Into The Woods Original Logo used for the Original Broadway Cast recording.
Into The Woods is a 1987 musical based around multiple Grimm Brothers' fairy tales written into a singular storyline. The original book was written by James Lapine, the score and lyrics were written by Stephen Sondheim. The musical has won multiple awards, including three major Tony Awards, and nominations for it's many performances and has been adapted for film by Disney in 2014 and has a Junior version where it is rewritten to be better suited for younger audiences.
Into the Woods intertwines various fairytales, mainly Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood (called riding hood in the script), Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel. The story follows a Baker and his Wife who embark on a quest to break a cruse that has left them childless. To do so, they must venture into the woods, meeting characters from each fairy tale and their own story, the objects connecting to each tale. At the end of the first act, where the typical story ends with "happily ever after," the second act continues and takes a darker turn where each character faces the consequences of their actions, confronting the aftermath of their wishes. The musical delves into the consequences of wishes and interconnectedness of seemingly sperate stories, along with humour, drama, and a touch of darkness with sexual innuendos and death.
This challenges the traditional fairy tale narrative, delving into the complexities of human desires, morality, and the unintended and not usually spoken about consequences. Receiving high praise across all areas of innovative storytelling, intricate music woven into it to enhance the plot, and the actors.
- Debuted at the Old Globe Theatre, 1986
- Premiered on Broadway on November 5, 1987 winning 3 major tony awards in a year dominated by The Phantom of the Opera (overshadowed)
- produced multiple times, revivals and 10th anniversary concert with original actors, most recent Broadway revival 2022 n us tour 2023
- Disney film adaptation directed by Rob Marshall 2014 grossing $213 million worldwide with three nominations at academy and golden globe
Synopsis[]
"Happily Ever After" has never been so complicated.
That's what Little Red, a Witch, Cinderella, the Baker, and his wife discover as they invade one another's stories and find themselves tangled in a web of unexpected consequences. They quickly find this web is too big to untangle on their own and that they must work together to set everything right in the kingdom. Into the Woods reminds us that only together can we defeat the wolves and giants of the world. With a stunning, unforgettable score featuring "No One is Alone," "Children Will Listen," and "Giants in the Sky," this iconic show will enchant, entrance, and delight! [1]
Plot Summary[]
Act I[]
The narrator introduces four groups of characters each with their own wish and notably connected to the folk tales. Cinderella, wishing to attend the king's festival; Jack, wishing for his cow, Milky White, to produce milk to appease his mother; Little Red Riding Hood who is going to see her grandmother, but wants to explore; following the Baker and his wife who wish for a child. For them to fulfil their wish, they must reverse the curse that the Witch placed on his household. For this, they must find four objects: a cow as white as milk, the cape as red as blood, the hair as yellow as corn and the slipper as pure as gold. Each character enters the woods to fulfil this, notably the Baker refusing his wife's help and her ignoring this, and has found the stolen beans from the Witch's garden in his jacket. ("Prologue") As explained by the narrator, the Baker is connected to Rapunzel - his parents being the couple that stole from the witch's garden, and consequently his sister being given to the Witch.
To get her wish, Cinderella heads to her mother's grave - a willow tree that she watered with her own tears. Her mother, a spirit, offers her one wish that she will grant, and Cinderella says exactly that - to go to the king's festival. She receives a gown and golden slippers. ("Cinderella At The Grave") It is here that the Mysterious Man makes his first entrance, telling Jack that he would be lucky to exchange his cow for a "sack of beans," promptly leaving again. Jack comments on him being a spirit, as others will. Little Red meets the Wolf who convinces her to "stray" from the path where he plots to eat her and her grandmother. ("Hello Little Girl"). Following this, the witch runs into the baker again and demands he steals the cape from the little girl. He realises shortly after that he was followed by his wife, and together they meet Jack with his cow. They convince him to give his cow to them for five beans.("I Guess This Is Goodbye").
Immediately after, the Baker stresses about lying to get the item, and his wife tells him that there is nothing morally wrong with it - for all they know the beans are truly magic. ("Maybe They're Magic") This leads into the next scene - Rapunzel. Shut within a doorless tower in the forest using her hair to get up, the witch may comment how she must protect Rapunzel at all costs, trying to convince her that their world is perfect and all she needs - while Rapunzel remarks on the witch; their only connection being her hair. ("Our Little World") It is during this interaction a prince stumbles upon them, deciding he must have Rapunzel. This promptly goes into the Baker and Little Red once again, where he attempts to follow the Witch's advice before feeling too guilty and returning it. Reflecting on what his wife told him, he's filled with new determination to get the cape. ("Maybe They're Magic (Reprise)") He follows Little Red to her Grandmother's house, where she had just been eaten by the wolf. Saving Granny and Little Red, he is unable to do much else for them.
It is during this moment that Little Red considers her time with the wolf and straying from the path, the excitement of being free to make her own choice, and that "nice is different from good." ("I Know Things Now") She gives the Baker her cape as a thank you. The scene changes once again to now Jack and his mother, where she scolds him for exchanging his cow for beans, throwing them in the dirt outside their home and growing a large stalk. During this time, the Baker's Wife is exploring the woods with the cow, Milky White. Cinderella rushes into the clearing, falling over and is helped up by the Baker's wife, who hides her from the |prince chasing her, and begins asking her questions about the festival and him. ("A Very Nice Prince") Realising Cinderella's shoes, being pure gold, she suddenly tries to take them and ask for them; Cinderella and Milky White rushing off, leaving her with no items. Being a short and quick change sequence, the first midnight is announced and each character states something relating to the current state of the story. ("First Midnight")
This leads into Jack's exploration of the skies and the beanstalk, his fascination with the world outside what he knew. ("Giants In The Sky") During his time with the Giants, he steals their gold, offering it to the Baker in exchange for the cow; he fails to tell Jack "no" and Jack decides he needs more for Milky White. The Mysterious Man once again enters, taking the gold from the Baker and leaving no context. The Baker's wife runs into him, and they argue as she has lost the cow. Cinderella's Prince and Rapunzel's Prince meet up, brothers, and discuss their chase for the women they adore. ("Agony") It is here the Baker's wife hears about Rapunzel, her hair as yellow as corn; fooling her and taking a piece of her hair. The Mysterious Man returns Milky White to the Baker, helping him but not saying why.
Once again, Cinderella and the Baker's Wife meet, where she fails to obtain the slipper. She shows her husband that she has found the hair, and they now rejoice having three items - he admits that is is them together. ("It Takes Two") Jack arrives with a hen that lays golden eggs, but Milky White dies as they argue over exchanging for her, prompting the next sequence and announcement of the next midnight. ("Second Midnight") The couple split up over fighting about the cow, broken up by a scream - Rapunzel's. The Witch has dragged Rapunzel outside after finding out about her prince, that the world is dangerous and "Children Must Listen." ("Stay With Me") She banishes Rapunzel and cuts off her hair for betraying her. The Mysterious Man returns the gold to the Baker to get a new cow. We see Little Red again with a new cape: made from the wolf's fur and a knife. She bets Jack to find the Golden Harp, and he goes back to the Giants. The Witch blinds Rapunzel's Prince.
Cinderella enters; having run from the Prince for a third night in a row. She is indecisive, unsure if this is what she wants, and instead makes the Prince decide by leaving a clue - one of her shoes. ("On the Steps of the Palace") The Baker's Wife finds her again, begging for her slipper and gains it in exchange for her own shoes. Meeting her husband they rejoice again at having all items now, and in a rough encounter with the Prince and the Steward fuss over the slipper, with the help of the Mysterious Man. The beanstalk falls during it, and Jack's Mother comes running in crying about a dead giant. The Witch appears, with "the third midnight is near" and they manage to make the potion: she revives Milky White, snaps at the Baker's wife over touching Rapunzel's hair, and reveals that the Mysterious Man is in-fact the Baker's father (who dies.) The Witch transforms successfully to her former state of "youth" and "beauty."
Cinderella's Prince searches for the girl who fits the slipper. Once at Cinderella's home, the Stepmother makes her daughters cut off part of their feet to fit into the slipper. ("Careful My Toe") Cinderella is the only one who truly fits the shoe and becomes his bride. Rapunzel bears twins and is stumbled upon by her prince - her tears heal his eyes. The Witch finds them, and demands her to come with her again, but cannot curse them as her powers are now gone. At Cinderella's wedding, her stepsisters are blinded by birds, and the Baker's wife thanks Cinderella. (So Happy (Prelude)) The act finishes with everyone (except the Witch and stepsisters) living happily ever after, not noticing the second beanstalk growing behind them. ("Ever After") The narrator states "to be continued!" and this ends Act I.
Act II[]
The act opens similarly to the first, with the same people where they were last act with updated scenery, and the Narrator says "Once upon a time... later." Cinderella is bored with palace life, not suiting her and her prince goes into the woods; Jack misses his kingdom in the sky and the adventure; the Baker and his Wife are frustrated with the other needs for a baby such as the size of their home, however they are all content. ("So Happy") The scenery shakes and the Baker's home falls apart, just before the Witch's entrance. She clarifies to them it is a giant that caused the crash and damage to their homes. The Baker travels to Jack's house and the palace to request help, but is shooed out by the Steward and Jack's Mother. Returning home, he finds Little Red on her way to Granny's; he and his wife decide to go with her; Jack decides to slay the new Giant; and Cinderella investigates her mother's disturbed grave. They return to the woods. ("Into The Woods (Reprise)")
Analysis[]
production & writing, sondheim & lapine. tba.
Sondheim aims to use music to add to the story, not just be there for the sake of it. There are various motifs throughout, chosen deliberately to associate with characters and themes in the stories. ...
- shared parts (prince & wolf) (narrator & mysterious man)
- themes
- interpretations
- score & motifs
- sondheim's connection to plot
Musical Numbers[]
| Act I | Act II |
|---|---|
| 1. "Prologue: Into The Woods" – Narrator, Cinderella, Jack, Baker, Baker's Wife, Cinderella’s Stepmother, Florinda, Lucinda, Jack's Mother, Little Red Ridinghood, Witch, Cinderella's Father | 19. "Prologue: So Happy" – Narrator, Cinderella, Jack, Baker, Baker's Wife, Cinderella's Prince, Jack's Mother, Cinderella’s Stepmother, Florinda, Lucinda, Witch |
| 2. "Cinderella At The Grave" – Narrator, Cinderella, Cinderella's Mother | 20. "Agony (Reprise)" – Cinderella's Prince, Rapunzel's Prince |
| 3. "Hello, Little Girl" – Wolf, Little Red Ridinghood | 21. "Lament" – Witch |
| 4. "I Guess This Is Goodbye" - Jack | 22. "Any Moment" – Cinderella's Prince, Baker's Wife |
| 5. "Maybe They're Magic" – Baker, Baker's Wife | 23. "Moments In The Woods" – Baker's Wife |
| 6. "Our Little World" – Witch, Rapunzel (Added for the London production) | 24. "Your Fault" – Jack, Baker, Witch, Cinderella, Little Red Ridinghood |
| 7. "Maybe They're Magic (Reprise)" - Baker | 25. "Last Midnight" - Witch |
| 8. "I Know Things Now" - Little Red Ridinghood | 26. "No More" - Mysterious Man, Baker |
| 9. "A Very Nice Prince" - Baker's Wife, Cinderella | 27. "No One Is Alone" - Cinderella, Little Red Ridinghood, Baker, Jack |
| 10. "First Midnight" - Baker, Mysterious Man, Witch, Cinderella's Prince, Rapunzel's Prince, Florinda, Lucinda, Cinderella's Stepmother, Jack, Jack's Mother, Little Red Ridinghood, Cinderella's Father, Rapunzel, Granny, Steward, Cinderella, Baker's Wife, Company | 28. "Finale: "Midnight"" - Jack's Mother, Mysterious Man, Cinderella's Prince, Rapunzel's Prince, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Steward, Cinderella's Stepmother |
| 11. "Giants In The Sky" - Jack | 29. "Finale: No One Is Alone" (reprise) - Baker, Baker's Wife |
| 12. "Agony" - Cinderella's Prince, Rapunzel's Prince | 30. "Finale: Children Will Listen" - Baker, Witch, Company |
| 13. "It Takes Two" - Baker's Wife, Baker | 31. "Finale: Into the Woods" - Baker, Cinderella, Little Red Ridinghood, Jack, Company |
| 14. "Second Midnight" – Witch, Cinderella, Cinderella’s Prince, Rapunzel’s Prince, Cinderella’s Stepmother, Florinda, Lucinda, Granny, Narrator | |
| 15. "Stay With Me" – Witch, Rapunzel | |
| 15. "On the Steps of the Palace" – Cinderella | |
| 16. "Careful My Toe" – Narrator, Florinda, Cinderella’s Stepmother, Lucinda, Cinderella's Mother, Cinderella's Prince, Cinderella's Father | |
| 17. "So Happy (Prelude)" – Cinderella, Cinderella's Prince, Baker, Baker's Wife | |
| 18. "Ever After" – Narrator, Florinda, Lucinda, Witch, Company | |
| Prologue Parts, Act I | Prologue Parts, Act II |
| 1. Once Upon A Time / I wish | 1. Once Upon A Time - later / I Wish (Reprise) |
| 2. Birds in the Sky | 2. So Happy |
| 3. There Are Bugs on Her Dugs | 3. Witch's Rap (Reprise) |
| 4. Into the Woods (Little Red) | 4. Into the Woods (Reprise) |
| 5. Fly Birds, Back to the Sky | |
| 6. Witch's Entrance / Witch's Rap | |
| 7. Jack, Jack, Jack, Head in a Sack / Into the Woods | |
| 8. You Wish to Have the Curse Reversed? | |
| 9. Ladies, Our Carriage Awaits | |
| 10. The Spell is on My House | |
| 11. Into the Woods (Company) | |
| Finale Parts, Act I | Finale Parts, Act II |
| 1. So Happy - short version | 1. Reprise of First / Second Midnight |
| 2. Happy Ever After | 2. Maybe I Just Wasn't Meant to Have Children? |
| 3. Unhappy Ever After | 3. No One is Alone (Reprise) |
| 4. Into the Woods (Reprise) | 4. Children Will Listen (Reprise of Stay With Me / Witch's Lament) |
| 5. Into the Woods (Finale Reprise) | |
| Demo/Cut, Act I | Demo/Cut, Act II |
| 1. "Baker's Reprise," replaced for "Maybe They're Magic (Reprise)". | 1. "Interesting Questions" draft on the "Apocrypha" album. This is written into the show script instead of being considered a song. |
| 2. "A Very Nice Prince (Reprise)" demo for "On the Steps of the Palace" | 2. "Have To Give Her Someone" another draft n the "Apocrypha" album. This is reworked for a comedic scene. |
| 3. "Second Midnight"'s multiple demos for finalised "Second Midnight". The original has parts in other sections of the show either script wise or in other songs, cut for being too long. | 3. "Boom, Crunch!" demo for "Last Midnight" which has a more manic witch, following the drafted script. This was performed in Golden Globe then Broadway Theatres until replaced. |
| 4. "Giants In The Sky"'s demo, performed in Golden Globe, replaced by Broadway. | 4. "She'll Be Back" is a cut song from the 2014 motion picture, written for the reworked plot in Act 2 surrounding the Witch and Rapunzel, replacing half of the "Witch's Lament.". Only ever sung by Meryl Streep. |
| 5. "Back To The Palace" demo for "On the Steps of the Palace". | |
| 6. "I Wish"'s demo technically, for a 1995 film that never went ahead. | |
| 7. "Rainbows cut song for a 1995 film that never went ahead. Later released/reworked for a separate Sondheim musical, named ["Marry Me A Little."] |
Notable Productions[]
tba.
Principal characters casting history[]
tba.
Adaptations[]
Junior Version[]
Child-friendly version for use mainly by schools and younger based companies, shortened due to the fact the entire second act was removed and nearly half of the first.
Film[]
Main article: 2014 Into the woods film tba
Awards[]
Original Broadway production[]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Tony Award | Best Musical | ||
| Best Original Score | Stephen Sondheim | |||
| Best Book of a Musical | James Lapine | |||
| Best Direction of a Musical | ||||
| Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical | Joanna Gleason | |||
| 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 | |||
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Musical | |||
| Outstanding Music | Stephen Sondheim | |||
| Outstanding Lyrics | ||||
| Outstanding Book of a Musical | James Lapine | |||
| Outstanding Director of a Musical | ||||
| Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Bernadette Peters | |||
| Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Robert Westenberg | |||
| Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Joanna Gleason | |||
| Danielle Ferland | ||||
| Outstanding Set Design | Tony Straiges | |||
| Outstanding Costume Design | Ann Hould-Ward | |||
| Outstanding Lighting Design | Richard Nelson | |||
| Outstanding Orchestrations | Jonathan Tunick | |||
Original London production[]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best New Musical | ||
| Best Director of a Musical | Richard Jones | |||
| Best Actor in a Musical | Ian Bartholomew | |||
| Best Actress in a Musical | Imelda Staunton | |||
| Julia McKenzie | ||||
| Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical | Clive Carter | |||
| Best Costume Design | Sue Blane | |||
1999 London revival[]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Laurence Olivier Award | Outstanding Musical Production | ||
| Best Actress in a Musical | Sophie Thompson | |||
2002 Broadway revival[]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Tony Award | Best Revival of a Musical | ||
| Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical | John McMartin | |||
| [Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical | Vanessa Williams | |||
| Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical | Gregg Edelman | |||
| Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical | Laura Benanti | |||
| Best Direction of a Musical | James Lapine | |||
| Best Choreography | John Carrafa | |||
| Best Scenic Design | Douglas W. Schmidt | |||
| Best Costume Design | Susan Hilferty | |||
| Best Lighting Design | Brian MacDevitt | |||
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | |||
| Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Laura Benanti | |||
| Vanessa Williams | ||||
| Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Gregg Edelman | |||
| Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Kerry O'Malley | |||
| Outstanding Director of a Musical | James Lapine | |||
| Outstanding Set Design | Douglas W. Schmidt | |||
| Outstanding Costume Design | Susan Hilferty | |||
| Outstanding Sound Design | Dan Moses Schreier | |||
2010 London revival[]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best Musical Revival | ||
| Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical | Michael Xavier | |||
2012 New York revival[]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Donna Murphy |
2014 Australian production[]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Helpmann Award | Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical | Lucy Maunder | |
| Best Direction of a Musical | Stuart Maunder |
2015 Off-Broadway production[]
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | |
| Drama League Award | Outstanding Revival of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical |
2022 Broadway revival[]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Tony Awards[2] | Best Revival of a Musical | ||
| Best Direction of a Musical | Lear deBessonet | |||
| Best Leading Actor in a Musical | Brian d'Arcy James | |||
| Best Leading Actress in a Musical | Sara Bareilles | |||
| Best Featured Actress in a Musical | Julia Lester | |||
| Best Sound Design of a Musical | Scott Lehrer and Alex Neumann | |||
| Drama Desk Award[3] | ||||
| Outstanding Revival of a Musical | ||||
| Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical | Sara Bareilles | |||
| Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical | Phillipa Soo | |||
| Julia Lester | ||||
| Outstanding Puppet Design | James Ortiz and Kennedy Kanagawa | |||
| Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical | Scott Lehrer and Alex Neumann | |||
| Drama League Award[4] | Distinguished Performance Award | Sara Bareilles | ||
| Patina Miller | ||||
| Outstanding Revival of Musical | ||||
| Outstanding Direction of a Musical | Lear DeBessonet | |||
| Grammy Award[5] | Best Musical Theater Album | |||
| Outer Critics Circle Award[6] | ||||
| Outstanding Revival of a Musical (Broadway or Off-Broadway) | ||||
| Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Musical | Julia Lester | |||
| Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards[7][8] | Favorite Musical Revival | |||
| Favorite Performance Of The Year | Sara Bareilles | |||
| Favorite Leading Actress In A Musical | ||||
| Patina Miller | ||||
| Favorite Diva Performance | ||||
| Favorite Leading Actor In A Musical | Brian d'Arcy James | |||
| Favorite Featured Actor In A Musical | Gavin Creel | |||
| Favorite Funny Performance | ||||
| Favorite Breakthrough Performance (Female) | Julia Lester | |||
| Favorite Featured Actress In A Musical | ||||
| Phillipa Soo | ||||
| Favorite Onstage Pair | Gavin Creel and Joshua Henry | |||
| Sara Bareilles and Brian d'Arcy James | ||||
| Favorite Replacement (Female) | Stephanie J. Block | |||
| Favorite Replacement (Male) | Sebastian Arcelus | |||
| Cheyenne Jackson | ||||
| Andy Karl | ||||
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Another proposed song was "Ready for The Woods" which was on the musical numbers for the Old Globe production, however was never actually written.
References[]
- ↑ https://playbill.com/production/into-the-woods-martin-beck-theatre-vault-0000008219#carousel-cell199274
- ↑ The New York Times, Rachel Sherman & Gabe Cohn, 2023-05-02. Tony Awards Nominations 2023: The Complete List. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/02/theater/tony-award-nominees-list.html issn=0362-4331
- ↑ 2022-2023 Drama Desk Awards nominations announced https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/arts/2023/04/27/2023-drama-desk-award-nominations
- ↑ Playbill, Logan Culwell-Block, April 25, 2023. See the Full List of 2023 Drama League Award Nominations https://playbill.com/article/see-the-full-list-of-2023-drama-league-award-nominations
- ↑ "INTO THE WOODS Wins GRAMMY Award for Best Musical Theater Album"] broadwayworld.com, February 5, 2023. https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/INTO-THE-WOODS-Wins-GRAMMY-Award-for-Best-Musical-Theater-Album-20230205
- ↑ Playbill, Logan Culwell-Block, April 26, 2023 New York, New York, Some Like It Hot Lead 2023 Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations. https://playbill.com/article/new-york-new-york-some-like-it-hot-lead-2023-outer-critics-circle-award-nominations
- ↑ Broadway.com Staff, May 9, 2023, Into the Woods Leads 2023 Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards Nominations; Final Voting Now Open. https://www.broadway.com/buzz/203212/into-the-woods-leads-2023-broadwaycom-audience-choice-awards-nominations-final-voting-now-open/
- ↑ https://www.broadway.com/buzz/203236/into-the-woods-tops-broadwaycom-audience-choice-award-winners/ "Into the Woods Tops Broadway.com Audience Choice Award Winners" broadway.com, May 24, 2023