Into the Woods has music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Lapine.

It intertwines the plots of several fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm and explores what would happen if there were consequences to the characters’ wishes and quests. Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel and Cinderella are also used in the story.

The story is brought together by the Baker and his wife, a childless couple on their quest to begin a family (originally Rapunzel by the Grimm Brothers), after a witch has placed a curse on them.

It covers multiple themes of growing up, parents and children, accepting responsibility, morality and most importantly wish fulfilment and its consequences. 

The show has several parts doubled up. Cinderella’s Prince and the Wolf – sharing the characteristic of being unable to control their appetites, the Narrator and the Mysterious Man – sharing the characteristic of commenting on the story while avoiding any personal involvement or responsibility, and Granny and Cinderella’s Mother (and later the voice of the Giant’s Wife) – all matriarchal characters.

The original production opened at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego in 1986 and first appeared on Broadway on 5 November 1987, winning three major Tony Awards. It was directed by James Lapine and starred Bernadette Peters as the Witch, replacing Ellen Foley who had appeared in the San Diego production.

The original West End production opened on 25 September 1990 at the Phoenix Theatre and closed after 197 performances. It was directed by Richard Jones and costumes were designed by Sue Blane (who also designed costumes for The Rocky Horror Show). It saw Julia McKenzie as the Witch and Imelda Staunton as the Baker’s Wife, and received seven Olivier Award nominations.

The production has seen many revivals across the world; the latest Broadway revival is currently playing at the St James Theatre with Sara Bareilles and Neil Patrick Harris, with a cast recording said to be in production. The most notable songs from the production being ‘Prologue: Into the Woods’, ‘The Cow as White as Milk’ and ‘Giants in the Sky’. 

In the UK, the Theatre Royal Bath’s production is currently running for a limited four weeks and, in contrast to the Broadway production, has been adapted with elaborate sets and props to tell the story as if the characters are figures in a Victorian toy theatre which a young girl is playing with. This new vision is supported by James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim, before his passing, and it was reported that Sondheim liked what he saw so much that he fell off his chair laughing!

A Disney film adaptation was directed by Rob Marshall and released in 2014, starring Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, James Corden, Anna Kendrick, Chris Pine, Tracey Ullman, Christine Baranski and Johnny Depp. Streep was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as the Witch.

FACTS:

Music: Stephen Sondheim

Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim

Book:  James Lapine

Theatre:  San Diego 1986  

TONYS:

Won: (1988) Best Original Score (Stephen Sondheim), Best Book of a Musical (James Lapine), Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical (Joanna Gleason).

Nominated: (1988) Best Musical, Best Direction of a Musical (James Lapine), Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Robert Westenberg), Best Choreography (Lar Lubovitch), Best Scenic Design (Tony Straiges), Best Costume Design (Ann Hould-Ward), Best Lighting Design (Richard Nelson).

Highlights from the Broadway production with Heather Headley, Sara Bareilles and Neil Patrick Harris: