Into the Woods

Into the Woods
Music and Lyrics by STEPHEN SONDHEIM
Book by JAMES LAPINE

September 12-27, 2025

Week 1: Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

Week 2: Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m.,
Saturday at 2:00 and 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

Week 3: Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m.,
Saturday at 2:00 and 7:30 p.m.

INTO THE WOODS is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. mtishows.com

SHOW TRAILER: Get a glimpse of the magic before you see the show in person! Check out this amazing video by director Anna Miles.

PHOTO CREDIT: Zoart Photography
www.robinfadtkephoto.com

What's Into the Woods about?

Into the Woods is a magical and thought-provoking musical that intertwines several well-known fairy tales with an original story about a childless Baker and his Wife. When the Witch next door reveals that she placed a curse on their family, the couple must venture into the woods to collect four items — “the cow as white as milk, the cape as red as blood, the hair as yellow as corn, and the slipper as pure as gold” — in order to break the spell. Along the way, they encounter Cinderella on her way to the ball, Jack climbing the beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood heading to Grandma’s house, and Rapunzel locked away in her tower.

In the first act, every character seems to achieve their “happily ever after.” Cinderella finds her prince, Jack grows rich, Rapunzel is freed, and the Baker and his Wife finally have a child. But in Act Two, the story takes a deeper turn as the characters learn that wishes come with consequences. Giants descend, relationships are tested, and the community must band together to face grief, loss, and the realities of responsibility.

Both humorous and moving, Into the Woods invites audiences to reflect on what it means to grow up, to take responsibility for one another, and to find hope and resilience even when the story doesn’t go as planned. With Sondheim’s brilliant music and Lapine’s imaginative storytelling, this timeless musical reminds us: “No one is alone.”

Content Advisory

Narrative Complexity: Ages 10+

Into the Woods brings together several beloved fairy tales (like Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel) into one big story where all the characters’ journeys overlap. Though many of these stories are now known best in child-friendly forms, the stories in Into the Woods contain the darker elements from the traditional Brothers Grimm tales.

The show contains themes of loss, danger, and death, which may be intense for younger audience members. With this in mind, parental guidance is suggested for younger audience members.

★★★ = There's a lot of this.
★★☆ = There's some of this.
★☆☆= There's a bit of this.
☆☆☆ = Don't expect this.

Positive Message: ★★★

Positive Messages

Kindness and compassion – small acts of care can make a big difference.
No one is alone – the show reminds us that even in hard times, we’re connected and supported by others.
Community and cooperation matter – characters learn they must work together to face challenges.

Challenging Messages

Actions have consequences – choices, even well-intentioned ones, can lead to unexpected or difficult outcomes.
Loss and grief are part of life – several characters face death and heartbreak, showing the reality of endings after “happily ever after.”
Responsibility is unavoidable – the story emphasizes owning up to mistakes and taking responsibility for how our actions affect others.

Diverse Representation: ★★☆

The production features cast members with diverse backgrounds.

Romance AND SEX: ★★☆

The show contains themes of love, romance, and attraction woven throughout the story. Most of the relationships, such as Cinderella and her Prince, Rapunzel and her Prince, and the Baker and his Wife, are presented in a fairy-tale, stage-friendly way, with affectionate moments.

However, Act II includes more mature elements especially in the depiction of the relationship between the Baker’s Wife and Cinderella’s Prince. In particular, there is one scene in which the Baker’s Wife engages in a sexual encounter with Cinderella’s Prince involving kissing. This scene is implied rather than fully explicit on stage but includes adult themes of infidelity and sexual activity. Audience discretion is advised for younger viewers or those uncomfortable with sexual content.

Violence and Scariness: ★★☆

The show includes several moments that may be intense or frightening for younger audience members. These include:

Character deaths - expressive, non-literal representations
Fake blood
Dark themes – such as loss, betrayal, and the consequences of choices
Threatening or dangerous situations – including the Witch throwing Rapunzel, the Wolf chasing Little Red Riding Hood, the Giant pursuing the characters, and moments of peril for several main characters

Adult Language: ★☆☆

The show contains mild adult language and occasional innuendo. While most dialogue is family-friendly, some lines include suggestive humor or brief coarse words.

Drinking, Drugs, Smoking: ★☆☆

The show includes brief references to alcohol use, and there are occasional mentions of drinking as part of the story. There are no portrayals of illegal drug use or smoking in the show.

Meet the Creative Team

Anna Miles, Director

Anna Miles (Director) is excited to return to WOH after directing Puffs last season and Our Town in 2022. Select theater credits: In the Green by Grace McLean (Director), A Sad Tale’s Best for Winter (Writer/Director) with Noise Now at A Noise Within, and Coriolanus (Assistant Director) at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Anna holds a BA in Theater from Northwestern and an MFA in Theater from Brown/Trinity. www.annajunemiles.com

Laura Needle, Music director

An East Coast native, Laura Needle was a professional actress for many years before turning her attention to directing. Concentrating on acting through song, Laura has been sought out for audition technique and vocal coaching. This year Laura will be joining the Woodland Opera House as musical director for Into the Woods. She is eagerly anticipating the start of a new adventure, surrounded by the beloved Woodland Opera House community!

Lela rose, choreographer

Lela Rose has grown up dancing and doing musical theater. She currently teaches a variety of dance genres here, over at the TADA, including Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Ballet, and Musical Theater. When she’s not dancing, she’s either at a KPOP concert, hanging out with friends and family, or has her nose stuck up a book. Lela is so excited to be a part of the creative side this year, and for you to see her choreography!