Into the Woods

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DescriptionExcerpt

This Stephen Sondheim / James Lapine musical is a compendium of fairy tales for grown-ups. Following its 2002 premiere, the New York Times said this Vanessa Williams–helmed revival offered "moments that pierce the heart as no other musical this season does."

Description

Into the Woods has "moments that pierce the heart as no other musical this season does ... By all means, go. Admire the view. But, above all, listen."
Ben Brantley, New York Times

Nonesuch Records releases the new Broadway cast recording of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's INTO THE WOODS. The cast recording is conducted by Paul Gemignani, orchestrated by Jonathan Tunick, produced by Steve Epstein and engineered by Todd Whitelock.

Blending five classic Grimms’ fairy tales with an original story of a childless Baker and his Wife, who attempt to reverse a curse on their family in order to have a child, the show features the stories of “Cinderella,” “Rapunzel,” “Little Red Riding Hood” and “Jack and the Beanstalk” as it explores what happens after the “happily ever after.”

The new Broadway production of INTO THE WOODS won the Tony award for Best Musical Revival and stars Vanessa Williams (Witch) and John McMartin (Mysterious Man/Narrator. Additional cast members include Laura Benanti (Cinderella), Gregg Edelman (Cinderella's Prince), Christopher Sieber (Rapunzel's Prince), Melissa Dye (Rapunzel), Kerry O'Malley (Baker's Wife), Stephen DeRosa (Baker), Adam Wylie (Jack), Mary Louise Burke (Jack's Mother), Molly V. Ephraim (Little Red Riding Hood), Chad Kimball (Milky-White), Trent Armand Kendall (Steward), Pamela Myers (Cinderella's Stepmother), Tracy Nicole Chapman (Florinda), Amanda Naughton (Lucinda), Dennis Kelly (Cinderella's Father). Ensemble cast members include Jennifer Malenke, Kate Reinders, Adam Brazier, Linda Mugleston and Stephen Berger.

The creative team for INTO THE WOODS is comprised of Stephen Sondheim (Music & Lyrics), James Lapine (Book and Direction), John Carrafa (Choreographer), Douglas W. Schmidt (Set Design), Susan Hilferty (Costume Design), Brian MacDevitt (Lighting), Dan Moses Schreier (Sound Designer) and Paul Gemignani (Musical Director). The producer is Dodger Theatricals together with Stage Holdings and Theater Dreams.

INTO THE WOODS originally opened on Broadway on November 5, 1987, running for 764 performances; a U.S. national tour was launched in 1988; a London production was staged in 1990 and a television production aired in 1991. Since the first Broadway run, INTO THE WOODS has been the most licensed Sondheim show for professional and amateur production.

ProductionCredits

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Premiere Performance: February 1, 2002, at the Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles
New York Premiere: April 30, 2002, at the Broadhurst Theatre

Recording produced by Steven Epstein
Engineered by Todd Whitelock
Editing Engineer: Robert Wolff
Recorded May 2002 at Right Track Recording, New York City
Assistant Engineers: Andrew Felluss, Timmy Olmstead and Jason Stasium
Edited and mixed at Sony Music Studios, New York City
Music Preparation: Katharine Edmonds/Emily Grishman Music Preparation
Synthesizer Programmer: Bruce Samuels

Music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by James Lapine

Design by Gabriele Wilson with Claire Williams
Cover art by Serino Coyne Inc.

Executive Producer: Robert Hurwitz

Nonesuch Selection Number

79686

Number of Discs in Set
1disc
ns_album_artistid
105
ns_album_id
471
ns_album_releasedate
ns_genre_1
0
ns_genre_2
0
Album Status
Artist Name
Stephen Sondheim
MusicianDetails

MUSICIANS
Musical Direction: Paul Gemignani

Cast (in order of appearance)
Narrator: John McMartin
Cinderella: Laura Benanti
Jack: Adam Wylie
Milky-White: Chad Kimball
Baker: Stephen DeRosa
Baker's Wife: Kerry O’Malley
Cinderella's Stepmother: Pamela Myers
Florinda: Tracy Nicole Chapman
Lucinda: Amanda Naughton
Jack's Mother: Marylouise Burke
Little Red Ridinghood: Molly Ephraim
Witch: Vanessa Williams
Cinderella's Father: Dennis Kelly
Cinderella’s Mother: Laura Benanti
Mysterious Man: John McMartin
Wolves: Gregg Edelman, Christopher Sieber
Rapunzel: Melissa Dye
Rapunzel's Prince: Christopher Sieber
Grandmother: Pamela Myers
Cinderella's Prince: Gregg Edelman
Steward: Trent Armand Kendall
Horse: Jennifer Malenke

Orchestra
Paul Gemignani, conductor
Violin: Marilyn Reynolds, concertmistress; Mineko Yajima
Viola: Richard Brice, Shelley Holland-Moritz
Cello: Deborah Assael
Bass: John Beal
Woodwinds: John Campo, bassoon; Les Scott, flute, piccolo; Amy Zoloto, clarinet
Trumpet: Dominic Derasse
French Horn: Nancy Billmann; Ronald Sell, orchestral contractor
Percussion: Larry Lelli, Paul Pizzuti
Harp: Beth Robinson
Keyboard: Annbritt du Chateau, associate conductor; Mark Mitchell, assistant conductor

Cover Art
UPC/Price
Label
CD+MP3
UPC
075597968620BUN
Label
MP3
Price
9.00
UPC
075597968668
Label
CD+MP3 (SALE)
Price
0.00
UPC
075597968620
  • 79686

News & Reviews

  • Composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim died at his home in Connecticut today at the age of 91. "An intellectually rigorous artist who perpetually sought new creative paths, Mr. Sondheim was the theater’s most revered and influential composer-lyricist of the last half of the 20th century," writes the New York Times in its obituary. Several Broadway, film, and original cast productions of his works have been recorded for Nonesuch Records, including A Little Night Music, Road Show, Sweeney Todd, Company, Bounce, Into the Woods, The Frogs, Evening Primrose, Saturday Night, and Gypsy. His songs have also been featured on Nonesuch albums by Mandy Patinkin, Audra McDonald, and Dawn Upshaw.

  • Steve Reich will publish Conversations, a new book, via HarperCollins' Hanover Square Press, on March 8, 2022. In the book, the composer speaks with collaborators, fellow composers, musicians, and visual artists influenced by his work—including Nonesuch Records Chairman Emeritus Robert Hurwitz, Jonny Greenwood, Kronos Quartet's David Harrington, Stephen Sondheim, Nico Muhly, Brian Eno, Michael Gordon, and others—to reflect on his prolific career as a composer as well as the music that inspired him and that has been inspired by him. The New York Times calls it "a surprising, enlightening series of conversations that shed new light on the music and career of 'our greatest living composer.'" The New Yorker says: "Through this series of insightful, wide-ranging conversations starting from his student days to the present pandemic, we gain a compelling glimpse into the mind of 'the most original musical thinker of our time.'"

Buy Now

  • About This Album

    Into the Woods has "moments that pierce the heart as no other musical this season does ... By all means, go. Admire the view. But, above all, listen."
    Ben Brantley, New York Times

    Nonesuch Records releases the new Broadway cast recording of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's INTO THE WOODS. The cast recording is conducted by Paul Gemignani, orchestrated by Jonathan Tunick, produced by Steve Epstein and engineered by Todd Whitelock.

    Blending five classic Grimms’ fairy tales with an original story of a childless Baker and his Wife, who attempt to reverse a curse on their family in order to have a child, the show features the stories of “Cinderella,” “Rapunzel,” “Little Red Riding Hood” and “Jack and the Beanstalk” as it explores what happens after the “happily ever after.”

    The new Broadway production of INTO THE WOODS won the Tony award for Best Musical Revival and stars Vanessa Williams (Witch) and John McMartin (Mysterious Man/Narrator. Additional cast members include Laura Benanti (Cinderella), Gregg Edelman (Cinderella's Prince), Christopher Sieber (Rapunzel's Prince), Melissa Dye (Rapunzel), Kerry O'Malley (Baker's Wife), Stephen DeRosa (Baker), Adam Wylie (Jack), Mary Louise Burke (Jack's Mother), Molly V. Ephraim (Little Red Riding Hood), Chad Kimball (Milky-White), Trent Armand Kendall (Steward), Pamela Myers (Cinderella's Stepmother), Tracy Nicole Chapman (Florinda), Amanda Naughton (Lucinda), Dennis Kelly (Cinderella's Father). Ensemble cast members include Jennifer Malenke, Kate Reinders, Adam Brazier, Linda Mugleston and Stephen Berger.

    The creative team for INTO THE WOODS is comprised of Stephen Sondheim (Music & Lyrics), James Lapine (Book and Direction), John Carrafa (Choreographer), Douglas W. Schmidt (Set Design), Susan Hilferty (Costume Design), Brian MacDevitt (Lighting), Dan Moses Schreier (Sound Designer) and Paul Gemignani (Musical Director). The producer is Dodger Theatricals together with Stage Holdings and Theater Dreams.

    INTO THE WOODS originally opened on Broadway on November 5, 1987, running for 764 performances; a U.S. national tour was launched in 1988; a London production was staged in 1990 and a television production aired in 1991. Since the first Broadway run, INTO THE WOODS has been the most licensed Sondheim show for professional and amateur production.

    Credits

    MUSICIANS
    Musical Direction: Paul Gemignani

    Cast (in order of appearance)
    Narrator: John McMartin
    Cinderella: Laura Benanti
    Jack: Adam Wylie
    Milky-White: Chad Kimball
    Baker: Stephen DeRosa
    Baker's Wife: Kerry O’Malley
    Cinderella's Stepmother: Pamela Myers
    Florinda: Tracy Nicole Chapman
    Lucinda: Amanda Naughton
    Jack's Mother: Marylouise Burke
    Little Red Ridinghood: Molly Ephraim
    Witch: Vanessa Williams
    Cinderella's Father: Dennis Kelly
    Cinderella’s Mother: Laura Benanti
    Mysterious Man: John McMartin
    Wolves: Gregg Edelman, Christopher Sieber
    Rapunzel: Melissa Dye
    Rapunzel's Prince: Christopher Sieber
    Grandmother: Pamela Myers
    Cinderella's Prince: Gregg Edelman
    Steward: Trent Armand Kendall
    Horse: Jennifer Malenke

    Orchestra
    Paul Gemignani, conductor
    Violin: Marilyn Reynolds, concertmistress; Mineko Yajima
    Viola: Richard Brice, Shelley Holland-Moritz
    Cello: Deborah Assael
    Bass: John Beal
    Woodwinds: John Campo, bassoon; Les Scott, flute, piccolo; Amy Zoloto, clarinet
    Trumpet: Dominic Derasse
    French Horn: Nancy Billmann; Ronald Sell, orchestral contractor
    Percussion: Larry Lelli, Paul Pizzuti
    Harp: Beth Robinson
    Keyboard: Annbritt du Chateau, associate conductor; Mark Mitchell, assistant conductor

    PRODUCTION CREDITS
    Premiere Performance: February 1, 2002, at the Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles
    New York Premiere: April 30, 2002, at the Broadhurst Theatre

    Recording produced by Steven Epstein
    Engineered by Todd Whitelock
    Editing Engineer: Robert Wolff
    Recorded May 2002 at Right Track Recording, New York City
    Assistant Engineers: Andrew Felluss, Timmy Olmstead and Jason Stasium
    Edited and mixed at Sony Music Studios, New York City
    Music Preparation: Katharine Edmonds/Emily Grishman Music Preparation
    Synthesizer Programmer: Bruce Samuels

    Music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
    Book by James Lapine

    Design by Gabriele Wilson with Claire Williams
    Cover art by Serino Coyne Inc.

    Executive Producer: Robert Hurwitz