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Into the Woods

Poster for the original Broadway productionMusic Stephen SondheimLyrics Stephen SondheimBook James LapineBasis Inspired by Bruno Bettelheim's The

Uses of EnchantmentProductions

1987 Broadway1988 United States National Tour1990 West End1998 West End revival2002 Broadway revival2010 London revival2014 Film Adaptation

Awards Tony Award for Best ScoreTony Award for Best BookDrama Desk for Best MusicalTony Award for Best Revival

Laurence Olivier Award for Best Revival

Into the Woods is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. It debuted in San Diego at the Old Globe Theatre in 1986, and premiered on Broadway in 1987. Bernadette Peters' performance as the Witch and Joanna Gleason's portrayal of the Baker's Wife brought acclaim to the production during its original Broadway run. Into the Woods won several Tony Awards, including Best Score, Best Book, and Best Actress in a Musical (Joanna Gleason), in a year dominated by The Phantom of the Opera.

The musical has been produced many times, with a 1988 US national tour, a 1990 West End production, a 1991 television production, a 1997 tenth anniversary concert, a 2002 Broadway revival, a 2010 London revival[1] and in 2012 as part of New York City's outdoor Shakespeare in the Park series. The musical intertwines the plots of several Brothers Grimm fairy tales and follows them to explore the consequences of the characters' wishes and quests. The main characters are taken from "Little Red Riding Hood", "Jack and the Beanstalk", "Rapunzel", and "Cinderella", as well as several others. The musical is tied together by an original story involving a baker and his wife and their quest to begin a family, and their interaction with a Witch and her curse on them.

Contents  [hide] 1 Plot

1.1 Act I1.2 Act II

2 Productions2.1 Original Broadway production2.2 1988 US tour2.3 Original London production2.4 1998 London revival2.5 2002 Broadway revival2.6 London Royal Opera House, 20072.7 Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, 20102.8 Public Theater, New York, 20122.9 Other productions

3 Adaptations3.1 Junior version3.2 Film

4 Casting history5 Musical numbers6 Analysis of book and music7 Awards and nominations

7.1 Original Broadway production7.2 Original London production7.3 1999 London revival7.4 2002 Broadway revival7.5 2010 London revival7.6 2012 New York revival

8 References9 External links

Plot[edit source | editbeta]

Act I[edit source | editbeta]

With the words "Once Upon a Time", the Narrator introduces four characters who each have a wish: Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King's festival; Jack, a simple young man who wishes that his cow, Milky-White, would give milk; and the Baker and his Wife, who wish they could have a child. While Little Red Ridinghood[2] buys bread from the Baker to take to her grandmother's house, Jack's weary mother nags him into selling the cow, and Cinderella's stepmother and sisters tease her about wanting to attend the King's festival.

The Baker's neighbor, an ugly old witch, reveals the source of the couple's infertility is a curse she placed on the Baker's line, after catching the Baker's father in her garden stealing "magic" beans. In addition to the curse, the Witch took the Baker's father's newborn child, Rapunzel ("Witch's Entrance"). The curse will be lifted if the Baker and his Wife can find the four ingredients that the Witch needs for a certain potion — "the cow as white as milk, the cape as red as blood, the hair as yellow as corn, and the slipper as pure as gold", all before the chime of Midnight in three days' time. All begin their journeys into the woods — Jack goes to the market to sell his beloved pet Milky White, Cinderella's family goes to the Festival, Cinderella to her mother's grave to ask for guidance, Little Red to her Grandmother's house, and the Baker, refusing his wife's help, to find the ingredients ("Prologue").

Cinderella visits her mother's grave and receives a beautiful gown and golden slippers from her mother's spirit ("Cinderella at the Grave"). Jack encounters a Mysterious Man, who mocks him for trying to sell his cow for more than a "sack of beans" and then vanishes. Little Red Ridinghood meets a hungry wolf who convinces her to take a detour on her way to Granny's, and then dashes off to consume the old woman ("Hello, Little Girl"). The Baker sees Little Red in the woods and when the Witch appears, screaming at him to get the red cape, she frightens him so much he forgets the ingredients he needs. Luckily his Wife, who followed him

into the forest, reminds him. They are squabbling over her presence when they come across Jack with Milky-White. Not having the money necessary to buy the cow, they convince Jack that the beans the baker has found in his father's old hunting jacket are "magic", and buy the cow for five of them. Jack bids a tearful goodbye to his cow ("I Guess This Is Goodbye"), and the Baker orders his Wife to return to the village with the cow. He has qualms about being so dishonest, but his wife reasons that the end justifies the beans ("Maybe They're Magic".)

Meanwhile, it is revealed that the Witch has raised Rapunzel as her own daughter, keeping her locked away from the world in a tall tower in the middle of the woods, accessible only by climbing Rapunzel's long, golden hair ("Our Little World"). However, a handsome Prince spies the beautiful Rapunzel, and resolves to climb the tower himself. In another part of the wood, the Baker has tracked down Little Red Ridinghood. Following the Witch's advice, he attempts to simply steal the red cape, but her ensuing temper tantrum guilts him into returning it. When the girl arrives at her grandmother's house, she is swallowed by the Wolf. The Baker in pursuit of the cape, slays the Wolf, pulling Little Red and her grandmother from the beast's innards. Little Red rewards him with the red cape, boasting of her new experiences ("I Know Things Now"). Meanwhile, Jack's mother angrily tosses the beans aside and sends her son to bed without supper. As Cinderella flees the festival, pursued by another handsome prince and his steward, the Wife helps her hide and quizzes Cinderella about the ball. Cinderella explains that it was a nice ball with "A Very Nice Prince", but seems fairly ambivalent about the experience. As a giant beanstalk begins to sprout from the ground next to Jack's cottage, the Wife spots Cinderella's pure gold slippers. She tries to chase after Cinderella, inadvertently allowing Milky-White to run off, leaving the Wife without the slippers and the cow. The characters each state morals and credos as the First Midnight chimes ("First Midnight") and they continue their journeys through the woods.

The next morning, Jack describes his thrilling adventure after he returns from climbing the beanstalk ("Giants in the Sky"). He gives the Baker five gold pieces he stole from the giants to buy back his cow, and when the Baker hesitates, Jack climbs back up the beanstalk to find more. The Mysterious Man emerges and taunts the Baker, stealing the money. The Baker's wife confesses she has lost the cow, and she and the Baker split up to look for it. Cinderella's and Rapunzel's Princes, who are brothers, meet and compare the misery of their new-found and unobtainable loves ("Agony"). The Baker's wife, who is eavesdropping, takes note when Rapunzel's prince mentions that he is in love with a girl in a tower with hair as "yellow as corn". The Baker's Wife fools Rapunzel into letting down her

hair and pulls out a piece of it. Meanwhile, The Mysterious Man gives Milky-White back to the Baker.

The Wife and Cinderella meet again, and the Wife makes a desperate grab for her shoes, almost succeeding before Cinderella flees. The Baker and his wife reunite, now with three of the four items. The Baker admits that they've had to work together to fulfill the quest ("It Takes Two"). Jack arrives with a hen that lays golden eggs and attempts to buy Milky-White back, but the cow suddenly keels over dead as midnight chimes. Again, the characters exchange morals ("Second Midnight"). The Witch discovers that the Prince has been visiting Rapunzel and begs Rapunzel to stay with her ("Stay with Me"). When Rapunzel refuses, the Witch angrily cuts off Rapunzel's hair and banishes her to a desert. The Mysterious Man gives the Baker the money to buy another cow, and Jack, goaded by Little Red Ridinghood, who is now sporting a wolf skin cape and a knife for protection, returns once again to the Giant's home to steal a magic harp.

Cinderella's Prince spreads pitch on the stairs of the castle to try to capture her. She escapes, but leaves one of her slippers ("On the Steps of the Palace") as a clue to her identity. The Baker's Wife tries to trade her own shoes and the last bean for Cinderella's slipper; Cinderella throws the bean aside, but trades shoes with the Baker's wife and flees. The Baker arrives with another cow; they now have all four items. A great crash is heard and Jack's mother reports that a Giant has fallen from the beanstalk and is dead in her backyard. The Witch discovers that the new cow is not pure white — it is covered with flour. However, the Witch revives Milky-White, and the Baker and his Wife feed the items to her. Jack milks her, but no milk comes. The Baker's Wife reveals that the hair is Rapunzel's, and the Witch furiously explains that the magic will not work, because the Witch has already touched Rapunzel's hair. The Mysterious Man tells the Baker to feed the hair-like corn silk to the cow. Now Milky-White gives milk, which is the potion. The Witch reveals that the Mysterious Man is the Baker's father. The Witch drinks the potion and suddenly the Mysterious Man falls dead, his reparation complete. The curse is broken, and the old ugly Witch is again young and beautiful.

Cinderella's Prince searches for the girl whose foot fits the slipper; the stepsisters try but can only get it on by cutting off parts of their feet, then Cinderella appears, her foot fits the slipper, and she becomes the Prince's bride. Rapunzel has borne twins in the desert where her Prince finds her. The Witch attempts to curse the couple, only to find that her powers have been lost. At Cinderella's wedding to the Prince, the stepsisters are blinded by birds as they try to win Cinderella's favor. Everyone but the Witch and the stepsisters congratulate themselves on being able to live happily "Ever After", though they fail to notice another beanstalk growing sky-high in the

background.

Act II[edit source | editbeta]

Later all the characters seem happy but are, ironically, still wishing: The Baker and his Wife have their precious baby boy, but wish for more room; Jack and his mother are rich and well-fed, but Jack misses his kingdom in the sky; and Cinderella is living with her Prince Charming in the Palace, but is getting bored ("So Happy").

Suddenly, everyone is knocked over by a loud crash, and enormous footprints have destroyed the Witch's garden, sparing only a few beans. The Baker and his Wife decide that they must tell the Royal Family but first they safely escort Little Red Ridinghood to her grandmother's house after her mother was killed by the Giant. Jack decides that he must slay the Giant and Cinderella learns from her bird friends that her mother's grave was disturbed and decides to investigate ("Into the Woods" Reprise).

While everyone else is drawn back into the woods, Rapunzel has fled there in a hysterical fit, her treatment at the hands of the Witch having driven her into madness. Her Prince has followed her, but when he encounters his brother they each confess they have another reason for their presence in the woods: they have grown bored and frustrated with their marriages and now lust after two beautiful women asleep in the woods - Snow White and Sleeping Beauty ("Agony" Reprise).

The Baker, his Wife and Little Red Ridinghood get lost in the woods and find the Witch, who brings news that their houses have been destroyed, and the Royal Family and the Steward, who reveal that the castle was set upon by the Giant. The Giant then appears. This Giant is a woman, the widow of the Giant that Jack killed by chopping down the beanstalk. Her booming voice proclaims that she wants Jack's blood in revenge. To satisfy the Giantess, everyone offers her the narrator as a sacrifice, until they realize how lost they would be without him. Nevertheless, the Witch throws him into the Giantess's arms and he is killed. Jack's mother finds the group and aggressively defends her son, angering the Giantess, and the Steward clubs Jack's mother to quiet her, inadvertently killing her. The Giantess leaves to search for Jack, and Rapunzel runs underneath the Giantess and is trampled, to the horror of the Witch and her Prince ("Witch's Lament").

The Witch declares she will find Jack and sacrifice him to the Giant, and the Baker and his Wife decide they must find him first and split up to search. The Baker's Wife meets Cinderella's Prince, and he easily seduces the Wife ("Any Moment"). Meanwhile, the Baker discovers Cinderella at her mother's destroyed grave and convinces her to join their group for safety.

The Prince, satisfied, leaves the Baker's Wife with a few platitudes, and she realizes her error and decides to return to her happy life with the Baker and their son ("Moments in the Woods") just moments before being accidentally crushed by the angry Giantess.

The Baker, Little Red Ridinghood, and Cinderella await the return of the Baker's Wife when The Witch drags in Jack. The Baker, grief-stricken when he learns of his wife's death, unwittingly agrees to give Jack to the Giantess, causing an argument. The characters first blame each other for their predicament, until finally they all decide to blame the Witch for growing the beans in the first place ("Your Fault"). Disgusted, the Witch curses them, throws away the rest of her magic beans, reactivating her mother's curse and making her vanish ("Last Midnight").

The grieving Baker flees but is visited by his father's spirit, who convinces him to face his responsibilities ("No More"). The Baker returns and helps plan to kill the Giantess, using Cinderella's bird friends to peck out the Giant's eyes at an area smeared with pitch, where Jack and the Baker can finally deliver a fatal blow. Cinderella stays behind to protect the Baker's child, when her Prince appears and explains his reasons for seducing another woman. Feeling both hurt and angry, she demands that he leave her. Little Red returns with the news that her grandmother has been killed by the Giantess. The Baker tells Jack that his mother is dead. Jack vows to kill the steward in revenge, until the Baker convinces him that killing the steward will not benefit anyone. Cinderella comforts Little Red and tries to answer her qualms that killing the giant makes them no better than she is, while the Baker explains to Jack his inability to say what is really morally correct ("No One Is Alone").

The four remaining characters slay the Giant, and each of the previously deceased characters (save the Princes, the Steward, and the Royal Family) returns to describe the lesson they learned. The survivors plan to rebuild their lives together, and The Baker's Wife returns (in the form of a spirit) to give her husband one final lesson: Tell their child the story of the Woods; actions have consequences — even for future generations. The Baker begins to tell the story as the Witch appears, with the final moral: Be careful what you pass on to your children ("Children Will Listen"). All join in on a last reprise of the title song, surmising that we all must venture Into the Woods, but never to forget the past ("Finale"). Cinderella ends with: "I wish..."

Productions[edit source | editbeta]

Original Broadway production[edit source | editbeta]

Into the Woods premiered at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, California, on December 4, 1986 and ran for 50 performances under the direction of James Lapine.[3] The majority of the performers from that production appeared in the Broadway cast but John Cunningham, who played the Narrator, Wolf and Steward and George Coe, as the Mysterious Man and Cinderella's Father were replaced by Tom Aldredge, who played the Narrator and Mysterious Man. Kenneth Marshall as Cinderella's Prince was replaced by Robert Westenberg (who also played the Wolf), LuAnne Ponce, who played Little Red Ridinghood, was replaced by Danielle Ferland, Ellen Foley, the Witch, was replaced by Bernadette Peters. Kay McClelland, who played both Rapunzel and the Stepsister Florinda, stayed with the cast but only played Florinda, Rapunzel being played by Pamela Winslow.

The musical opened on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre on November 5, 1987, and closed on September 3, 1989 after 765 performances. It starred Bernadette Peters, Joanna Gleason, Chip Zien, Kim Crosby, Ben Wright, Danielle Ferland, Chuck Wagner, Merle Louise, Tom Aldredge, and Robert Westenberg. The musical was directed by James Lapine, with musical staging by Lar Lubovitch, settings by Tony Straiges, lighting by Richard Nelson, and costumes by Ann Hould-Ward (based on original concepts by Patricia Zipprodt and Ann Hould-Ward). The original production won the 1988 New York Drama Critics' Circle Award and the Drama Desk Award for Best Musical, and the original cast recording won a Grammy Award. The show was nominated for ten Tony Awards, and won three: Best Score (Stephen Sondheim), Best Book (James Lapine) and Best Actress in a Musical (Joanna Gleason).

Peters left the show after almost five months due to a prior commitment to film the movie Slaves of New York.[4] The Witch was then played by: Betsy Joslyn (from March 30, 1988);[5]Phylicia Rashād (from April 14, 1988); Betsy Joslyn (from July 5, 1988); Nancy Dussault (from December 13, 1988);[6] and Ellen Foley (from August 1, 1989 until the closing).[7]

Other cast replacements included Dick Cavett as the Narrator (as of July 19, 1988) (for a temporary engagement after which Tom Aldredge returned), Edmund Lyndeck as the Mysterious Man, Patricia Ben Peterson as Cinderella, LuAnne Ponce returning to the role of Little Red Ridinghood, Jeff Blumenkrantz as Jack, Marin Mazzie as Rapunzel (as of March 7, 1989) and Kay McClelland, Lauren Mitchell, Cynthia Sikes and Mary Gordon Murray as the Baker's Wife.[7]

In May 1989, the original cast (with the exception of Jean Louisa Kelly in the minor role of Snow White) reunited for one performance, which was filmed and broadcast on U.S. public television on March 20, 1991. This

version (which featured pick-up shots filmed in an empty theater) has since been released on DVD.[8]

Tenth Anniversary benefit performances of this production were held on November 9, 1997 at The Broadway Theatre (New York), with most of original cast.[9] Original cast understudies Chuck Wagner and Jeff Blumenkrantz played Cinderella's Prince/Wolf and The Steward in place of Robert Westenburg and Philip Hoffmann and Jonathan Dokuchitz (who joined the broadway production as an understudy in 1989) played Rapunzel's Prince in place of Mr. Wagner. This concert featured the duet "Our Little World," written for the first London production of the show.

1988 US tour[edit source | editbeta]

A United States tour began on November 22, 1988 with Cleo Laine playing the Witch, replaced by Betsy Joslyn in May 1989. Rex Robbins played the Narrator and Mysterious Man, Charlotte Rae played Jack's Mother, and the Princes were played by Chuck Wagner and Douglas Sills. The 10-month tour[10] played cities around the country, such as Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Los Angeles, and Atlanta.[11][12] The tour ran at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts from June 1989 to July 16, 1989, with the reviewer for The Washington Post writing: "his lovely score -- poised between melody and dissonance -- is the perfect measure of our tenuous condition. The songs invariably follow the characters' thinking patterns, as they weigh their options and digest their experience. Needless to say, that doesn't make for traditional show-stoppers. But it does make for vivacity of another kind. And Sondheim's lyrics...are brilliant.... I think you'll find these cast members alert and engaging."[13]

Original London production[edit source | editbeta]

The album cover of the London cast recording.The original West End production opened on September 25, 1990 at the Phoenix Theatre and closed on February 23, 1991 after 197 performances. It was directed by Richard Jones, and produced by David Mirvish, with choreography by Anthony Van Laast, costumes by Sue Blane and orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick. The cast featured Julia McKenzie as the Witch, Ian Bartholomew as the Baker, Imelda Staunton as the Baker's Wife and Clive Carter as the Wolf/Cinderella's Prince. The show received seven Olivier Award nominations in 1991, winning for Best Actress in a Musical (Staunton) and Best Director of a Musical (Jones).

Some story aspects and one song that were cut from the original production were added to the London production. The song "Our Little World" was added.[14] This song was a duet sung between the Witch and Rapunzel giving further insight into the care the Witch has for her self-proclaimed daughter and the desire Rapunzel has to see the world outside of her tower. The overall feel of the show was a lot darker to that of the original Broadway production. Critic Michael Billington wrote "But the evening's triumph belongs also to director Richard Jones, set designer Richard Hudson and costume designer Sue Blane who evoke exactly the right mood of haunted theatricality. Old-fashioned footlights give the faces a sinister glow. The woods themselves are a semi-circular, black-and-silver screen punctuated with nine doors and a crazy clock: they achieve exactly the 'agreeable terror' of Gustave Dore's children's illustrations. And the effects are terrific: doors open to reveal the rotating magnified eyeball or the admonitory finger of the predatory giant."[15]

1998 London revival[edit source | editbeta]

A new intimate production of the show opened (billed as the first London revival) at the Donmar Warehouse on 16 November 1998, closing on 13 February 1999. This revival was directed by John Crowley and designed by his brother, Bob Crowley. The cast included Clare Burt as the Witch, Nick Holder as the Baker, Sophie Thompson as the Baker's Wife, Jenna Russell as Cinderella, Sheridan Smith as Little Red Ridinghood and Frank Middlemass as the Narrator/Mysterious Man.[16] Russell later appeared as the Baker's Wife in the 2010 Regent's Park production. Thompson won the 1999 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance, while the production itself was nominated for Outstanding Musical Production.

2002 Broadway revival[edit source | editbeta]

A poster for the 2002 Broadway revival.A revival opened at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, running from February 1, 2002 to March 24, 2002. This production was directed and choreographed, with the same principal cast, which later ran on Broadway.[17]

The 2002 Broadway revival, directed by James Lapine and choreographed by John Carrafa, began previews on April 13, 2002 and opened April 30, 2002 at the Broadhurst Theatre, closing on December 29 after a run of 18 previews and 279 regular performances. It starred Vanessa L. Williams as the Witch, John McMartin as the Narrator, Stephen DeRosa as the Baker, Kerry O'Malley as the Baker's Wife, Gregg Edelman as Cinderella's Prince/Wolf, Christopher Sieber as Rapunzel's Prince/Wolf, Molly Ephraim as Little Red Ridinghood, Adam Wylie as Jack and Laura Benanti as Cinderella. Judi Dench provided the pre-recorded voice of the Giant.

Lapine revised the script slightly for this production, with a cameo appearance of the Three Little Pigs restored from the earlier San Diego production.[18][19][20] Other changes, apart from numerous small dialogue changes, included the addition of the song "Our Little World," a duet for the Witch and Rapunzel written for the first London production, the addition of a second wolf in the song "Hello Little Girl" who competes for Little Red's attention with the first Wolf, the portrayal of Jack's cow by a live performer (Chad Kimball) in an intricate costume and new lyrics were written for "The Last Midnight," now sung by the Witch as a menacing lullaby to the Baker's baby.[20]

The revival won the Tony Awards for the Best Revival of a Musical and Best Lighting Design.[21] This Broadway revival wardrobe is on display at the Costume World Broadway Collection in South Florida.

London Royal Opera House, 2007[edit source | editbeta]

A revival at the Royal Opera House's Linbury Studio in Covent Garden had

a limited run from June 14 through June 30, 2007 followed by a short stint at The Lowry theatre, Salford Quays, Manchester between 4–7 July. The production mixed Opera singers, Musical Theatre actors as well as Film and television actors; including Anne Reid as Jack's Mother and Gary Waldhorn as the Narrator. The production itself, directed by Will Tuckett, was met with mixed reviews; although there were clear stand out performances.[22][23][24]

The production completey sold out three weeks before opening. As this was an 'Opera' production, the show and its performers were overlooked for the 'Musical' nominations in the 2008 Olivier Awards. This production featured Suzie Toase (Little Red), Peter Caulfield (Jack), Beverley Klein (Witch), Anna Francolini (Baker's Wife), Clive Rowe (Baker), Nicholas Garrett (wolf) and Lara Pulver (Lucinda). This was the second Sondheim musical to be staged by the Opera House, following 2003's Sweeney Todd.

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, 2010[edit source | editbeta]

The Olivier Award winning Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production, directed by Timothy Sheader and choreographed by Liam Steel, ran for a six week limited season from 6 August to 11 September 2010. The cast included Hannah Waddingham as the Witch, Mark Hadfield as the Baker, Jenna Russell as the Baker’s wife, Helen Dallimore as Cinderella, and Judi Dench as the recorded voice of the Giant. Gareth Valentine was the Musical Director.[25][26] The musical was performed outdoors in a wooded area. Whilst the book remained mostly unchanged, the subtext of the plot was dramatically altered by casting the role of the Narrator as a young school boy lost in the woods following a family argument – a device used to further illustrate the musical’s themes of parenting and adolescence.

The Regent's Park Open Air Theatre Production, with Beverly Rudd as Little Red RidinghoodThe production opened to wide critical acclaim, much of the press commenting on the effectiveness of the open air setting. The Telegraph reviewer, for example, wrote: "It is an inspired idea to stage this show in the magical, sylvan surroundings of Regent’s Park, and designer Soutra Gilmour has come up with a marvellously rickety, adventure playground of a set, all ladders, stairs and elevated walkways, with Rapunzel discovered high up in a tree."[27] The New York Times reviewer commented: "The natural environment makes for something genuinely haunting and mysterious as night falls on the audience..."[28] Stephen Sondheim

attended twice, reportedly extremely pleased with the production. The production also won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival and Michael Xavier, who played Cinderella's Prince and the Wolf, was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical.

The production was recorded in its entirety and released for public download through Digital Theatre, an online video production company.[29]

Public Theater, New York, 2012[edit source | editbeta]

The Regent's Park Open Air Theatre production transferred to the Public Theater's 2012 summer series of free performances Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, New York, with an American cast as well as new designers.[30] Sheader again is the director and Steel serves as co-director and choreographer. Performances were originally to run from July 24 (delayed from July 23 due to the weather) to August 25, 2012, but the show was extended till September 1, 2012.[31] The cast included Amy Adams as The Baker's Wife, Donna Murphy as The Witch, Denis O'Hare as The Baker, Chip Zien as the Mysterious Man/Cinderella's Father, Jack Broderick as the young Narrator, Gideon Glick as Jack, Cooper Grodin as Rapunzel’s Prince, Ivan Hernandez as Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf, Tina Johnson as Granny, Josh Lamon as the Steward, Jessie Mueller as Cinderella, Laura Shoop as Cinderella’s Mother, Tess Soltau as Rapunzel and Glenn Close as the Voice of the Giant. The set was a "collaboration between original Open Air Theatre designer Soutra Gilmour and...John Lee Beatty, [and] rises over 50 feet in the air, with a series of tree-covered catwalks and pathways."[32] The production was dedicated to Nora Ephron, who died earlier in 2012. In February 2012 and in May 2012, reports of a possible Broadway transfer surfaced with the production's principal actors in negotiations to reprise their roles.[33][34][35] In January 2013, it was announced that the production will not transfer to Broadway due to scheduling conflicts.

Other productions[edit source | editbeta]

1993 Sydney Theatre Company productionThis production played from 19 March 1993 to 5 June 1993 at the Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House. It starred Judi Connelli, Geraldine Turner, Tony Sheldon, Philip Quast, Sharon Millerchip, Pippa Grandison, Simon Chilvers and DJ Foster.[36]

1994 Watershed Theatre productionThis production played from 18 November 1994 to 23 December 1993 at the Watershed Theatre, Auckland. It starred Suzanne Lee, Kevin Smith, Miranda Harcourt, and Sophia Hawthorne

1998 Melbourne Theatre Company productionThis production played from 17 January 1998 to 21 February 1998 at the Playhouse, Victorian Arts Centre. It starred Rhonda Burchmore, John McTernan, Gina Riley, Lisa McCune, Peter Carroll, Anthony Weigh, Tamsin Carroll and Robert Grubb.[37][38]

2007 Barcelona productionBoscos endins was the Catalan adaptation by Joan Vives with the collaboration of Joan Lluís Bozzo. It was first presented by the Theatre Company Dagoll Dagom in Girona at the Festival Temporada Alta on November 22, 2007, and in January it was held at Teatre Victòria, in Avinguda del Paral·lel, Barcelona, Spain[39]

2009/10 London ProductionIn December 2009 the show was presented at the Bloomsbury Theatre London by the UCLU Musical Theatre Society in a brand new production. Produced by Alicia Bennett and directed by Dom O'Hanlon the show was personally supported by Stephen Sondheim and praised for its new interpretation. The production was selected to be performed as part of the Sunday Times National Student Drama Festival 2010 in Scarborough, featuring the original cast and orchestra at the Spa Theatre, Scarborough in April 2010.[40]

2011 Singapore productionThe 2011 Singapore production presented by Dream Academy ran from 29 July to 7 August 2011.[41] Directed by Glen Goei, it featured Ria Jones (Witch), Adrian Pang (Baker), Selena Tan (Baker's Wife), Sebastian Tan (Jack), Emma Yong (Cinderella), Denise Tan (Little Red Riding Hood) and Lim Kay Siu (narrator)

2011 Santa Ana productionThe Mysterium Theater presented the production directed by Marla Ladd ran from August 18 to September 24.[42]

2012 Baltimore and Connecticut productionDirected by Mark Lamos, Center Stage (in a co-production with Westport Country Playhouse in Westport, Connecticut) in Baltimore, Maryland presented Into the Woods, running from March 7 to April 15, 2012. The cast included Danielle Ferland as the Baker's wife, Jeffry Denman as the Narrator, Jenny Latimer as Cinderella, Justin Scott Brown as Jack, Erik Liberman as the Baker, Dana Steingold as Little Red Ridinghood, Nik Walker as Wolf/Cinderella's Prince, and Lauren Kennedy as the Witch.[43] The production transferred to Westport Country Playhouse for a run lasting from May 1 to May 25, 2012.[44]

2013 Puerto Rican production

The first professional Spanish language production, "Dentro del Bosque", was produced by the University of Puerto Rico Repertory Theatre and premiered in San Juan at Teatro de la Universidad (University Theatre) on March, 14. Directed by Edgar García Rivera, it starred: Víctor Santiago (Baker), Ana Isabelle (Baker's Wife), Lourdes Robles (Witch), Julio Enrique Court (Narrator/Mysterious Man), Xavier Rivera (Jack), Daisy Maeso (Cinderella), Angeliz Nieves (Little Red Riding Hood), Ulises Santiago de Orduña (Wolf), Armando Vegerano (Cinderella's Prince), Sara García (Jack's mother), Kedward Avilés (Steward).[45]

Adaptations[edit source | editbeta]

Junior version[edit source | editbeta]

The musical has been adapted into a child-friendly version for use by schools, with the second act completely removed, as well as certain elements from the first. The show is shortened from the original 3-plus hours to fit in a 60 to 80 minute range, and the music transposed into keys that more easily fit young voices.[46]

Film[edit source | editbeta]

In October 1994, a reading of a screenplay (written by Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel) was held at the home of director Penny Marshall, with a cast that included Robin Williams as The Baker, Goldie Hawn as The Baker's Wife, Cher as The Witch, Danny DeVito as The Giant, Steve Martin as The Wolf,[47] and Roseanne Barr as Jack's Mother. In late 1995, Daily Variety reported that Jim Henson Prods. and Storyline Entertainment would be producing the movie, with director Rob Minkoff. In January 1997, Daily Variety reported that the projected film was put in "turnaround" by Columbia Pictures, still with director Rob Minkoff; that two new songs were written by Sondheim for the film; and that Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan and Susan Sarandon were in talks to star.[48] However, information about Storyline's upcoming projects no longer counts the film among them (as of 2007).[49][50]

In January 2012, it was reported that Rob Marshall has signed on to direct a film adaptation of the musical for Walt Disney Pictures, with James Lapine writing the script and Stephen Sondheim "expected" to write new songs.[51] Dion Beebe, who previously collaborated with Marshall in Chicago, Memoirs of a Geisha, and Nine will serve as cinematographer.[52] Sondheim confirmed that a new song is being written for the film.[53] On June 13, 2013, Disney scheduled a release date for Christmas Day 2014.[54] The film is expected to begin shooting in London September 2013.[55]

A reading of the updated screenplay took place in October 2012, with Nina

Arianda as the Baker's Wife, Victoria Clark as Cinderella's Mother/Granny/Giant, James Corden as the Baker, Donna Murphy as the Witch, Christine Baranski as Cinderella's Stepmother, Tammy Blanchard as Florinda, Ivan Hernandez as the Wolf, Megan Hilty as Lucinda, Cheyenne Jackson as Rapunzel's Prince, Allison Janney as Jack's Mother, Anna Kendrick as Cinderella, Michael McGrath as Steward/Mysterious Man, Laura Osnes as Rapunzel, Taylor Trensch as Jack, Casey Whyland as Little Red Riding Hood, and Patrick Wilson as Cinderella's Prince. The reading was directed by Rob Marshall.[56] Reports also surfaced during that month and in January 2013 that Meryl Streep had been confirmed to play the Witch.[57][58][59][60] During the latter month, it was reported that Janney had been confirmed to join the film as well.[61] Five months later, however, the press sated that Tracey Ullman was in talks to play the role of Jack's Mother instead.[62] On April 26, 2013, reports surfaced that Johnny Depp is in talks to join the film as the Baker or the Wolf.[63][64][65] It was also reported that Depp and Streep's deals were being finalized.[66][67] In May 2013, it was stated in the press that James Corden, who took part in the reading of the screenplay, was in talks to play the Baker in the film.[68][69] On May 10, 2013 a casting notice had been released by Disney confirming that Streep, Depp, and Corden will play the Witch, the Wolf, and the Baker respectively.[70][71] It was reported on May 14, 2013, that Jake Gyllenhaal and Chris Pine were in negotiations to play the Princes.[72] Two days later, the press stated that Emily Blunt was in final negotiations to play The Baker's Wife and Christine Baranski was in talks to play the Stepmother.[73][74] In June 2013, Blunt confirmed that she would be playing the Baker's Wife in the film.[75][76] On June 21, 2013, it was reported that Les Misérables star Daniel Huttlestone is in talks for the role of Jack.[77] The same day reports surfaced that Anna Kendrick is in talks to play Cinderella.[78] On July 17, 2013 Gyllenhall dropped out of the film due to scheduling conflicts with his upcoming film, Nightcrawler and that Mackenzie Mauzy was cast as Rapunzel.[79] On July 22, 2013, Billy Magnussen entered final negotiations to replace Gyllenhaal as Rapunzel's Prince.[80] The next day it was reported that Tammy Blanchard and Lucy Punch began talks to play Florinda and Lucinda respectively.[81] That evening an exclusive source confirmed the casting of every single role except for Jack and Little Red Riding Hood.[82] Rehearsals for the movie started on August 5th, 2013, with both Daniel Huttlestone (Jack) and James Corden (Baker) sharing pictures of the first day of rehearsal through social networks (Facebook and Twitter, respectively).[83] That same day, it was reported that Sophia Grace Brownlee was cast as Little Red Riding Hood.[84] Representatives for Grace confirmed the casting the next day.[85] The casting of Brownlee has caused public outrage, mostly due to her age and the fact that a sexual tension is present between Little Red and The

Wolf.[86][87][88]

Casting history[edit source | editbeta]

The principal, original, casts of notable productions of Into the Woods

Role

Original Broadway production

First US National Tour

Original London production

Broadway revival

1987 1988 1990 2002

Narrator Tom Aldredge Rex Robbins Nicholas Parsons John McMartin

Cinderella Kim CrosbyKathleen Rowe McAllen

Jacqui Dankworth

Laura Benanti

Jack Ben WrightRobert Duncan McNeill

Richard Dempsey

Adam Wylie

The Baker Chip Zien Ray Gill Ian Bartholomew Stephen DeRosa

The Baker's Wife

Joanna GleasonMary Gordon Murray

Imelda Staunton Kerry O'Malley

Cinderella's Stepmother

Joy FranzJo Ann Cunningham

Ann Howard Pamela Myers

Florinda Kay McClellandSusan Gordon-Clark

Elizabeth BriceTracy Nicole Chapman

Lucinda Lauren Mitchell Danette Cuming Liza SadovyAmanda Naughton

Jack's Mother Barbara Bryne Charlotte Rae Patsy Rowlands Marylouise Burke

Little Red Ridinghood

Danielle Ferland Tracy Katz Tessa Burbridge Molly Ephraim

The WitchBernadette Peters

Cleo Laine Julia McKenzieVanessa Williams

Cinderella's Father

Edmund Lyndeck Don Crosby John Rogan Dennis Kelly

Cinderella's Mother

Merle Louise Nora Mae LyngEunice Gayson[89]

Laura Benanti[90]

Mysterious Man Tom Aldredge Rex Robbins John Rogan John McMartin

The WolfRobert Westenberg

Chuck Wagner Clive Carter

Gregg EdelmanChristopher Sieber

Cinderella's Prince

Gregg Edelman

Rapunzel Pamela WinslowMarguerite Lowell

Mary Lincoln Melissa Dye

Rapunzel's Prince

Chuck Wagner Douglas Sills Mark TinklerChristopher Sieber

Grandmother Merle Louise Nora Mae Lyng Eunice Gayson Pamela Myers

Steward Philip Hoffman Marcus Olson Peter LedburyTrent Armand Kendall

Giant Merle Louise Nora Mae Lyng Eunice Gayson Judi Dench(Pre-recorded)

Snow White Jean Kelly Megan Kelly N/A N/A

Sleeping Beauty Maureen Davis N/A Kate Arneil N/A

Milky White N/A N/A N/A Chad Kimball

Woodsman N/A N/A N/A N/A

Harp N/A N/A N/A N/A

Young Baker N/A N/A N/A N/A

Hansel N/A N/A N/A N/A

Gretel N/A N/A N/A N/A

Musical numbers[edit source | editbeta]

Act I• "Act One Prologue" – Narrator, and Company (the Act One Prologue is divided into nine

parts which are often viewed as individual songs)

• "Cinderella at the Grave" – Cinderella, Cinderella's Mother

• "Hello, Little Girl" – Wolf and Little Red Ridinghood (with second wolf and the three little pigs in 2002 revival)

• "The Spell is On My House" (Reprise) – Baker and Baker's Wife

• "I Guess This is Goodbye" – Jack

Act II• "Act Two Prologue" –

parts which are often viewed as individual songs)

• "Agony" (Reprise) – • "Witch's Lament" – • "Any Moment (Part 1)" – • "Any Moment (Part 2)" – • "Moments in the Woods" –

• "Maybe They're Magic" – Baker and Baker's Wife

• "Our Little World" – Witch and Rapunzel (added during the original London production)

• "Maybe They're Magic" (Reprise) – Baker

• "I Know Things Now" – Little Red Ridinghood

• "A Very Nice Prince" – Cinderella and Baker's Wife

• "First Midnight" – Company

• "Giants in the Sky" – Jack

• "Agony" – Cinderella's Prince and Rapunzel's Prince

• "A Very Nice Prince" (Reprise) – Cinderella and Baker's Wife

• "It Takes Two" – Baker and Baker's Wife

• "Second Midnight" – Company

• "Stay with Me" – Rapunzel and Witch

• "On the Steps of the Palace" – Cinderella (with Jack and Little Red Ridinghood in 2002 revival)

• "Act One Finale" – Company (the Act One Finale is divided into four parts which are often viewed as individual songs)

• "Your Fault" – • "Last Midnight" – • "No More" – • "No One is Alone (Part 1)" – • "No One is Alone (Part 2)" – • "Act Two Finale" –

individual songs)

Analysis of book and music[edit source | editbeta]

In most productions of Into the Woods, including the original Broadway production, several parts are doubled. Cinderella's Prince and the Wolf, who share the characteristic of being unable to control their appetites, are played by the same actor. Similarly, the Narrator and the Mysterious Man, who share the characteristic of commenting on the story while avoiding any personal involvement or responsibility. Granny and Cinderella's Mother, who are both matriarchal characters in the story, are also typically played by the same person, who also gives voice to the nurturing but later murderous Giant's Wife.

The show covers multiple themes: growing up, parents and children, accepting responsibility, morality, and finally, wish fulfillment and its consequences.[93] The Time Magazine reviewers wrote that the play's "basic insight ... is at heart, most fairy tales are about the loving yet embattled relationship between parents and children. Almost everything that goes wrong — which is to say, almost everything that can — arises from a failure of parental or filial duty, despite the best intentions."[94] Stephen Holden wrote that the themes of the show include parent-child relationships and the individual's responsibility to the community. The witch isn't just a scowling old hag, but a key symbol of moral ambivalence. James Lapine said that the most unpleasant person (the Witch) would have the truest things to say and the "nicer" people would be less honest.[95] In the Witch's words: "I'm not good; I'm not nice; I'm just right."

The score is also notable in Sondheim's output, because of its intricate

reworking and development of small musical motifs. In particular, the opening words, "I wish", are set to the interval of a rising major second and this small unit is both repeated and developed throughout the show, just as Lapine's book explores the consequences of self-interest and "wishing." The dialogue in the show is characterized by the heavy use of syncopated speech. In many instances, the characters' lines are delivered with a fixed beat that follows natural speech rhythms, but is also purposely composed in eighth, sixteenth, and quarter note rhythms as part of a spoken song. Like many Sondheim/Lapine productions, the songs contain thought-process narrative, where characters converse or think aloud.

Sondheim drew on parts of his troubled childhood when writing the show. In 1987, he told Time Magazine that the "father uncomfortable with babies [was] his father, and [the] mother who regrets having had children [was] his mother."[96]

Awards and nominations[edit source | editbeta]

Original Broadway production[edit source | editbeta]

Year Award Category

1988

Tony Award

Best Musical

Best Original Score

Best Book of a Musical

Best Direction of a Musical

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical

Best Choreography

Best Scenic Design

Best Costume Design

Best Lighting Design

Drama Desk Award Outstanding Musical

Outstanding Music

Outstanding Lyrics

Outstanding Book of a Musical

Outstanding Director of a Musical

Outstanding Actress in a Musical

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical

Outstanding Set Design

Outstanding Costume Design

Outstanding Lighting Design

Outstanding Orchestrations

Original London production[edit source | editbeta]

Year Award Category

1991 Laurence Olivier Award

Best New Musical

Best Director of a Musical

Best Actor in a Musical

Best Actress in a Musical

Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical

Best Costume Design

1999 London revival[edit source | editbeta]

Year Award Category

1999 Laurence Olivier AwardOutstanding Musical Production

Best Actress in a Musical

2002 Broadway revival[edit source | editbeta]

Year Award Category

2002 Tony Award Best Revival of a Musical

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical

Best Direction of a Musical

Best Choreography

Best Scenic Design

Best Costume Design

Best Lighting Design

Drama Desk Award

Outstanding Revival of a Musical

Outstanding Actress in a Musical

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical

Outstanding Director of a Musical

Outstanding Set Design

Outstanding Costume Design

Outstanding Sound Design

2010 London revival[edit source | editbeta]

Year Award Category

2011 Laurence Olivier AwardBest Musical Revival

Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical

2012 New York revival[edit source | editbeta]

Year Award Category

2013 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Musical