Into the Woods (Next Stop Theatre Company, Herndon, VA)

[promisespromises2]

Posted: 5/24/14 at 8:08am

Has anyone who lives in the D.C. area been to the Next Stop Theatre Company's Into the Woods?

I just went last night and it was FANTASTIC. Instead of the setting being the woods, they made it a library. Milky White was a white library cart with a desk lamp (for the head) with the light on indicating he was alive (and the narrator went down and turned the lamp off when he died). The birds for cinderella were books attached to the string. They even had books fall from all of the bookcases during the Giant scenes (which were voiced by Kathy Lee Gifford). It was one of the most creative shows I've ever seen. They played up the scene between the Wolf and Little Red SO sexually, too (which I'm always scared they are going to take away the dark parts of this musical for some reason). The two Prince's worked ridiculously well together and had the audience cracking up.

It is being directed by Evan Hoffmann (who is a REALLY sweet man). Some of the performances really blew my mind as well. John Loughney played The Baker to perfection, I was stunned at his voice and his acting. Priscilla Cuellar was a fantastic Witch. Is anyone familiar with this cast/seen them in something else in D.C.?

Blakeman Brophy- The Mysterious Man/Cinderella's Father
Priscilla Cuellar- The Witch
Laura Fontaine- Florinda
Scott Gaines- Cinderella's Prince/Wolf)
Scott Harrison- Rapunzel's Witch
Jennifer Lambert- Cinderella's Stepmother
John Loughney- The Baker
Ryan Manning- The Narrator
Brittany Martz- Cinderella
Sean McComas- Jack
Katie McManus- Baker's Wife
Lynn Audrey Neal- Jack's Mother
Nora Palka- Little Red
Alizon Reggioli- Cinderella's Mother/Granny
Suzanna Stanley- Rapunzel
Danny Tippett- Steward
Jaclyn Young- Lucinda

It's playing until June 1st and I highly recommend seeing this show! It's my first time seeing a production of this live (I can't even count how many times I've watched the one with Bernadette Peters on Netflix) and it's my second favorite Sondheim show and I was not disappointed in the least.



Updated On: 5/24/14 at 08:08 AM

[harris007]

Posted: 5/24/14 at 12:23pm

It's not in Dc. It's in Herndon VA

[promisespromises2]

Posted: 5/24/14 at 1:23pm

Whoops, so used to going to DC for theatre. Thanks!

[harris007]

Posted: 5/25/14 at 12:12am

It's cool. i wanted to see this but the tickets were too expencive ,for something i've seen several other productions of . Slight side note, have you seen three peeny opera at the signature ?

[promisespromises2]

Posted: 5/25/14 at 7:34am

No I have not! Talk about expensive! I just went on a NYC trip recently and spent way too much money so I've been trying to go to things that are less than $40. ): If you go, PLEASE let me know how it is! I love the Signature Theatre. I was just in Shirlington yesterday. (:

[MikeInTheDistrict]

Posted: 5/25/14 at 9:46am

I remember when NextStop used to be a community theatre called Elden Street Players. I looked at the pictures for this production and was surprised at the quality of the sets/costumes. And the performers no longer seem to be just local hobbyists but professional actors. I might drop in to see this to see how much they've changed.

[promisespromises2]

Posted: 5/25/14 at 10:51am

^The singing was wonderful. Obviously some people better than others, but I didn't have a complaint against any of their voices. If you do go, please let me know how you like it! I would love to hear more about how it used to be compared to now. I'm so used to going to the Signature Theatre and the Kennedy Center for shows that I haven't really been exposed to smaller community theaters like this one.

[Alix]

Posted: 5/25/14 at 11:10am

I saw Threepenny at Signature a few weeks ago and it was FANTASTIC...totally worth the price. (I think they offer rush tickets, too, which I'd guess are pretty easy to get most days.) I had previously seen only the Roundabout production in 2006 and, though I adore Alan Cumming, really didn't get it or much enjoy it. I'm SO glad I was curious enough to give it a second chance and see Signature's production; it really changed my opinion of the show itself, which I'd now count as one of my favorite pieces of musical theater. Really can't say enough about it--I'd definitely encourage anyone in the area to try to go over the next week!

[promisespromises2]

Posted: 5/25/14 at 12:59pm

Ah now you've made me really want to rush it! Except Signature's rush "seats" are bar stools and my body ached for a week after! I may have to suck it up and buy a ticket.

[Alix]

Posted: 5/25/14 at 1:29pm

I could be wrong, but I don't remember seeing any bar stools. I think I read somewhere that their MAX Theatre is a black box, so the seating configuration changes with every show (this was the first show I saw there). Again, I could be wrong, but I think rush seats for Threepenny would be actual seats (though they were just individual plastic chairs set up on risers, basically...not terribly comfortable, I guess, but it didn't bother me at all). Anyway, I'm sure the box office could confirm. If you do end up buying a ticket, you can use discount code EC20--it's not a huge discount, but helps a bit.

[promisespromises2]

Posted: 5/25/14 at 5:08pm

Thanks! I went to see Gypsy there and did the student rush and along with the fold out chairs on the side risers they had high bar stools behind those. Definitely didn't know that it changes with every show! Makes me want to see it even more just to see how they set it up!