This Magic Moment: Ava Regalado plays Little Red Riding Hood in INTO THE WOODS

"Do not put your faith

In a cape and a hood

They will not protect you

The way that they should"

Winner of three Tony Awards when it debuted in 1988, INTO THE WOODS brings the timeless tales of the Brothers Grimm to life in an epic fairytale musical about wishes, family and the challenges we face from the choices we make.

From famed Broadway duo Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, INTO THE WOODS plays in the Jeffers Theatre at HCT from June 5th through June 20th.

Making her Hickory Community Theatre debut in this production as Little Red Riding Hood, straying from the traditional path to discover what's beyond the status quo, is Ava Regalado.

A Denver resident and graduate of North Lincoln High School (Go, Knights!), Regalado is studying for a Bachelor's Degree in Theatre Education from UNC-Charlotte, while also working as a dance instructor at Tutu Ballet School. When not working, studying, or performing, Regalado enjoys photography and videography, reading, hanging out with her cats, and being the one "holds onto an inside joke for too long."

While at NLHS, Regalado was involved in productions of THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, ANASTASIA, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, PIPPIN, and HADESTOWN: TEEN EDITION, for which her choreography was awarded a 2026 Blumey Award for Best Choreography Execution. Other area credits include LEGALLY BLONDE at Green Room Community Theatre, and DISASTER! at Lincoln Theatre Guild.

"INTO THE WOODS was my first ever show," says Regalado. "It felt very full circle to be in this production. I love how [Little Red Riding Hood] symbolizes the shift frm being naive to knowing what's out there in the world. She's also very, very sassy."

Performances of INTO THE WOODS are Fridays and Saturdays, June 5th through June 20th at 7:30pm; Sundays, June 7th and June 14th at 2:30pm; and Thursday, June 18th at 7:30pm.

Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for youth and students. The production is recommended for ages 13 and up. Tickets are available at hickorytheatre.org or by calling 828‑328‑2283.

INTO THE WOODS is produced in association with Catawba Valley Health Systems. Hickory Community Theatre is a funded affiliate of Arts Culture Catawba and receives sustaining support from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Season 77 support is provided by the City of Hickory, A Cleaner World, Shurtape Technologies, Acuña & Acuña Dentistry, and BellaAge.