Past-Productions of Into the Woods
1986 PRE-BROADWAY
Into the Woods premiered at The Old Globe in San Diego, CA on December 4, 1986 and ran for 50 performances. The production was directed by James Lapine (also the author of the book), and included several of the actors who would follow the production to Broadway in 1987.
From Left to Right: Ben Wright as Jack, Joanna Gleason as the Baker's Wife and Chip Zien as the Baker in The Old Globe's original production of Into the Woods in 1986
From Left to Right: Joanna Gleason as the Baker's Wife, Ellen Foley as the Witch, and Chip Zien as the Baker.
This first production underwent several changes in the script, most notably the addition of the song "No One is Alone" in the middle of the run. The show also featured another song, Boom Crunch! in the place of "The Last Midnight". Some of these changes can be seen in the youtube videos below, including, if you listen carefully, a difference in the fate of the Baker's Wife.
1987 BROADWAY
Into the Woods opened on Broadway on November 5, 1987 at the Martin Beck Theatre, and closed on September 3, 1989. The production ran for 764 performances and 43 previews, and was again directed by James Lapine.
It originally starred Bernadette Peters, Joanna Gleason, Chip Zien, Kim Crosby, Ben Wright, Danielle Ferland, Chuck Wagner, Merle Louise, Tom Aldredge and Robert Westenberg. Throughout the show's 2-year run, several roles were replaced with other actors, but in May of 1989, the full original cast cast reunited for 3 performances in order to record the musical in its entirety for PBS's American Playhouse. If you have seen a video of Into the Woods prior to the recent Disney release in 2014, this is the recorded version you will have seen.
From Left to Right: Danielle Ferland as Little Red Riding Hood, Ben Wright as Jack, Kim Crosby as Cinderella, Chip Zien as the Baker, and Bernadette Peters as the Witch.
From Left to Right: Lauren Mitchell as Lucinda, Kay McClelland as Florinda, Edmund Lyndeck as Cinderella's Father, Joy Franz as Cinderella's Stepmother, Robert Westenberg as Cinderella's Prince, Kim Crosby as Cinderella, and Philip Hoffman as the Steward.
From Left to Right: Chip Zien as the Baker, Joanna Gleason as the Baker's Wife, and Bernadette Peters as the Witch.
Kim Crosby as Cinderella. Joanna Gleason as the Baker's
Wife, and Robert Westenberg as
Cinderella's Prince.
Chip Zien as the Baker, Robert Danielle Ferland as Little Red Riding
Westenberg as Cinderella's Prince, Hood, and Robert Westenberg as the
Bernadette Peters as the Witch, Wolf.
Joanna Gleason as the Baker's Wife,
and Tom Aldredge as the Narrator.
In 1988, a year dominated by Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Into the Woods was nominated for 10 Tony awards and won 3 (in bold):
Best Musical
Best Original Score - Stephen Sondheim
Best Book of a Musical - James Lapine
Best Direction of a Musical - James Lapine
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical - Joanna Gleason
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical - Robert Westenberg
Best Choreography - Lar Lubovitch
Best Scenic Design - Tony Straiges
Best Costume Design - Ann Hould-Ward
Best Lighting Design - Richard Nelson
The same year, Into the Woods was also nominated for 12 Drama Desk Awards and won 5 (in bold):
Outstanding Musical
Outstanding Music - Stephen Sondheim
Outstanding Lyrics - Stephen Sondheim
Outstanding Book of a Musical - James Lapine
Outstanding Director of a Musical - James Lapine
Outstanding Actress in a Musical - Bernadette Peters
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical - Robert Westenberg
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical - Joanna Gleason & Danielle Ferland
Outstanding Set Design - Tony Straiges
Outstanding Costume Design - Ann Hould-Ward
Outstanding Lighting Design - Richard Nelson
Outstanding Orchestrations - Jonathan Tunick
1990 - ORIGINAL LONDON PRODUCTION
In London, Into the Woods opened September 25, 1990 at the Phoenix Theatre. The production ran for 197 performances and closed on February 23, 1991. This production was directed by Richard Jones, and produced by David Mirvish, with choreography by Anthony Van Laast, costumes by Sue Blaine and orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick.
The cast featured Imelda Staunton as the Baker's Wife (you may remember her as Professor Umbridge from the Harry Potter movies...), Julia McKenzie as the Witch, Ian Bartholomew as the Baker and Clive Carter as Cinderella's Prince/Wolf.
Julia McKenzie as the Witch, and Imelda Staunton as the Baker's Wife.
Julia McKenzie as the Witch Mary Lincoln as Rapunzel.
During this production, the song "Our Little World" was added, sung by the Witch and Rapunzel. The song gave some insight into the relationship between the Witch and Rapunzel in their life together, and Rapunzel's longing to see the world outside her tower.
Imelda Staunton as the Baker's Wife, Clive Carter as Cinderella's Prince, and
and Ian Bartholomew as the Baker. Mark Tinkler as Rapunzel's Prince.
Tessa Burbidge as Little Red Riding Hood, Richard Dempsey as Jack.
and Clive Carter as the Wolf.
The overall "feel" of the show was said to have been darker than 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."
In 1991, Into the Woods was nominated for 6 Laurence Olivier Awards and won 2 (in bold):
Best New Musical
Best Director of a Musical - Richard Jones
Best Actor in a Musical - Ian Bartholomew
Best Actress in a Musical - Imelda Staunton & Julia McKenzie
Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical - Clive Carter
Best Costume Design - Sue Blane
2002 - BROADWAY REVIVAL
Beginning as a revival on the west coast in Los Angeles in early 2002, Into the Woods again made its way to Broadway. Opening at the Broadhurst Theater in New York City on April 30, 2002, the production ran for 279 performances and 18 previews, closing on December 29, 2002.
Again, directed by James Lapine, the cast featured Vanessa Williams as the Witch, John McMartin as the Narrator, Stephen De Rosa 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 Riding Hood, Adam Wylie as Jack and Laura Benanti as Cinderella. Dame Judi Dench provided the pre-recorded voice of the Giant.
Scenic Design by Douglas W. Schmidt
Kerry O'Malley as the Baker's Wife, Vanessa Williams as the Witch.
and Stephen DeRosa as the Baker.
Melissa Dye as Rapunzel, and Laura Benanti as Cinderella.
Vanessa Williams as the Witch.
This particular version of Into the Woods included some changes by James Lapine since the original. The song, "Our Little World" was added from the Original London Production. Milky-White was played by a live actor in a very intricate costume (see below), and "The Last Midnight" became an eerie lullaby sung by the witch to the Baker's baby. The production also featured a cameo appearance by the Three Little Pigs, and the addition of a second wolf (played by Rapunzel's prince) in "Hello Little Girl", where the two wolves vie for Little Red Riding Hood's attention.
Chad Kimball as Milky-White and Adam Wylie as Jack. Vanessa Williams as the Witch.
The Company.
In 2002, the Into the Woods revival was nominated for 10 Tony Awards and won 2 (in bold):
Best Revival of a Musical
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical - John Mcmartin
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical - Vanessa Williams
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical - Gregg Edelman
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical - Laura Benanti
Best Direction of a Musical - James Lapine
Best Choreography - John Carrafa
Best Scenic Design - Douglas W. Schmidt
Best Costume Design - Susan Hilferty
Best Lighting Design - Brian MacDevitt
The same year, Into the Woods was also nominated for 8 Drama Desk Awards and won 3 (in bold):
Outstanding Revival of a Musical
Outstanding Actress in a Musical - Laura Benanti & Vanessa Williams
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical - Gregg Edelman
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical - Kerry O'Malley
Outstanding Director of a Musical - James Lapine
Outstanding Set Design - Douglas W. Schmidt
Outstanding Costume Design - Susan Hilferty
Outstanding Sound Design - Dan Moses Schreier
2010 - REGENT'S PARK LONDON PRODUCTION
Beverly Rudd as Little Red Riding Hood.
The outdoor setting for the production added new elements to the ambiance of the show, including the natural creepiness of Regent's Park at night.
Directed by Timothy Sheader, the book remained largely unchanged, but the subtext was altered by casting the role of the Narrator as a young boy lost in the woods after a family argument. This further illustrated the show's themes of parenting and adolescence.
Eddie Manning as The Narrator, also played by (alternating) Ethan Beer, and Joshua Swinney.
Ben Stott as Jack.
Hannah Waddingham as the Witch, Helen Dallimore as Cinderella, and
and Alice Fearn as Rapunzel. Jenna Russell as the Baker's Wife.
From Left to Right: Michael Xavier as Cinderella's Prince, and Simon Thomas as Rapunzel's Prince.
From Left to Right: Marilyn Cutts as Jack's mother, and Ben Scott as Jack.
Hannah Waddingham as the Witch.
From Left to Right: Beverly Rudd as Little Red Riding Hood, Jenna Russell as the Baker's Wife, Mark Hadfield as the Baker, Amy Ellen Richardson and Amy Griffiths as Florida and Lucinda, Gaye Brown as Cinderella's Stepmother, and Mark Goldthorp as the Steward.
The "Giant" (voice pre-recorded by Michael Xavier as the Wolf, and Beverly
Dame Judi Dench) Rudd as Little Red Riding Hood.
In 2011, this production of Into the Woods was nominated for 2 Laurence Olivier Awards and won 1 (in bold):
Best Musical Revival
Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical - Michael Xavier
2012 - THE PUBLIC THEATER PRODUCTION - CENTRAL PARK, NYC
In 2012, the Regent's Park production of Into the Woods in London was transferred to the Public Theatre's 2012 summer series at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, New York City. The production was directed again by Timothy Sheader, but with a new American cast and designers. The show opened on August 9, 2012 and ran for 21 performances and 14 previews, closing on September 1, 2012.
Several of the elements from the Regent's Park production were found in the Central Park version, including a very similar set, and using a young boy as the Narrator, but added an ensemble including a Hansel and Gretel.
Scenic Design by Sutra Gilmore and John Lee Beatty.
This production of Into the Woods featured Golden Globe winner, Amy Adams, as the Baker's Wife, Donna Murphy as the Witch, Denis O'Hare as the Baker, Jessie Mueller (recently seen in the new Carol King musical, Beautiful) as Cinderella, Chip Zien (previously the Baker in the Original Broadway Cast of Into the Woods) as the Mysterious Man, Gideon Glick as Jack, and Jack Broderick as the Young Narrator, with Glenn Close as the pre-recorded voice of the Giant.
From Left to Right: Ivan Hernandez as Cinderella's Prince, and Jessie Mueller as Cinderella.
From Left to Right: Amy Adams as the Baker's Wife, Denis O'Hare as the Baker, Gideon Glick as Jack, and Johnny Newcomb as the puppeteer for Milky White.
Sarah Stiles as Little Red Riding Hood, and Ivan Hernandez as the Wolf.
Amy Adams as the Baker's Wife, and Ivan Donna Murphy as the Witch.
Hernandez as Cinderella's Prince.
Donna Murphy as the Witch, and Tess Soltau as Rapunzel.
Amy Adams as the Baker's Wife, and Josh Chip Zien as the Mysterious Man, and
Lamon as the Steward. Denis O'Hare as the Baker.
From Left to Right, Top to Bottom: Victoria Cook as Gretel, Ellen Harvey as Cinderella's Stepmother, Tess Soltau as Rapunzel, Laura Shoop as Cinderella's Mother, Bethany Moore as Florinda, Donna Murphy as the Witch, Tina Johnson as Grandmother, and Josh Lamon as the Steward.
Tess Soltau as Rapunzel. Donna Murphy as the Witch.
From Left to Right: Amy Adams as the Baker's Wife, Denis O'Hare as the Baker, Sarah Stiles as Little Red Riding Hood, Donna Murphy as the Witch, Josh Lamon as the Steward, Jennifer Rias as Lucinda, Bethany Moore as Florinda, and Ellen Harvey as Cinderella's Stepmother.
From Left to Right: Denis O'Hare as the Young Narrator's Father, Jack Broderick as the Young Narrator, and Donna Murphy as the Witch.
From Left to Right: Jessie Mueller as Cinderella, Sarah Stiles as Little Red Riding Hood, Gideon Glick as Jack, and Denis O'Hare as the Baker.
From Left to Right: Amy Adams as the Baker's Wife, Denis O'Hare as the Young Narrator's Father, and Jack Broderick as the Young Narrator.
The Company.
In 2013, Donna Murphy was nominated for her performance as the Witch for a Drama Desk Award as an Outstanding Actress in a Muscial.
2014 - 2015: THE OLD GLOBE to OFF-BROADWAY
The Fiasco Theater's reimagined production of Into the Woods opened at McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, New Jersey in 2013. Following a very successful run, the production moved to The Old Globe in San Diego, CA in the Summer of 2014, bringing this musical full circle, back to it's place of origin 28 years earlier. Into the Woods opened at The Old Globe officially on July 17, 2014 and closed on August 17, 2014. The production has since moved Off-Broadway at the Roundabout Theatre Company in New York City with most of the original cast still intact (Alison Cimmet was replaced by Jennifer Mudge as the Witch). Into the Woods opened with the Roundabout Theatre Company officially on January 22, 2015 at the Laura Pels Theatre.
The Old Globe's 2014 graphic design. The Roundabout Theater's 2015 Design.
The production features 10 actors playing multiple parts and playing several instruments to the accompaniment of one pianist, Matt Castle, holding down the musical score. The roles of the Narrator, Cinderella's Mother, and the Giant were created by the ensemble.
Co-directed by Ben Steinfeld, who also played the Baker, and Noah Brody, also playing Cinderella's Prince/Wolf/Lucinda, the production was minimalistically reimagined, using "found objects" in place of more concrete scenic, costume, and prop design. The basic set consisted of the insides of pianos hung along stage right and left, with large ropes strung upstage to resemble the inner strings of a piano. The lone piano begins center stage, among regular household objects one might find in an attic, lit by chandelier's hung high above.
Derek McLane's scenic design.
Emily Young as Rapunzel, and Alison Cimmet as the Witch.
From Left to Right: Liz Hayes as Cinderella's Stepmother, Noah Brody as Lucinda, Andy Grotelueschen as Florida, and Claire Karpen as Cinderella.
Emily Young as Little Red Riding Hood, and Noah Brody as the Wolf.
Emily Young as Rapunzel, and Alison Andy Grotelueschen as Milky-White,
Cimmet as the Witch. and Patrick Mulryan as Jack.
Claire Karpen as Cinderella.
The Company.
From Left to Right: Alison Cimmet as the Witch, Ben Seinfeld as the Baker, and Jessie Austrian as the Baker's Wife.
Ben Steinfeld as the Baker, Paul L. Coffey as the Mysterious Man.
From Left to Right: Patrick Mulryan as Jack, Ben Seinfeld as the Baker, Claire Karen as Cinderella, and Emily Young as Little Red Riding Hood.
The Company.
In Spring of 2015, the production was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical, and was also nominated for a Drama League Award for Outstanding Revival of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical.
2014 - DISNEY'S FILM ADAPTATION
In 2014, Disney released a film adaptation of the original Into the Woods, directed by Rob Marshall and adapted for the screen by James Lapine, who wrote the original book of the musical. Any changes to the original made by Disney were approved by both James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim.
The film does differ from the stage production in some ways, mostly due to cutting various musical numbers; "I Guess This Is Goodbye", "Maybe They're Really Magic", "First Midnight", "Ever After" (Act 1 finale), "So Happy", "Agony Reprise", and "No More" were cut from the film. Instrumental versions of "Ever After" and "No More" do appear in the film, however. Some of the lyrics are slightly different from the stage versions due to the adjustment of certain storylines.
In addition to some of the songs being cut, other major changes to the plot include a substantial reduction in the role of the Mysterious Man, who manipulates many of the characters throughout the first act of the stage version, and is discovered to be the Baker's father in the second act. There is no separate Narrator character, instead the movie is being narrated by the Baker, who is telling the story to his son, as his wife's ghost instructs him to do at the end of the film. Cinderella's father is cut from the movie altogether, instead he is mentioned as deceased. Rapunzel's fate is significantly changed, she no longer bears twins, and is not killed by the giant as in the stage production; she instead runs off with her prince, instead of following the Witch's wishes. The princes also no longer have affairs with Snow White or Sleeping Beauty. Much of the sexuality and violence is toned down in this film version to make it more "family friendly". The death of Jack's mother is significantly less violent in the film, being shoved by the Steward and hitting her head on a rock, whereas in the stage production, the Steward clubs her to death. Also, what would normally be the second act of the stage production is largely cut up and in places, non-existent in the film adaptation.
Overall, the film received mostly positive reviews, noting the "happy medium" Disney struck with balancing Hollywood and Broadway.
In addition to some of the songs being cut, other major changes to the plot include a substantial reduction in the role of the Mysterious Man, who manipulates many of the characters throughout the first act of the stage version, and is discovered to be the Baker's father in the second act. There is no separate Narrator character, instead the movie is being narrated by the Baker, who is telling the story to his son, as his wife's ghost instructs him to do at the end of the film. Cinderella's father is cut from the movie altogether, instead he is mentioned as deceased. Rapunzel's fate is significantly changed, she no longer bears twins, and is not killed by the giant as in the stage production; she instead runs off with her prince, instead of following the Witch's wishes. The princes also no longer have affairs with Snow White or Sleeping Beauty. Much of the sexuality and violence is toned down in this film version to make it more "family friendly". The death of Jack's mother is significantly less violent in the film, being shoved by the Steward and hitting her head on a rock, whereas in the stage production, the Steward clubs her to death. Also, what would normally be the second act of the stage production is largely cut up and in places, non-existent in the film adaptation.
Overall, the film received mostly positive reviews, noting the "happy medium" Disney struck with balancing Hollywood and Broadway.
Lilla Crawford as Little Red Riding Hood.
MacKenzie Mauzy as Rapunzel.
Billy Magnussen as Rapunzel's Prince.
James Corden as the Baker, and Emily Blunt as the Baker's Wife.
Johnny Depp as the Wolf, and Lilla Crawford as Little Red Riding Hood.
Billy Magnussen as Rapunzel's Prince, and Chris Pine as Cinderella's Prince.
Anna Kendrick as Cinderella.
James Corden as the Baker, and Lilla Crawford as Little Red Riding Hood.
From Left to Right: James Corden as the Baker, Emily Blunt as the Baker's Wife, Tracey Ullman as Jack's Mother, Daniel Huttlestone as Jack, and Meryl Streep as the Witch.
Meryl Streep as the Witch.
Tracey Ullman as Jack's Mother.
Chris Pine as Cinderella's Prince, and Anna Kendrick as Cinderella.
Anna Kendrick as Cinderella, and Emily Blunt as the Baker's Wife.
IN CONCLUSION...
Into the Woods is a musical about growing up, parenting, wishes, consequences, illusions, expectations, imagination, adventure, fear, determination, responsibility, love, magic, façades, life and death.
Careful the tale you tell, that is the spell...
THE END
I wish...
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