Into the Woods

A musical play, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Book by James Lapine. Originally directed on Broadway by James Lapine. [1]

The original text

A modern musical twist on the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tales. Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood and other well-known fairytale characters are interwoven with the story of a baker and his wife – whose longing for a child is thwarted by the witch who lives next door.

Into the Woods was first staged at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, California, in December 1986, and opened on Broadway in November 1987. It went on to win three Tony Awards, including Best Score of a Musical and Best Book of a Musical.

Performance history in South Africa

1995: Presented by Technikon Natal at the Courtyard Theatre, directed by Jacky Vermaas, September.

1997: Produced in Cape Town by Cape Town Opera at the Nico Malan Theatre, featuring Anthea Thompson (Red Riding Hood), Glenn Swart (Cinderella's Prince/Wolf), Darryl Nel (Baker), Brenda Radloff (Baker's Wife), Angela Killian (Cinderella), Aviva Pelham (Witch), Ralph Lawson (Narrator/Mysterious Man), Paul du Toit (Jack), Maureen Tyson (Jack's Mother), Sara Cohen (Grandmother/Cinderella's Mother/Giant), Jason Crook (Rapunzel's Prince) and Beverley Chiat (Rapunzel). Directed by David Matheson, musical direction by Graham Scott, lighting Malcolm Hurrell, costumes and sets Michael Mitchell, sound design by Robin Shuttleworth.

2001: A Technikon Pretoria Musical Theatre Porduction by arrangement with DALRO was produced by Vicki Karras, musical direction by Josef du Preez at the Breytenbach Theatre opening 16 October. Directed and designed by Johann Swart.

2008: Presented by Westville Girls' High School, directed by Claire Leech, 24 to 30 October 2008.

2016: Presented by KickstArt at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre (15 April – 1 May 2016), Direction and Musical Staging: Steven Stead. Musical Direction and Musical Supervision: Drew Rienstra. Choreography: Leigh Meyer. Set Design: Greg King. Lighting Design: Tina le Roux. Costume Design: Neil Stuart Harris. Sound Design: Ross van Wyk. Cast: Bryan Hiles (Baker), Jessica Sole (Baker’s Wife), Lisa Bobbert (Witch), Frances Currie (Cinderella), Haylea Hounsom (Rapunzel), Katy Moore (Little Red Ridinghood), Lyle Buxton (Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf), Liesl Coppin (Cinderella’s Stepmother), Graeme Wicks (Jack), Marion Loudon (Jack’s Mother), Darren King (Steward), Alison Cassels (Granny), Nathan Kruger (Rapunzel’s Prince), Sarah Richard (Florinda), Leigh Meyer (Lucinda), Shelley McLean (Cinderella’s Mother), Clare Mortimer (Giant), Peter Court (Narrator/Mysterious Man).

2019: Theatre on the Bay (30 January – 2 March 2019), Montecasino (8 March – 14 April 2019), directed by Steven Stead, starring Kate Normington (Witch), Michael Richard (Narrator/Mysterious Man), Jessica Sole (Baker's Wife), Earl Gregory (Baker), Nathan Kruger (Rapunzel's Prince), Zak Hendrikz (Cinderella's Prince), Candice van Litsenborgh (Jack's Mother), Graeme Wicks (Jack), Haylea Heyns (Cinderella). Musical direction by Drew Bakker, choreography by Leigh Meyer, set design by Greg King, lighting design by Tina le Roux, sound design by Mark Malherbe.

Sources

Into the Woods theatre programmes 1997, 2001.

NELM: [Collection: KORT, Maurice]: 2012. 379. 17. 51.

'Fairy tale with a twist', Cape Argus, 8 Feb 2019

'Into the Woods', Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, https://www.sneddontheatre.co.za/into-the-woods.html

https://www.nickhernbooks.co.uk/into-the-woods

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