Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Into the Woods begins as many fairytales do: with a wish. A Baker and his Wife long for a child. Cinderella wishes for a life beyond her housework. Jack dreams of fortune, Little Red of adventure, and Rapunzel of freedom. Each sets out into the woods determined to claim the happiness they believe lies just beyond their reach.
But the woods are not simply a place of magic—they are a place of consequence. In Sondheim and Lapine’s world, wishes do come true, yet every fulfilled desire carries a cost. By the end of Act I, many characters have achieved exactly what they wanted. Act II asks the more difficult question: what happens after the wish is granted?
That question is at the heart of Into the Woods and of our 2025-2026 season, "Where Wishes Lead.” The musical brilliantly intertwines familiar fairy tales only to complicate them, reminding us that life rarely resolves itself in a neat “happily ever after.” Instead, the characters must confront the ripple effects of their choices—on themselves, on their families, and on their community. The woods become a metaphor for the uncertain paths we all must travel—places where we lose our way, learn from our mistakes, and ultimately discover what truly matters to us.
By the end of the journey, Into the Woods offers neither simple answers nor easy morals. Instead, it leaves us with a reminder both cautionary and hopeful: wishes shape our lives, but it is our choices—and our care for one another—that determine how the story continues. We cannot think of a message more appropriate for our FC students and our FTCSC Community.
"Careful the things you say... [our] children will listen!"
Dan Lyng and Haley Stroup
Co-Directors
