Into the Woods
Into the Woods - 1987 Broadway History , Info & More
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.
FEATURED REVIEWS FOR Into the Woods
A Sublime INTO THE WOODS Kicks Off A New Season — Review
9 / 10
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.
Into the Woods
8 / 10
DeBessonet hits these serious points movingly and gracefully at the end of the show, without sacrificing the many pleasures that the musical offers along the way. Into the Woods's legion fans are well-served by this revival, and at both the Encores! performance and the Broadway press performance that I attended, the audience response was overwhelming. The show, for all its thorniness, engenders the bliss of re-encountering an old friend who is holding up great. What more, in the end, could you wish?
Category
Into the Woods History
Other Productions of Into the Woods
| 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 |
| 2026 | West End |
West End |
Into the Woods - 1987 Broadway Awards and Nominations
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Best Actress - Musical | Joanna Gleason |
| 1988 | Theatre World Awards | Performance | Danielle Ferland |
Videos