INTO THE WOODS to Run 10/23-11/22 at Novato Theater Co.

"Into the Woods" is a very grimm musical - the Brothers Grimm, that is. Winner of three Tony Awards, Into the Woods is one of the most popular adaptations of some of the best known folk tales - "Little Red Riding Hood", "Jack and the Beanstalk", "Rapunzel", and "Cinderella." The show's popularity springs from a wonder-filled book by James Lapine and a stellar score by Stephen Sondheim.

A co-production of Novato Theater Company and Theatre-at-Large, "Woods" is directed by Kim Bromley, with musical direction by Andrew Klein and Debra Chambliss and choreography by Alison Peltz. Into the Woods plays October 23 through November 22 at the NTC Playhouse, 5420 Nave Dr., Novato 94949.

The musical intertwines the plots of several Brothers Grimm fairy tales and follows them to explore the consequences of the characters' wishes, resulting in a new vision of family and community. The main characters are taken from the likes of "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Jack and the Beanstalk." The musical is tied together by an original story involving a childless baker and his wife and their quest to begin a family, their interaction with a witch who has placed a curse on them, and their meetings with other storybook characters during their journey.

The Novato Theater/Theatre-at-Large production of Into the Woods reunites the creative forces responsible for last year's award-winning and much applauded co-production of the musical Next to Normal. Kim Bromley returns to direct "Woods." Alison Peltz, Sean O'Brien, Julianne Thompson Bretan, and Anthony Martinez, who were so engaging in Next to Normal, appear in leading roles as, respectively, the Baker's Wife, The Baker, Cinderella, and The Wolf/Prince Charming.

Production History

Into the Woods debuted in San Diego at the Old Globe Theatre in 1986, and premiered on Broadway on November 5, 1987. Bernadette Peters' performance as the Witch and Joanna Gleason's portrayal of the Baker's Wife brought acclaim to the production during its original Broadway run. Into the Woods won several Tony Awards, including Best Score, Best Book, and Best Actress in a Musical. In a year dominated by The Phantom of the Opera. The musical has been produced many times, including a 1988 US national tour, a 1990 West End production, a 1991 television production, a 2002 Broadway revival, and a 2010 London revival. The 2014 film version featured Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, James Corden, and Johnny Depp.

Photo Credit: Jon Bretan