Signature Theatre's new production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Into the Woods begins at the D.C.-area company's MAX Theatre November 9, with the run set to continue through January 29, 2023. Directed and choreographed by Signature Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner, the reimagined production is set in an abandoned Victorian nursery. See Nova Y. Payton's take on the score's "Last Midnight" above.
Along with Payton as The Witch, the cast features Phylicia Rashad as the voice of The Giant, Christopher Bloch as the Narrator/Mysterious Man, Kurt Boehm as the Steward, Simone Brown as Rapunzel, Alex De Bard as Little Red Riding Hood, Sherri L. Edelen as Jack’s Mother, Crystal J. Freeman as Cinderella’s Mother/Granny, Vincent Kempski as Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf, Jake Loewenthal as The Baker, David Merino as Jack, Adelina Mitchell as Florinda, Katie Mariko Murray as Cinderella, Lawrence Redmond as Cinderella’s Father, Maria Rizzo as Cinderella’s Stepmother, Paul Scanlan as Rapunzel’s Prince, Erin Weaver as The Baker’s Wife, and Chani Wereley as Lucinda. Drake Leach, Julia Wheeler Lennon, Dylan Toms, and Casandra Victoria are the swings.
Music director Jon Kalbfleisch leads a 15-piece orchestra playing Jonathan Tunick's original, full orchestrations. The production also features scenic design by Lee Savage, costume design by David I. Reynoso, lighting design by Amanda Zieve, sound design by Eric Norris, wig and hair design by Tommy Kurzman, and make-up design by Alison Samantha Johnson. Chelsea Pace serves as resident intimacy consultant and choreographer. Casting is by Jorge Acevedo, with Casey Kaleba serving as fight choreographer, Kerry Epstein as production stage manager, and Julia Singer as assistant stage manager.
With music and lyrics by Sondheim and a book penned by Lapine, Into the Woods intertwines classic fairytales in an adventure that shows what it costs to make a wish come true. Songs from the musical twist on iconic storybook fables include “Giants in the Sky,” “On the Steps of the Palace,” “No One Is Alone,” and “Children Will Listen.” A Broadway revival of Into the Woods is currently playing the St. James Theatre through January 8, 2023.
Tickets are available at SigTheatre.org.
