ranges of emotion.

Some rehearsals are still poorly attended.

Many of the actors are still "on book," not yet having memorized their lines.

But the directors are not too worried.

"It's amazing how it all comes together," producer Renata Solski said often.

Student actors are occupied by many things including exams. So along with their fairy-tale inspired dialogue, you also hear them going over math homework during breaks.

When they aren't at school, many of them take part in activities that require serious practise.

Deneen Reti, (Cinderella's step-mother in the play), Samantha Cooper (the Witch) and Elaine Kanayuk-Gabriel (Cinderella) are on the curling team headed to the Arctic Winter Games in Alberta.

Jared Jenson (the wolf) and Pascal MacClellan are also curlers.

Chris Innis (Rapunzel's prince) is a wrestler.

Brendan Doherty (Jack) is in an alternative rock band in Iqaluit called Ivory Hail.

Lauren Solski (Little Red Riding Hood) has a radio show on Raven Rocks.

Ashley Tufts (Rapunzel) is a speed skater also headed to the Arctic Winter Games.

These students are busy. Getting to rehearsals has been a big challenge for many of them.

But showing up is still just the beginning.

Sarah Kerr, a Grade 11 student who plays Jack's mother, and performed as one of the "lost boys" in Peter Pan last year, agreed.

"Last year it was the same," said Kerr cheerfully. "We had no idea how we were going to have it work. But it did."

Interestingly, Kerr did not watch any Walt Disney movies growing up, and only knew these tales -- Cinderella, Snow White and the like -- from books.

For her, Into the Woods is "really fun," and she said the dialogue is "hilarious."

The students have been rehearsing since October 2003.

The last two weeks are crunch time as everyone involved braces for the rush to the opening night Feb. 14. The idea of performing in front of 500-600 people very soon does not seem to be shaking the students, but it is a production worthy of respect.

"It's a huge musical," said Lorraine Thomas, vice-president of the Iqaluit Music Society and past producer of community shows. "They've picked a really tough one."

This production received a $10,000 boost from the City of Iqaluit and Nunavut Brighter Futures.

For Thomas, who has worked on six previous musicals, the show is coming together.

"It's a good story," she said. "The music is for sure challenging."

Kerr said the play has improved her confidence level.

"I have learned to speak louder," she said laughing.

Students taking part include Markoosie Arsenault (Steward), Samantha Cooper (the Witch), Jessica Black (Baker's Wife), Lauren Solski (Little Red Riding Hood), Anika Aylward (Mysterious Man), Brendan Doherty (Jack), Alex Solski (Florinda), Pascal MacClellan (Lucinda), Sarah Maria Kerr (Jack's mother), Eliane Kanayuk-Gabriel (Cinderella), Deneen Reti (Cinderella's step mother), Andrew Morrison (the Baker), Ashley Tufts (Rapunzel), Hannah Lewis (Milky White/Sleeping Beauty), Jared Jenson (the Wolf), Peter Kilabuk (Cinderella's Prince), Rapunzel's Prince (Chris Innis), Leona Ipeelie (Narrator), Roxanne Simms (Granny), and off stage, Wende Tulk is the Giant.

Producer Renata Solski, props organizer Beth Beattie, costume director Janet Armstrong, Marcel Fleurant the music director, Gary Pon, technical support, and Gwen Frankton, publicity, all work together.

The tradition of the yearly community musical production in Iqaluit is still in its infancy, nurtured by the Iqaluit Music Society which started up about seven years ago.

Five years ago it helped start the high school band program to stimulate more musical activity in the city.

Because the staging of Peter Pan was such a success last year, there are twice as many students, and teachers involved in this year's production.

Thomas said the more the merrier.

"Those skills you learn working on a musical stay with you for the rest of your life."