Sondheim and Lapine's Into the Woods

This book offers an introduction to one of Stephen Sondheim’s most beloved shows, Into the Woods (1987), a musical that combines traditional fairy tales like Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel and Cinderella to form a funny and heartfelt exploration of what it means to act responsibly as a member of society, both as a parent and as a child. After situating the musical in the Broadway canon, the author proceeds with a detailed reading of the show itself, before discussing key productions of the show in New York and London , whose radically different approaches to staging are testament to how open the musical is to re-interpretation.

‘The Woods are just Trees. The Trees are just Wood.’ – All together

In 1987, Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine combined several classic fairy tales including Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, and Jack and the Beanstalk to create Into the Woods. Funny and heartfelt, this musical explores what it might mean to act responsibly in society, both as a parent and as a child.

Situating the work within Sondheim’s oeuvre and the Broadway canon, Olaf Jubin first offers a detailed reading of the show itself, before discussing key productions in New York and London, and 2014’s Oscar-nominated screen adaptation. The radically different approaches to staging Into the Woods are testament to how open the musical is to re-interpretation for new audiences.

A combination of critical explication with performance and film analysis, as well as an overview of popular and critical reception, this book is meant for anyone who has enjoyed Into the Woods, be it as a musical theatre fan, an enchanted audience member, a student or a dedicated theatre professional.