It turns out Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother are wolf killers. Or at least that’s the tale that is being spun around town. Before the wolf comes knocking on their door again he better search out the whole story from the Whidbey Children’s Theater production of “Into the Woods, Junior” May 14-16 and May 21-23 at the Clyde Theater.

“Into the Woods, Junior,” begins with the story of a cursed witch who takes out some repressed anger by placing a spell on a baker and his wife so the couple cannot have children. The baker and his wife then head into the woods to search for a way to undo the spell. Along the way they meet all sorts of famous storybook characters, including a long-haired Rapunzel, a beanstalk chopping Jack, a not-so innocent Little Red Riding Hood, a smooth-talking wolf, some step-sisters and a few cavalier princes. All of them have headed into the woods for their own reason. They all share their story with the baker and his wife, and even share items that will help break the spell.

“To go into the woods they’ve all had to face their fears in one way or another and they’ve changed because of it,” said Martha Murphy, director of Whidbey Children’s Theatre.

Directed by Murphy, with musical direction by Kira Keeney “Into the Woods, Junior,” is a part of the Broadway Junior Collection, adaptations of Broadway musicals for the younger set. Based on the book by James Lapine, the musical features lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim. Its broadway counterpart won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical in 2002 with a cast that included Bernadette Peters as the witch.

The “Into the Woods” production is the first for Whidbey Children’s Theater since it gained nonprofit status. It is the first of many in a back to back children’s theater season schedule.

“It’ll be a kick off of sorts for the future of Whidbey Children’s Theater,” Murphy said.

The Whidbey Children’s Theater production of “Into the Woods, Junior” will feature sets designed by Rob Scott. Mural painter Tom Griffin has leant his talent to the set, along with costume mistress Carrie Carpenter.

There will be two casts of 16 members each. The youth cast will be actors ages 9-13, and the teen cast will feature young actors ages 14-18. Friday performances feature the youth cast. May 15 features the youth at 11 a.m. and teen cast at 2 p.m., May 22 is the teen cast at 11 a.m. and youth cast at 2 p.m. Sundays feature the teen cast.

The double-casting sticks with Whidbey Children’s Theatre’s mission to make the stage accessible to all young actors.

“There were just too many good parts and too many actors,” Martha Murphy said. “This allowed us to cast more people in the roles they wanted.”

The casting has also allowed for a teaching exchange between the two casts with the older students are mentoring to their younger counterparts.

“The teaching has worked both ways,” Murphy said. “The younger cast has given the older kids some creative ideas and both have shown support for each other.”

Little Red Riding Hoods are partnered, so are Cinderellas, step sisters, and witches.

“They call us their mini-me’s,” said youth cast member Alex Simpson. “It’s kind of funny in my case because I’m actually a little taller than the Jack in the teen cast.”

Simpson considers the play a “fantasy comedy that spoofs all the classic fairy tales.”

“Every fairy tale has it’s moral,” Simpson said. “This one would have to be not to be very careful, just be prepared.”