What happens after Happily Ever After, after all? In Sondheim and Lapine’s beloved musical retelling of the Grimm classics, a parade of familiar folktale figures find their way “Into the Woods” and try to get home before dark—under the guidance of Mark Lamos, who dazzled us with A Little Night Music in 2008.
Tom Scutt's design is stunning; a black backdrop opens to reveal the lush and magical woods behind, where dappled light dances through the trees. This is starkly contrasted by the snapped tree trunks and dark corners after the unseen Giant's intervention. Scutt's costumes are also a wonder, medieval design with modern colours and textures-except the Narrator (played by a thoughtful Michael Gould), who is dressed like an anonymous middle manager at a conference.
As is customary, Oliver Savile doubles the role of Cinderella’s prince with that of the wolf salivating over Gracie McGonigal’s wonderfully bratty Red Ridinghood. His pervy song Hello Little Girl has not dated so well. After various shenanigans, including the Grimm-faithful mutilation and blinding of Cinderella’s wicked sisters, the first half ends in marriage and pregnancy. The songs “So Happy” and “Ever After” ironically foreshadow the darkness to come.
| 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 |
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