Into the Woods
Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by James Lapine
Originally Directed by James Lapine
A weaving together of many Grimm Fairytales, Into the Woods follows a baker and his wife as they set out to break a Witch’s curse so that they can fulfill their wish to have a child. In their journey they cross paths with Cinderella, who wishes to go to the King’s festival, and a boy named Jack, who wishes his beloved cow would give milk, as well as many other fairy tale characters. Everyone's wishes are eventually granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results.
Licensing
Into the Woods is available for licensing through Music Theatre International
There is the full-length show (updated version from 2009) and a Jr. and Sr. edition cut of the show also available for licensing.
Awards, Reviews & Features
1988 Tony Awards
Nominated for Best Musical and seven other categories (ten total nominations)
Winner of Best Book of a Musical
Winner of Best Score of a Musical
1988 Drama Desk Awards
Winner of Outstanding Musical
Winner of Outstanding Book
Winner of Outstanding Lyrics, Outstanding Featured Actress & Featured Actor
Nominated for Outstanding Direction, Outstanding Music & six other awards
1988 Grammy Awards
Winner of Best Musical Theater Album
2002 Tony Awards
Winner of Best Revival of a Musical
Winner of Best Lighting Design (Brian MacDevitt)
Nominated in eight other categories
2002 Drama Desk Awards
Winner of Outstanding Revival of a Musical
Winner of Outstanding Set Design & Outstanding Sound Design
2023 Tony Awards
Nominated in six categories, including Best Revival
2023 Grammy Awards
Winner of Best Musical Theater Album
“The material of ''Into the Woods'' is potent stuff - as old as time, or at least as old as fairy tales. One needn't necessarily have read Bruno Bettelheim's classic Freudian analysis to realize that, in remaking Grimm stories, Mr. Sondheim's lyrics and Mr. Lapine's book tap into the psychological mother lode from which so much of life and literature spring.”
Frank Rich, The New York Times (1987)
“Haven't all of us found ourselves having to come to terms with the responsibilities of our actions and the domino effect that those actions have ignited? James Lapine's book creates the perfect framework for Sondheim to hang his most forgiving, loving, and sometimes cautioning songs. Because it delves into the psychological and treats the journeys into self-discovery and the overcoming of adversity as universal to all people, we all find a piece of who we are somewhere in the midst of Into the Woods.”
Playbill, Mark Robinson (2015)
“A work of giddy playfulness and moral seriousness, ‘Into the Woods’ forges a path from innocence into experience. It asks its characters (the surviving ones, anyway) to exchange the narcissism of childhood — the wishing, the wanting — for a more nuanced ethical framework that emphasizes interdependence.”
Alexis Soloski, The New York Times (2022)
History & Fun Facts
Lapine proposed to Sondheim the idea of writing a show based on fairy tales for their second collaboration. Lapine pitched it to Sondheim as “Out of the Woods” and Sondheim quickly responded with “Into the Woods.” They had this title before beginning to write the show.
Lapine returned to Carl Jung’s work when researching and reading about fairy tales, their significance and the philosophy surrounding them. Lapine’s play Twelve Dreams had been based on a case Jung wrote about so he was very familiar with his work. Sondheim later said of the show and the Jungian perspective on fairy tales, “It's about moral responsibility — the responsibility you have in getting your wish not to cheat and step on other people's toes, because it rebounds.”
Though Disney had previously produced television adaptations of Broadway shows, Into the Woods was Disney’s first feature film adaptation of a Broadway musical.
Into the Woods is a mainstay for regional theaters, community theaters and schools and Music Theatre International licenses the show. In addition to a full-length version, there are also Jr. and Sr. versions of the show. The Jr. and Sr. editions both end with the Act 1 finale “Ever After” and run at about an hour.
Original Broadway Production
Directed by James Lapine
September 29, 1987 - September 3, 1989
Opened November 5th, 1987 at the Martin Beck Theater
Ran for 765 Performances
Photos by Martha Swope
-
Music by Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by James Lapine
Directed by James Lapine
Theatre Owned / Operated by Jujamcyn Theaters (James H. Binger: Chairman; Rocco Landesman: President)
Produced by Heidi Landesman, Rocco Landesman, Rick Steiner, M. Anthony Fisher, Frederic H. Mayerson and Jujamcyn Theaters (James H. Binger: Chairman; Rocco Landesman: President); Associate Producer: Greg C. Mosher, Paula Fisher, David B. Brode, The Mutual Benefit Companies and Fifth Avenue Productions
Originally produced by Old Globe Theatre (Jack O'Brien, Artistic Director; Thomas Hall, Managing Director)
Music orchestrated by Jonathan Tunick
Musical Director: Paul Gemignani
Musical Staging by Lar Lubovitch
Scenic Design by Tony Straiges
Lighting Design by Richard Nelson
Costume Design by Ann Hould-Ward
Sound Design by Alan Stieb and James Brousseau
Hair Design by Phyllis Della Illien
Costumes based on original concepts by Patricia Zipprodt
Executive Producer: Michael David
General Manager: David, Strong, Warner, Inc.
Company Manager: Sandra Carlson
Production Stage Manager: Frank Hartenstein
Stage Manager: Johnna Murray
Assistant Stage Mgr: Marianne Cane and James Dawson
Production Supervisor: Peter Feller, Sr.
Music Preparation Supervisor: Mathilde Pincus, Evan Morris and Chelsea Music Services, Inc.
Magic Consultant: Charles Reynolds
Casting: Joanna Merlin
General Press Representative: The Joshua Ellis Office
Vocal Coach: Kristin Linklater
Advertising: Serino, Coyne & Nappi
Advertising Graphics by Heidi Landesman
Photographer: Martha Swope
Assistant to the Director: RJ Cutler
Asst. to the Choreographer: Lila York
Music Contractor: Ron Sell
Assistant Conductor: Scott Frankel
-
Tom Aldredge: Narrator/Mysterious Man
Kim Crosby: Cinderella
Ben Wright: Jack
Chip Zien: Baker
Joanna Gleason: Baker’s Wife
Joy Franz: Cinderella’s Stepmother
Kay McClelland: Florinda
Lauren Mitchell: Lucinda
Barbara Bryne: Jack’s Mother
Danielle Ferland: Little Red Riding Hood
Bernadette Peters: Witch
Edmund Lyndeck: Cinderella’s Father
Merle Louise: Cinderella’s Mother
Robert Westenberg: Wolf
Pamela Winslow: Rapunzel
Chuck Wagner: Rapunzel’s Prince
Merle Louise: Grandmother
Robert Westenberg: Cinderella’s Prince
Philip Hoffman: Steward
Merle Louise: Giant
Maureen Davis: Sleeping Beauty
Jean Kelly: Snow White
Edmund Lyndeck: Standby (Mysterious Man, Narrator).
Understudies: Jeff Blumenkrantz (Jack, Rapunzel's Prince, Steward), Maureen Davis (Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Snow White), Suzanne Douglas (Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Witch), Joy Franz (Witch), Philip Hoffman (Baker, Cinderella's Father), Jean Kelly (Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel), Carolyn Marlow (Cinderella's Mother, Cinderella's Stepmother, Giant, Grandmother, Jack's Mother), Kay McClelland (Baker's Wife), Lauren Mitchell (Baker's Wife), Michael Piontek (Cinderella's Prince, Jack, Rapunzel's Prince, Wolf), Chuck Wagner (Cinderella's Prince, Wolf), Pamela Winslow (Cinderella, Florinda, Lucinda).
2002 Broadway Revival
Directed by James Lapine
Broadhurst Theatre
April 13, 2002 - December 29, 2002
Photos by Joan Marcus
-
Theatre Owned / Operated by The Shubert Organization (Gerald Schoenfeld: Chairman; Philip J. Smith: President; Robert E. Wankel: Executive Vice President)
Produced by Dodger Theatricals (Des McAnuff, Michael David, Robin De Levita, Rocco Landesman, Ed Strong), Stage Holding, Joop Van Den Ende and TheatreDreams, Inc.; Associate Producer: Lauren Mitchell
This production was initially presented at Center Theatre Group / Ahmanson Theatre (Gordon Davidson, Artistic/Producing Director)
Music orchestrated by Jonathan Tunick
Musical Director: Paul Gemignani
Choreographed by John Carrafa
Assistant Director: John Maloney
Assistant Choreographer: Lisa Shriver and Jennifer Copaken
Scenic Design by Douglas W. Schmidt
Costume Design by Susan Hilferty
Lighting Design by Brian MacDevitt
Sound Design by Dan Moses Schreier
Projection Design by Elaine J. McCarthy
Hair and Wig Design by Tom Watson
Make-Up Artist: Kate Best
Assistant to the Scenic Designer: Douglas R. Rogers
Scenic Design Assistant: Robert Jay Braun, Chad Owens and Craig Edelblut
Associate Costume Design: Devon Painter and Michael Sharpe
Assistant Costume Design: Amanda Whidden and Chris Peterson
Assistant to the Costume Designer: Elizabeth Niemczyk
Associate Lighting Design: Jason Lyons
Assistant Lighting Design: Yael Lubetzky
Automated Lighting Programmer: David Arch
Assistant Projection Design: Randolph S. Briggs
Executive Producer: Dodger Management Group (Sally Campbell Morse, Robert C. Strickstein)
General Manager: Robert C. Strickstein and Sally Campbell Morse
Company Manager: Kimberly Kelley
Assistant Co. Mgr: Matthew Aibel
Production Supervisor: Beverley Randolph
Technical Supervisor: Tech Production Services, Inc.
Stage Manager: Lisa Dawn Cave
Assistant Stage Mgr: Scott Taylor Rollison
Music Copying: Emily Grishman
Music Contractor: Ron Sell
Conducted by Paul Gemignani
Associate Conductor: Annbritt duChateau
Assistant Conductor: Mark Mitchell
Special Effects by Gregory Meeh
Illusion design by Jim Steinmeyer
Special Effects Assistant: Vivien Leone
Special Effect Assistant: Patrick Boyd
Casting: Jim Carnahan
Press Representative: Boneau / Bryan-Brown
Fight direction by Rick Sordelet
Marketing Consultant: Margery Singer
Dance Captain: Jennifer Malenke
Advertising: Serino Coyne, Inc.
Marketing: Dodger Marketing
Photographer: Joan Marcus
-
Vanessa Williams: Witch
John McMartin: Narrator / Mysterious Man
Laura Benanti: Cinderella
Gregg Edelman: Cinderella's Prince / Wolf
Melissa Dye: Rapunzel
Christopher Seiber: Rapunzel's Prince / Wolf
Stephen DeRosa: Baker
Kerry O'Malley: Baker's Wife
Adam Wylie: Jack
Mary Louise Burke: Jack's Mother
Chad Kimball: Milky White
Molly Ephraim: Little Red Ridinghood
Pamela Myers: Cinderella's Stepmother / Granny
Tracy Nicole Chapman: Florinda
Amanda Naughton: Lucinda
Dennis Kelly: Cinderella's Father
Trent Armand Kendall: Steward
Jennifer Malenke: Horse
Judi Dench: Voice of the Giant's Wife [pre-recorded]
Understudies: Stephen Berger (Baker, Cinderella's Father, Mysterious Man, Narrator, Steward), Adam Brazier (Cinderella's Prince, Horse, Jack, Rapunzel's Prince, Steward, Wolf), Kristin Carbone (Cinderella's Stepmother, Florinda, Grandmother, Lucinda, Milky White), Tracy Nicole Chapman (Witch), Melissa Dye (Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood), Dennis Kelly (Mysterious Man, Narrator), Trent Armand Kendall (Baker, Cinderella's Father), Chad Kimball (Jack, Rapunzel's Prince, Wolf), Jennifer Malenke (Florinda, Milky White, Rapunzel), Linda Mugleston (Baker's Wife, Cinderella's Stepmother, Grandmother, Jack's Mother, Witch), Pamela Myers (Jack's Mother), Amanda Naughton (Baker's Wife), Kate Reinders (Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Milky White, Rapunzel), Christopher Sieber (Cinderella's Prince, Wolf).
Replacements:
Witch: Linda Mugleston, Cinderella: Erin Dilly, Rapunzel: Danielle Huben, Jack’s Mother: Nora Mae Lyng, Cinderella’s Stepmother/Granny: Joy Franz
2022 Broadway Revival
Directed by Lear deBessonet
St. James Theatre
August 6, 2022 - January 8, 2023
Photos by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman
-
Produced by Jujamcyn Theaters, Jordan Roth, New York City Center, Daryl Roth, Hunter Arnold, Concord Theatricals, Nicole Eisenberg, Jessica R. Jenen, Michael Cassel Group, Kevin Ryan, ShowTown Productions and Armstrong, Gold & Ross
Presenting the production by New York City Center Encores! Originally produced in May 2022 by New York City Center Encores! (Lear deBessonet: Artistic Director; Rob Berman: Music Director; Clint Ramos: Producing Creative Director; Jenny Gersten: Producer of Musical Theater)
Music by Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by James Lapine
Music orchestrated by Jonathan Tunick with The Encores! Orchestra
Music direction by Rob Berman
Associate Musical Dir.: John Bell
Directed by Lear deBessonet
Originally directed by James Lapine
Choreographed by Lorin Latarro
Associate Director: Victoria Davidjohn
Associate Choreographer: Matthew Steffens
Assistant Director: Martavius Parrish
Assistant Choreographer: Sierra Lai Barnett
Scenic Design by David Rockwell
Costume Design by Andrea Hood
Lighting Design by Tyler Micoleau
Sound Design by Scott Lehrer and Alex Neumann
Puppet Design by James Ortiz
Hair and Wig Design by Cookie Jordan
Make-Up Design by Cookie Jordan
Associate Scenic Design: Dick Jaris, Lorraine Glover and T.J. Greenway
Associate Costume Design: Matthew Pachtman
Associate Lighting Design: Jess Creager and Kirk Fitzgerald
Associate Hair and Wig Design: Harley Haberman
Associate Make-Up Design: Joya Giambrone
Assistant Costume Design: Sarafina Bush, Chris Hynds and Lindsey Kuhn
Assistant Sound Design: Germán Martinez
Assistant Puppet Design: Camille Labarre
Mask Design by Kyle Krueger
Moving Light Programmer: Jonah Camiel
Executive Producer: Nicole Kastrinos
General Manager: ShowTown Theatricals, Nathan Gehan and Samuel Dallas
Company Manager: Lizbeth Cone
Assistant Co. Mgr: Rachel Roberson
Production Supervisor: Cody Renard Richard
Production Manager: Aurora Productions
Production Stage Manager: Justin Scribner
Stage Manager: Jason Pacella
Assistant Stage Mgr: Plato Seto
Conducted by Rob Berman
Associate Conductor: Joshua Rosenblum
Music Preparation: Josh Clayton
Musical Coordinator: Seymour Red Press and Kimberlee Wertz
Casting: The Telsey Office and Craig Burns, CSA
Advertising & Marketing: Serino Coyne
Press Representative: DKC/O&M
Marketing: Marathon Digital
Dance Captain: Albert Guerzon
Photographer: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman
-
Sara Bareilles: Baker’s Wife
Brian d’Arcy James: Baker
Patina Miller: Witch
Phillipa Soo: Cinderella
Gavin Creel: Wolf/Cinderella’s Prince
Joshua Henry: Rapunzel’s Prince
Aymee Garcia: Jack’s Mother
Ta’Nika Gibson: Lucinda
Annie Golden: Cinderella’s Mother/Grandmother/Giant’s Wife
Albert Guerzon: Cinderella’s Father
Brooke Ishibashi: Florinda
Kennedy Kanagawa: Milky White
David Patrick Kelly: Narrator/Mysterious Man
Julia Lester: Little Red Riding Hood
Nancy Opel: Cinderella’s Stepmother
Cole Thompson: Jack
David Turner: Steward
Alysia Velez: Rapunzel
Understudies: Delphi Borich, Felicia Curry, Jason Forbach, Alex Joseph Grayson, Cameron Johnson, Paul Kreppel, Mary Kate Moore, Diane Phelan and Lucia Spina
Replacements/Casting Additions:
Baker’s Wife: Stephanie J. Block, Baker: Sebastian Arcelus, Wolf/Cinderella’s Prince: Cheyenne Jackson and Andy Karl, Cinderella: Krysta Rodriguez and Diane Phelan, Little Red: Katy Geraghty, Steward: Jim Stanek, Witch: Montego Glover, Jack’s Mother: Ann Harada
Additional Understudies: Mary Kate Moore, Cameron Johnson and Sam Simahk