I've always had a special place in my heart for Into the Woods.
I've wanted to direct it for several years now, but I have shied away from it because of the "Disneyfication" of the show in recent years. It is consistently on the Educational Theatre Association's Top Ten Most Produced High School Musicals List every year, and had the feature film release a few years ago. It's a show that has become part of the public conscience, and for good reason- it's a great show.
But I knew when I directed it, I wanted it to be different. I've always been drawn to the "adultness" of these fairy tale characters- the moral dilemmas, the complex relationships, the stress of having to make big decisions without knowing what the consequences of your choice will be...watching the characters agonize over these aspects of life has always been the part of the show I've connected to. As long as I have been teaching theatre to teenagers, the lyrics of "Children Will Listen" have haunted me.
However, many of times when I've seen it on large stages with big special effects, that part of the show has been lost or diminished. Hence why tonight, you're sitting in the middle of the woods in our Black Box Theater.
By pulling you closer to the action, we hope you can forge a greater connection with the humanity of these characters in all its strengths and flaws. We hope "the woods" has the same effect on you that it has on the characters as we take the journey together as artists and audience members- for truly, we don't experience these life events alone.
A further note about a little Walnut history:
Rick Steiner, the famous Broadway producer and Walnut Hills alum (c/o 1963) after whom this theater is named, was one of the original producers of the show. Rick recently passed away, and was always incredibly generous to his alma mater. We would like to dedicate this show to his memory, and let it serve as a commitment to use this space to create and innovate theatre that challenges staff, students, and audiences alike.
Thank you, and enjoy the show.
-Mike Sherman,
Director
