"Oh, if life were made of moments, even now and then a bad one -! But if life were only moments, then you'd never know you had one."

Plot

Into the Woods is a beloved musical by Stephen Sondheim (music & lyrics) and James Lapine (book). It cleverly weaves together classic fairy tales—Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, and Rapunzel—while introducing an original story about a Baker and his Wife desperate to have a child. All the characters’ wishes send them “into the woods,” where their stories intersect.

Act I

• Each character sets out to fulfill a wish:

  • Cinderella wants to go to the King’s festival.

  • Jack needs to sell his cow, Milky White.

  • Little Red is off to her grandmother’s house.

  • The Baker and his Wife want a child, but a Witch has cursed them with infertility.

• The Witch tells the Baker and his Wife they must find four magical items to break the curse: a cow as white as milk, a cape as red as blood, hair as yellow as corn, and a slipper as pure as gold.

• Their journeys overlap, leading to comic misadventures and unexpected alliances. By the end of Act I, everyone’s wishes are granted.

Act II

• The consequences of those wishes unfold.

• A vengeful Giantess arrives, seeking revenge for her husband’s death (killed by Jack).

• The characters must work together to survive, facing loss, regret, and the realization that wishes come with a price.

• The show ends with a message about community, responsibility, and the importance of stories.

​​​​