Into the Woods on Broadway Tickets

By: James Lapine
Songs by: Stephen Sondheim
Director: Lear deBessonet
Cast list: Sebastian Arcelus (as the Baker), Stephanie J. Block (as the Baker's Wife), Joaquina Kalukango (as the Witch), Diane Phelan (as Cinderella), Joshua Henry (as Rapunzel's Prince), Gavin Creel (as Cinderella's Prince), Cole Thompson (as Jack), Katy Geraghty (as Little Red Ridinghood), Annie Golden (as Granny/Cinderella's Mother/Giant's Wife), Nancy Opel (as Cinderella's Stepmother), Ann Harada (as Jack's Mother), David Patrick Kelly (as Narrator/Mysterious Man), Ta'Nika Gibson (as Lucinda), Brooke Ishibashi (as Florinda), Albert Guerzon (as Cinderella's Father), Kennedy Kanagawa (as Milky White), Jim Stanek (as the Steward)
Design: David Rockwell
Lighting: Tyler Micoloeau
Costume: Andrea Hood
Choreography: Lorin Latarro
Sound: Scott Lehrer and Alex Menumamm

The Into the Woods musical takes classic Grimm brothers stories and mixes in new characters, creating one epic adventure. Once upon a time, a Witch cursed a Baker and his Wife so they couldn't have a child. As they go off to the woods to lift the curse, they meet Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Jack (of Jack and the Beanstalk), all motivated by wishes and quests of their own. With each other's help, they find happily ever after — at the end of Act 1. But what happens after? As the show continues from there, they discover happily ever after isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Audiences first went into the woods on Broadway in 1987, and the premiere production ran at the Martin Beck Theatre for just under two years. The show was nominated for 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Joanna Gleason won Best Actress in a Musical for playing the Baker's Wife; she starred opposite fellow Broadway favorites Chip Zien as the Baker and Bernadette Peters as the Witch.

Following a one-night-only concert in 1997, Into the Woods got its first full Broadway revival in 2002, which won two Tonys out of 10 nominations, including Best Revival of a Musical. The musical has a history of success, and the current revival is proving no different. It originated off Broadway as part of New York City Center's Encores! series for seldom revived musicals, and the two-week run sold out and received rave reviews.

What to Watch For

• Stephanie J. Block and Sebastian Arcelus, who starred together in this revival as the Baker’s Wife and Baker for a short stint, are married in real life. Block still plays the Baker’s Wife, opposite Brian d’Arcy James as the Baker.
• Broadway orchestras often perform in a pit or sometimes off to the side of the stage, but in Into the Woods, the actors perform at the front of the stage, and the entire orchestra is visible behind them.
• To promote the original Broadway production of Into the Woods, a gigantic boot was built to hang off the Martin Beck Theatre, a reference to the Giant's Wife featured in the musical. The boot isn't there for this revival, but on stage, the Giant (who is just a voiceover role) is represented by two heeled boots that are taller than the actors! Puppeteers operate those boots as well as Milky White, Jack's cow and a fan-favorite character, in this Into the Woods revival.
• Many celebrities have visited the woods in the show's history. Jessie Mueller and Laura Benanti have played Cinderella. Phylicia Rashad, Vanessa Williams, and Hannah Waddingham have played the Witch. Imelda Staunton, Amy Adams, and Sutton Foster have played the Baker's Wife. Neil Patrick Harris and Skylar Astin have played the Baker. Plus, celebrities who have cameoed as the voice of the Giant's Wife include Glenn Close, Whoopi Goldberg, Judi Dench, and even former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton!
• This revival is the first Into the Woods Broadway production not directed by James Lapine, who also wrote the musical's book.
• Talk about two giants up against each other! In 1988, Into the Woods beat out The Phantom of the Opera for the Best Book and Best Score Tony Awards.