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Into the Woods Opening Date: August 16, 2010
Closing Date: September 11, 2010 Air date: March 31, 2011 Medium: online Where to watch: Apple TV, Amazon, BroadwayHD, Digital Theatre, |
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Stage Production Notes
Into the Woods, a musical combining several fairy-tales into one intricate story, was written by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine.
The show received its world premier at the Old Globe Theatre in San Francisco in December 1986.
A little under a year later, the production transferred to Broadway and opened at the Martin Beck Theatre in November 1987. The show received mixed, though generally positive reviews. While praising the performances and technical elements, the critics felt the show was too long, too complex, and lacking a clear message.
Into the Woods premiered in London in 1990 under the direction of Richard Jones. While critically praised and nominated for seven Olivier Awards, the show did not do well at the box office.
The Broadway production, along with the majority of the original cast, was filmed in 1989 and aired on PBS’ American Playhouse in 1991. The live film was released on VHS and, later, DVD and Blu-Ray.
Into the Woods has become a theatre favorite, performed around the world at amateur and professional levels. Music Theatre International has a Junior version of the show available for hire — a one act version of the show with an adapted, more accessible, score.
A film version directed by Rob Marshall was released by Disney in 2014.
Into the Woods, a musical combining several fairy-tales into one intricate story, was written by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine.
The show received its world premier at the Old Globe Theatre in San Francisco in December 1986.
A little under a year later, the production transferred to Broadway and opened at the Martin Beck Theatre in November 1987. The show received mixed, though generally positive reviews. While praising the performances and technical elements, the critics felt the show was too long, too complex, and lacking a clear message.
Into the Woods premiered in London in 1990 under the direction of Richard Jones. While critically praised and nominated for seven Olivier Awards, the show did not do well at the box office.
The Broadway production, along with the majority of the original cast, was filmed in 1989 and aired on PBS’ American Playhouse in 1991. The live film was released on VHS and, later, DVD and Blu-Ray.
Into the Woods has become a theatre favorite, performed around the world at amateur and professional levels. Music Theatre International has a Junior version of the show available for hire — a one act version of the show with an adapted, more accessible, score.
A film version directed by Rob Marshall was released by Disney in 2014.
Filmed Production Notes
In August 2010, it was announced the Regent’s Open Air Theatre in London would be staging a revival of Into the Woods. The production made small alterations to the script, casting the narrator as a small child who has run away and set up camp in the woods.
The production received glowing reviews, with critics claiming the new interpretation solved some of the problems of the original and made the book tighter and more cohesive.
The production was awarded Best Musical Revival at the 2011 Olivier Awards.
New York’s Shakespeare in the Park based their 2012 production of Into the Woods on the Regent’s Open Air production, with Timothy Sheader and Liam Steel once again directing.
The London production was filmed by Digital Theatre and released at the end of March, 2011. The release experienced technical glitches, with viewers outside the UK experiencing delays in being able to access the download.
Reviewer Steve Rich described the capture as “A brave attempt at moving that huge event onto a tiny screen,” and Vodzilla Magazine noted that Digital Theatre’s capture of Into the Woods proves that large scale shows are indeed suitable for filmed live captures.
In 2013, Digital Theatre made the live capture available to view worldwide on YouTube for a special limited time “viewing party.” Though not free, Digital Theatre set a low cost for access.
The Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production of Into the Woods is available to stream on Apple TV, Amazon, BroadwayHD, and Digital Theatre.
In August 2010, it was announced the Regent’s Open Air Theatre in London would be staging a revival of Into the Woods. The production made small alterations to the script, casting the narrator as a small child who has run away and set up camp in the woods.
The production received glowing reviews, with critics claiming the new interpretation solved some of the problems of the original and made the book tighter and more cohesive.
The production was awarded Best Musical Revival at the 2011 Olivier Awards.
New York’s Shakespeare in the Park based their 2012 production of Into the Woods on the Regent’s Open Air production, with Timothy Sheader and Liam Steel once again directing.
The London production was filmed by Digital Theatre and released at the end of March, 2011. The release experienced technical glitches, with viewers outside the UK experiencing delays in being able to access the download.
Reviewer Steve Rich described the capture as “A brave attempt at moving that huge event onto a tiny screen,” and Vodzilla Magazine noted that Digital Theatre’s capture of Into the Woods proves that large scale shows are indeed suitable for filmed live captures.
In 2013, Digital Theatre made the live capture available to view worldwide on YouTube for a special limited time “viewing party.” Though not free, Digital Theatre set a low cost for access.
The Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production of Into the Woods is available to stream on Apple TV, Amazon, BroadwayHD, and Digital Theatre.
Into the Woods PRODUCTION CREDITS
Theatre: Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Producer: Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Book: James Lapine
Music and Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Director: Timothy Sheader
Co-director and Movement Director: Liam Steel
Musical Director: Gareth Valentine
Orchestrations: Chris Walker
Designer: Soutra Gilmour
Lighting Design: Jon Clark
Sound Design: Mike Walker
Stage Manager: Andy Beardmore
Cast:
Marc Antolin (Woodsman), Valda Aviks (Grandmother), Billy Boyle (Mysterious Man), Gaye Brown (Cinderella’s Stepmother), Sophie Caton (Snow White/Harp), Marylin Cutts (Jack’s Mother), Alice Fearn (Rapunzel), Helen Dallimore (Cinderella), Judi Dench (Voice of Giant), Mark Goldthrop (Steward), Amy Griffiths (Lucinda), Mark Hadfield (Baker), Eddie Manning (Narrator), Amy Ellen Richardson (Florinda), Beverly Rudd (Little Red Riding Hood), Jenna Russell (Bakers Wife), Ben Stott (Jack), Simon Thomas (Rapunzel’s Prince), Hannah Waddingham (The Witch), Gemma Wardle (Cinderella’s Mother), Michael Xavier (Wolf/Cinderella’s Prince)
Theatre: Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Producer: Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Book: James Lapine
Music and Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Director: Timothy Sheader
Co-director and Movement Director: Liam Steel
Musical Director: Gareth Valentine
Orchestrations: Chris Walker
Designer: Soutra Gilmour
Lighting Design: Jon Clark
Sound Design: Mike Walker
Stage Manager: Andy Beardmore
Cast:
Marc Antolin (Woodsman), Valda Aviks (Grandmother), Billy Boyle (Mysterious Man), Gaye Brown (Cinderella’s Stepmother), Sophie Caton (Snow White/Harp), Marylin Cutts (Jack’s Mother), Alice Fearn (Rapunzel), Helen Dallimore (Cinderella), Judi Dench (Voice of Giant), Mark Goldthrop (Steward), Amy Griffiths (Lucinda), Mark Hadfield (Baker), Eddie Manning (Narrator), Amy Ellen Richardson (Florinda), Beverly Rudd (Little Red Riding Hood), Jenna Russell (Bakers Wife), Ben Stott (Jack), Simon Thomas (Rapunzel’s Prince), Hannah Waddingham (The Witch), Gemma Wardle (Cinderella’s Mother), Michael Xavier (Wolf/Cinderella’s Prince)
Sources
- Michael Billington, “Into the Woods,” The Guardian (Aug 17, 2010)
- Paul Couch, “NEWS: Global screening of Into the Woods with Digital Theatre,” The Reviews Hub (Sept 18, 2013)
- Richard Christiansen, “Sondheim Touches Give Hope To New Work,” Chicago Tribune (Dec 7, 1986)
- Everything Theatre, “Into The Woods Screening, Regents Park Open Air Theatre – Review,” Everything Theatre (Sept 30, 2013)
- Adam Hetrick, “Into the Woods, With Donna Murphy, Amy Adams, Chip Zien and Denis O'Hare, Opens in Central Park,” Playbill (Aug 9, 2012)
- Eve Nicol, “Review: Into the Woods,” A Younger Theatre (April 5, 2011)
- Ivan Radford, “Digital Theatre review: Into the Woods (Regent’s Park, 2010),” VODzilla Magazine (January 5, 2015)
- Frank Rich, “Stage: 'Into the Woods,' From Sondheim,” New York Times (Nov 6, 1987)
- Steve Rich, “Digital Theatre,” Theatre monkey (Nov 13, 2013)
- Mark Shenton, “New London Production of Into the Woods Opens at Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park Aug. 16,” Playbill (Aug 16, 2010)
- Michael Shulman, “WHY “INTO THE WOODS” MATTERS,” The New Yorker (Dec 24, 2014)
- Dan Sullivan, “Notes of Praise for 'Into the Woods’,” LA Times (Nov 14, 1987)
- Matt Wolf, “Playing Sondheim in the Woods,” New York Times (Aug 24, 2010)
Websites
- Music Theatre International, “Into the Woods,” Accessed via: http://www.mtishows.com/into-the-woods
- The Stephen Sondheim Reference Guide, “Into the Woods,” Accessed via: http://www.sondheimguide.com/woods.html
- BroadwayWorld Message Board Threads
- “So I finally watched Regent Park's Into the Woods…” Accessed via: http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.php?thread=1035349
- “Into the Woods - Digital Theatre Preorder” Accessed via: http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.php?thread=1028806
Written by Luisa Lyons (March, 2017)