Stepping into the world of Into the Woods, the musical by James Lapin with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, is like entering a twisted fairy tale mashup. The story follows characters familiar from childhood bedtime stories - Cinderella, Jack (of beanstalk fame), Little Red Riding Hood, and a childless Baker and his Wife - all venturing into the woods to fulfill their deepest desires. However, this isn't your typical happily-ever-after journey. As the characters cross paths and their wishes intertwine, they face unforeseen consequences, moral dilemmas, and the true cost of their choices. Into the Woods is a darkly humorous and thought-provoking exploration of ambition, family, and the complexities of getting what you wish for.
Let me just say it plainly: There's no weak link in the cast, all night. Bareilles has a light tinkly playfulness in the funny moments-I'm thinking of that line that Joanna Gleason reportedly gave Sondheim, 'This is ridiculous, what I am I doing here, I'm in the wrong story'-that almost suggests that she's taking it easy up there, and then her big mezzo-soprano voice comes around the corner and knocks you back in your chair. Miller as the Witch occasionally seems a little distanced from the rest of the cast-her 'Stay With Me' feels discrete, a showy solo concert turn rather than a part fully blended into the whole. But it's a good concert turn.
In striping Woods down to its bare essentials, the very brilliant DeBessonet has crafted a near-perfect revival that breathes intoxicating new life into a masterpiece we barely realized needed new life at all. It is a remarkable evening, as effortlessly comforting as it is staggeringly heartbreaking. Honestly, the production is so good that it's oddly hard to review. That's largely because there is no concept to analyze, no take to unpack. DeBessonet just does the show, as matter-of-factly as you've ever seen it done. No frills; no fuss: all heart.
| 1986 | New York |
Reading New York |
| 1986 | San Diego, CA (Regional) |
Old Globe Production (Pre-Broadway) San Diego, CA (Regional) |
| 1987 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
| 1988 | US Tour |
National Tour US Tour |
| 1990 | West End |
London Production West End |
| 1997 | Broadway |
Reunion Concert Broadway |
| 2002 | Los Angeles |
Los Angeles Revival (Pre-Broadway) Los Angeles |
| 2002 | Broadway |
Broadway Revival Broadway |
| 2007 | West End |
London Revival West End |
| 2015 | Off-Broadway |
Roundabout Theatre Company Production Off-Broadway |
| 2015 | St. Louis, MO (Regional) |
The Muny Production St. Louis, MO (Regional) |
| 2016 | US Tour |
Fiasco Theater National Tour US Tour |
| 2019 | Los Angeles |
Hollywood Bowl Revival Los Angeles |
| 2019 | Immersive |
Rooftop Musical Society Immersive Production Immersive |
| 2022 | Broadway |
Broadway Revival Production Broadway |
| 2023 | US Tour |
US Tour US Tour |
| 2025 | West End |
West End |
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Best Actress - Musical | Joanna Gleason |
| 1988 | Theatre World Awards | Performance | Danielle Ferland |
Videos