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Overview
Synopsis
“Be careful what you wish for” seems to be the ongoing theme in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Brothers Grimm inspired musical, Into the Woods. The story follows The Baker and his wife who wish to have a child, Cinderella who wishes to go the King’s Festival, and Jack who wishes his cow would give some milk. When the Baker and his wife are visited by the neighborhood witch, who reveals to them that she placed a curse on their family, the two set off on a journey into the woods to reverse the curse. Also in the woods, we meet Little Red, who is trying to visit her grandmother, the Wolf who loves tasty little girls, the Witch’s daughter Rapunzel, and the Princes chasing after their loves. By the end of Act One, everyone has gotten their wish and will seemingly live happily ever after. But in Act Two, when Jack’s beanstalk brings them a visit from an angry Giant, we see how the consequences of their actions haunt them in disastrous ways. The community must come together to save each other and their kingdom, but sacrifices must be made.
Show Information
- Book
- James Lapine
- Music
- Stephen Sondheim
- Lyrics
- Stephen Sondheim
- Conceived By
- James Lapine
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1986
- Genres
- Fairy Tale/Fantasy
- Settings
- Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- a fairy tale kingdom, the woods
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- None
- Licensor
- Music Theatre International
- Ideal For
- Chamber Opera, College/University, Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, Ensemble Cast, High School, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Theatre For Young Audiences (TYA), Mostly Female Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Late Teen, Child, Early Teen, Elderly Characters
Context
Show Origins
Inspired by the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales, including Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Jack and the Beanstalk, Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine set out to create a story centering around the moral struggles of these famous characters. Initially, Sondheim wanted to write a “quest” musical, while Lapine was focused on writing a fairytale. The idea of creating a fairytale mashup was inspired by a television show the duo pitched which featured characters from different
to read the context for Into the Woods and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
At the top of the show, we are introduced to four characters, each with his/her own wish: Cinderella, who is cleaning, wishes with all her heart that she might be able to attend the King’s Festival; Jack, who is trying to milk his sad, dry cow Milky-White, wishes that she would start producing milk again, so she wouldn’t have to be sold at market; and the Baker and his wife wish with all their hearts for a child. The Narrator leads the company in setting up the circumstances (Act
to read the plot for Into the Woods and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Either Gender |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Either Gender |
Silent |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
Songs
Act One
- "Act One Prologue" – Narrator, and Company
- "Cinderella at the Grave" – Cinderella, Cinderella's Mother
- "Hello, Little Girl" – Wolf and Little Red Ridinghood (with Second Wolf and the Three Little Pigs in 2002 revival)
- "The Spell is On My House" (Reprise) – Baker and Baker's Wife
- "I Guess This is Goodbye" – Jack
- "Maybe They're Magic" – Baker and Baker's Wife
- "Our Little World" – Witch and Rapunzel (added for the original London production)
- "Maybe They're Magic" (Reprise) – Baker
- "I Know Things Now" – Little Red Ridinghood
- "A Very Nice Prince" – Cinderella and Baker's Wife
- "First Midnight" – Company
- "Giants in the Sky" – Jack
- "Agony" – Cinderella's Prince and Rapunzel's Prince
- "A Very Nice Prince" (Reprise) – Cinderella and Baker's Wife
- "It Takes Two" – Baker and Baker's Wife
- "Second Midnight" – Witch, Cinderella's Prince, Rapunzel's Prince, Stepmother, Florinda, Lucinda
- "Stay with Me" – Rapunzel and Witch
- "On the Steps of the Palace" – Cinderella (with Jack and Little Red Ridinghood in 2002 revival)
- "Act One Finale" – Narrator and Company
Act Two
- "Act Two Prologue" – Narrator and Company
- "Agony" (Reprise) – Cinderella's Prince and Rapunzel's Prince
- "Witch's Lament" – Witch
- "Any Moment" – Cinderella's Prince and Baker's Wife
- "Any Moment" (Reprise) – Cinderella's Prince and Baker's Wife
- "Moments in the Woods" – Baker's Wife
- "Your Fault" – Jack, Baker, Cinderella, Little Red Ridinghood and Witch
- "Last Midnight" – Witch
- "No More" – Baker and Mysterious Man
- "No One is Alone (Part 1)" – Cinderella and Little Red Ridinghood
- "No One is Alone (Part 2)" – Cinderella, Baker, Little Red Ridinghood and Jack
- "Act Two Finale" – Company
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
The lowest female vocal type, generally F3-F5.
The middle male vocal type, generally A2-A4.
The lowest male vocal type, generally E2-E4.
References a singer who sings in a more chest voice dominant manner.
The script of a musical.
A group of (typically three or more) notes sounded together, as a basis of harmony.
Chords that build on or include notes that aren't part of the key.
A group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.
A solemn utterance intended to invoke a supernatural power to inflict harm or punishment on someone or something.
The sound created when two discordant notes are played in unison and there is a lack of harmony.
A fictional story of the fantasy genre – idealised, romantic, and magical.
The highest male vocal type, generally C3-C5.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
Themes
Wishes and Desires
Cinderella opens the
to read about the themes, symbols and motifs from Into the Woods and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Quote Analysis
*Sometimes people leave you
Halfway through the
Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher
