Into the Woods opened on Broadway in 1987 and ran 765 performances. The show was revived on Broadway in 2002. Author and director James Lapine along with composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim take everyone's favorite storybook characters and bring them together for a timeless, yet relevant, piece... and a rare modern classic. The Tony Award-winning book and score are both enchanting and touching.
The story follows a Baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King's Festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the Baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a Witch's curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse. Everyone's wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results.
One of Sondheim's most popular works, Into the Woods is a musically sophisticated show with the opportunity to feature some dark comedy. Most of us are familiar with the stories of Cinderella, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White through the classic Disney movies. Most of these stories, along with the stories of Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, and lesser known works such as the Baker’s Wife derive from the books written (originally in German) by the Brothers Grimm. The majority of these stories have darker plots and outcomes, often nothing like the sanitized versions presented by Disney.
The messages in these stories frequently come down to some version of ‘be careful what you ask for, you might just get it’. Sondheim and Lapine have created complex characters where those who are ‘good’ don’t always do what’s right, and those who are ‘right’ are not what we would have considered good.
When picking a show for this year, the returning actors asked me to do a show with some ‘meat on its bones’ (my words, not theirs- but I understood what they meant.) This group of upperclassmen have done a series of shows that were lighter in tone (Little Mermaid, Willy Wonka, Charlie Brown, even Addams Family is cartoonish in its portrayal of the macabre). So they were disappointed in my initial choice of Mamma Mia! I had avoided Into the Woods my first three years at the helm, despite my love for the show (and for all things Sondheim- yes, I am one of “those”…) I had been concerned that the musical and technical complexity might be biting off a little more than we could chew. But when they asked for a challenge and for a show with some complex characters and situations, I decided to go for it. Be careful what you ask for…
But not to my surprise, this group rose to the occasion. That includes the musicians and technical kids as well. This is a difficult show. And it takes a lot of work to put it up. There is a lot to learn (It’s no surprise that when Forbidden Broadway- a NYC based group that does spoofs of all things Broadway got their teeth into this show they called it “Into the Words”!). The path may not have been straight, but these kids now know this show well. I tried to guide them along the way, and these children did learn.
I hope you enjoy our production.
Rich Lovallo
