Why Do We Go Into The Woods?
Written by Artistic Director, Ethan Nienaber
As any massive Sondheim and INTO THE WOODS fan will tell you, the chance to engage with his work is always a treat. But getting to experience Sondheim and Lapine’s Grimm fairytale mashup is a privilege, no matter what position you’re in, be that as a director, actor, technician, audience member, or beyond. When you have the unique opportunity bestowed upon you to venture into the woods, you always take it. Although if you aren’t a super fan, you’re probably wondering, “Why? What makes this show so special and irresistible?”
I have long held a firm belief (although I might not have realized it fully until a recent rehearsal for INTO THE WOODS) that this show is likely responsible for making more life-long theatre fans than any other American musical. Now I know how that sounds, especially in the wake of the WICKED, HAMILTON, and PHANTOMs of the world, but every time someone engages with INTO THE WOODS for the first time, they usually find a reason to love it. And this isn’t some kind of random coincidence or because there are just enough catchy songs to stay stuck in your head. INTO THE WOODS was made to be enjoyable, moving, and deeply informative of the human experience, no matter your age or season of life.
When you leave a production of INTO THE WOODS, you likely come out of it with a favorite character because of the lesson(s) they learn throughout the show. If you’re lucky enough to see multiple productions of WOODS over the course of your lifetime, that favorite character, and the lesson they exemplify, probably changes with each experience. Well, that’s all for a good reason! Sondheim and Lapine were crystal clear when writing this show that the title of INTO THE WOODS was a direct wordplay and reflection on the “woods” = the “woulds of our lives”. Hence, all of the lessons, discoveries, and learning moments that are packed into the pages!
As you might imagine, this 10,000-foot view of the show often leads to those super fans in your life perennially wondering, “What is this production of INTO THE WOODS going to be like? What’s the concept?” And, funnily enough, that’s where the concept of our production began as well. As JERSEY BOYS was finishing up this summer and I began to dig into my pre-production planning for WOODS, I kept asking myself the same question, “What are the woulds of our QCT community?”
Ultimately, the answer to that question is incredibly nuanced, but the core tenet has been and always will be: telling stories together that reflect those “woulds” on stage. And as I continued to curiously examine this quite broad yet intricate and complex tenet of why we make theatre, my mind and heart instantly latched on to the gratitude of even being able to make theatre together at all. It took so many generations of creatives before us to pave the way for storytelling on stage as we know it today, and as my mind traveled back through the ways in which American theatre has persevered to arrive at 2025, it all clicked.
Are we not doing the same thing as those people who came before us? Are we not gathering and creating with our imaginations to tell stories that pass down important life lessons? Are we not doing so with our friends, family, and community, especially here at QCT? Isn’t this exactly what the Vaudeville performers and touring repertory troupes at the turn of the 20th century in America were doing? Aren’t those same foundational principles that they were working from still true today? (The answer? Was, of course, yes!)
It was with that discovery that our concept for INTO THE WOODS, and the entire production, seemed to unfold in front of me. Going down this rabbit hole of thought and crafting this concept reminded me of why we love this show – it gave me a chance to rediscover lessons and core tenets of why we do theatre, which is the same offer to anyone who chooses to venture INTO THE WOODS, or should I say WOULDS, with us. When you step into the Barbara Rowell Auditorium, we invite you to journey with us through timeless fairytales, and as the actors share their character’s lessons, we hope you have ample space to make your own discoveries (and become a super fan if you aren’t already). But as the turn-of-the-century troupe plays out their repertoire for the evening, I hope you are reminded that our ability to come together, lift one another up, and tell stories as a community is one of the greatest “woulds” of all.
I cannot wait to see you at the theatre for our final show of the 2025 Season!
“Just remember, someone is on your side. No one is alone.”