Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares continues at the Underbelly Boulevard Soho, London until 26 July 2026. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ As autobiographical storytelling goes, this is one of the best.
Tag Archives | Into the Woods
Into The Woods – initial cast announced
Initial casting has been confirmed for the West End transfer of Jordan Fein’s multi-award-winning production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s magical musical Into the Woods.
West End transfer season beckons for The Bridge’s Into the Woods
Jordan Fein’s multi-award-winning production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s magical musical Into the Woods will become the first West End transfer for London’s Bridge Theatre.
Paddington The Musical is the biggest winner at the Olivier Awards 2026
This year’s biggest winner at the Olivier Awards 2026 was Paddington The Musical, with seven awards including Cunard Best New Musical.
New cast members to join Bridge Theatre’s Into the Woods
A number of new cast members will join the Bridge Theatre’s hit production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s magical musical Into the Woods next month.
Critics’ Circle Awards 2026 – winners announced
Paddington The Musical and Into the Woods took away the Best New Musical and Best Ensemble or Cast prizes at this year’s Critics’ Circle Awards.
Paddington The Musical and Into the Woods lead the Olivier Awards 2026 nominations
Hit musicals Paddington The Musical and Into the Woods are leading the charge for this year’s Olivier Awards with 11 nominations each.
Into the Woods – Bridge Theatre
Into the Woods continues at the Bridge Theatre, London until 30 May 2026. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Fein has respectfully shown us what a gorgeous show this is with no need for high-tech bells nor gimmicky whistles.
The Bridge Theatre’s Into the Woods – the full cast
Casting has been confirmed for the Bridge Theatre’s eagerly anticipated upcoming production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s magical musical Into the Woods.
Remembering Cleo Laine: The Voice of Them All (1927-2025)
Cleo Laine will always be remembered for the consummate artist she was, for the range of her voice and the breadth of music she performed, and her abiding interest in musical education.
LISTEN NOW: The Mayor of Musical Theatre Podcast returns with Broadway star and Tony Award winner Laura Benanti
The Mayor of Musical Theatre Podcast is back from a break, and host Ian Bowkett’s latest guest mayor is Broadway star and Tony Award winner Laura Benanti.
Jordan Fein to direct new production of Into the Woods at the Bridge Theatre
London’s Bridge Theatre will present a major new production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s magical musical Into the Woods later this year.
Tributes paid to much-loved theatre star Gavin Creel
Sutton Foster, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Idina Menzel, Hannah Waddingham, Kristin Chenoweth and Bette Midler are among the many stage and screen stars paying tribute to Tony and Olivier Award-winning Broadway and West End star Gavin Creel who has passed away.
National Youth Music Theatre – Into the Woods
Into the Woods was performed by the National Youth Music Theatre at Southwark Playhouse, London. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ It is always a delight to see young performers excelling in musical theatre.
Royal Academy of Music – Into the Woods
Into the Woods was performed by students from the Royal Academy of Music’s Musical Theatre Company at the Susie Sainsbury Theatre, London. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Some Like It Hot leads Tony Award nominations with & Juliet, New York, New York and Shucked close behind
Leading the way on the musical theatre front in the Tony Awards nominations was Some Like It Hot with 13 nominations, closely followed by & Juliet, New York, New York and Shucked, all with nine nominations.
Musical Theatre Review contributors pick their top shows of 2022
A selection of Musical Theatre Review critics were asked to choose their ‘show of the year’ although, as you can see, some struggled to pick just one.
Into the Woods – Theatre Royal Bath
Into the Woods continues at Theatre Royal Bath until 10 September 2022. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ The eagerly anticipated – and long-delayed – production of Sondheim and Lapine’s Into the Woods co-directed by Terry Gilliam and Leah Hausman finally opened this August, not at its originally intended home of the Old Vic […]
Broadway transfer season for hit New York City Center Encores! Into The Woods
The critically acclaimed New York City Center Encores! production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s magical musical Into The Woods is heading for Broadway later this month. Dedicated to the memory of musical theatre legend, Sondheim, the production which was described by the New York Times as “a glorious revival” will begin a strictly limited […]
West End stars feature in cast of Into The Woods at Theatre Royal Bath
A high-powered cast has been assembled for director Terry Gilliam and choreographer Leah Hausman’s highly-anticipated production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s magical musical Into The Woods at the Theatre Royal Bath this summer. The co-creator of the Olivier Award winning Shockhead Peter, Julian Bleach (The Grinning Man) will play Mysterious Man with Olivier nominees […]
Into The Woods – Lyric Theatre, Belfast
Into The Woods continues at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast until 27 February 2022. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ The Northern Ireland Opera production of Into The Woods currently gracing the stage of the rather lovely Lyric Theatre in Belfast is the first full professional staging in the UK of a Stephen Sondheim […]
Full cast announced for Northern Ireland Opera’s Into The Woods
An 18-strong cast of West End artists, and performers from across the musical theatre, opera and theatre worlds has been assembled for Northern Ireland Opera’s upcoming production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s magical musical Into The Woods. Featuring performers hailing predominantly from Northern Ireland, the cast for the production which will debut at Belfast’s […]
Musical Theatre 2022 Preview – all you need to know
With Covid-related delays and cancellations still plaguing theatre productions, we know it is impossible to predict whether all the shows listed below will go ahead, but we will continue to keep the faith and support all the incredible creatives bringing us these wonderful musical theatre openings in 2022 – in the West End, on the London […]
Remembering Stephen Sondheim (1930-2021), The Ultimate Musical Man of Broadway
Stephen Sondheim rewrote the history of the Broadway musical in a career lasting over 60 years. Michael Darvell looks back, show by show, at the genius that was Stephen Sondheim. It is an unquestionable fact that Stephen Sondheim was responsible for taking the rather moribund genre of the Broadway musical and breathing new life into […]
NI Opera to return to Belfast’s Lyric Theatre with production of Into the Woods
Northern Ireland Opera will return to Belfast’s Lyric Theatre early next year with a major new production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s magical musical Into the Woods. NI Opera’s artistic director Cameron Menzies will take charge of the epic production which will shine a spotlight on the best of Northern Irish music and creative […]
‘There are giants in the sky’: The theatre community pays tribute to Stephen Sondheim
It feels pretty impossible to find the words to sum up the kind of influence composer Stephen Sondheim had on the world of musical theatre. There was of course the way he turned the genre on its head and made changes to form and content that had never been contemplated before. Then there was the […]
Innovative production of Into The Woods to be staged at The Old Vic
Monty Python’s innovative Terry Gilliam and renowned choreographer Leah Hausman will co-direct a reimagined production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s magical musical Into The Woods at The Old Vic in 2022. Announced as part of The Old Vic: Back Together season, a hybrid digital and live programme, which is due to begin in July, […]
New production of Into The Woods among launch shows for new Suffolk woodland theatre
Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s magical musical Into The Woods will be among the first productions to grace the stage of the distinctive new Thorington Theatre in the heart of Suffolk this summer. Constructed on a zero-carbon footprint model using locally sourced timber in a woodland setting, the 350-seat outdoor theatre space which has been […]
A Crossword of Sondheimian Rhyme
Stephen Sondheim is probably theatre’s greatest living lyricist. This is a compliment he may or may not be sick of reading, especially after last month’s deluge of well-deserved 90th birthday encomiums. Either way, as a (somewhat less-acclaimed) musical theatre maker myself I know there is something every proud lyricist could never tire of: people noticing […]
Sondheim at 90: A YouTube career retrospective
Ian Bowkett writes: It is deeply unfortunate that on the 90th birthday of legendary composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim we are in the midst of a period without access to live musical theatre. However, that does make this the perfect time to scour YouTube for our favourite renditions of his songs to take us away to happier […]
Into the Woods – Cockpit Theatre
Into the Woods continues at the Cockpit Theatre, London until 24 June 2018. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Into the Woods opened on Broadway in 1987 and won three Tony Awards. Seen some years later in London in an award-winning production at the Phoenix Theatre with a […]
Cast revealed for Into the Woods at the Cockpit Theatre
Casting has been announced for All Star Productions and Trilby Productions’ fresh new version of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Into the Woods which is due to play at London’s The Cockpit from 23 May to Sunday 24 June 2018 (press night is 25 May). Following on from a sold-out run in 2014 at All Star’s […]
All Star Productions’ Into the Woods to return to London
Award-winning All Star Productions has teamed up with Trilby Productions and London’s The Cockpit to stage a fresh new production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Into the Woods next month. Following on from a sold-out run in 2014 at All Star’s home base, Walthamstow’s Ye Olde Rose and Crown, the new production of Sondheim […]
Melissa Errico Sings Sondheim – Live at Zédel
Melissa Errico Sings Sondheim at Live at Zédel, London until 25 February 2018. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Sometimes five stars aren’t enough. Such was the case with the hypnotic New York star Melissa Errico’s triumphant solo UK debut at Zedel’s, 90 minutes of pure bliss. A vision in black with long […]
Into the Woods – Edinburgh Festival Fringe – Assembly Hall
Into the Woods continues at the Assembly Hall until 28 August. Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩ The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is never afraid of tackling the big shows – in musical theatre terms there are few bigger than Into the Woods. Being more widely-known since the film version, you can all […]
Fiasco Theater’s Into the Woods – cast changes at the Menier
Cast changes have taken place in Fiasco Theater’s innovative production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Into the Woods at London’s Menier Chocolate Factory. Harry Hepple (Pippin) plays the Baker, Steffan Lloyd-Evans (The Dancing Years) is Wolf/Cinderella’s Prince and Laura Tebbutt (Forbidden Broadway) steps into the role of the Baker’s Wife. They take over from original cast members Ben […]
Interview – Noah Brody on bringing Fiasco Theater’s Into The Woods to London
NOAH BRODY is co-artistic director with Ben Steinfeld of Fiasco Theater – a US-based actor-run ensemble that until recently specialised in workshopping and presenting small-scale productions of Shakespeare. That changed in 2013 when the group tackled their first full-scale musical: Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s fairytale mash-up Into the Woods. Fiasco’s much-reduced production ran for […]
Into the Woods – Menier Chocolate Factory
Into the Woods continues at the Menier Chocolate Factory, London until 17 September. Rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ I long ago lost count of how many times I’ve seen Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s twisted fairytale mash-up. I never tire of its jaunty, clip-cloppy theme (‘Teddy Bears’ Picnic’ meets ‘We’re Off to See […]
Rehearsals begin for Fiasco’s Into the Woods Menier debut
Rehearsals have begun for Fiasco Theater’s innovative production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Into the Woods at London’s Menier Chocolate Factory. The US theatre company’s production, featuring the original US cast, arrives in the UK fresh from critical success in New York where it received the 2015 Lucille Lortel Award for Best Revival. Cast […]
Into the Woods – West Yorkshire Playhouse
Into the Woods continues at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds until 25 June. Rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ West Yorkshire Playhouse and Opera North have chosen the perfect vehicle for a co-production in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s fairytale mash-up. Casting entirely from within the Chorus of Opera North gives artistic director James […]
Fiasco Theater’s hit Into the Woods to play the Menier Chocolate Factory
London’s Menier Chocolate Factory is to host US theatre company Fiasco Theater’s innovative production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods this summer. The production, which will feature the original US cast, will arrive in the UK fresh from critical success in New York where it received the 2015 Lucille Lortel Award for Best Revival. Using […]
Final 100 seats released for Bernadette Peters concert at Royal Festival Hall
As previously announced, the triple Tony, triple Drama Desk and Golden Globe Award-winning Broadway star Bernadette Peters will perform her first UK solo concerts in more than 15 years at the beginning of June 2016. The show’s producers have released the final 100 seats for the Royal Festival Hall date in London, commenting: “Recently we have received many ticket requests […]
Into the Woods – West Yorkshire Playhouse and Opera North collaborate
A major artistic collaboration between West Yorkshire Playhouse and Opera North comes to fruition this June as Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Into the Woods opens in Leeds. Bringing together two of Leeds’ key arts organisations for their first ever large scale co-production, it is directed by West Yorkshire Playhouse artistic director James Brining and performed […]
Interview – West Yorkshire Playhouse artistic director James Brining on flying cars and telling stories
Since returning to his hometown of Leeds and becoming artistic director of the West Yorkshire Playhouse, James Brining has directed The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, The Crucible, Enjoy, Talking Heads and Sweeney Todd – The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. He recently re-created Sweeney Todd for Welsh National Opera at the Wales Millennium […]
Into the Woods – Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
Into the Woods continues at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester until 16 January. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ Beloved by many, Stephen Sondheim’s much-revived exploration of storybook happy ever afters is, nonetheless, a middle-ranking entry in the pre-eminent US musical maestro’s canon – many places above his rare misfires but quite a few rungs below the […]
Interview – Gillian Bevan goes Into the Woods via Manchester
Officially opening this week at the Manchester Royal Exchange is a new production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s dark fairytale mash-up, Into the Woods. In the central role of The Witch is local lass GILLIAN BEVAN, who was born just seven miles down the A6 in Stockport. As one of the UK’s most experienced Sondheim proponents, […]
Guildford School of Acting – Into the Woods
Into the Woods is performed by the Guildford School of Acting 3rd Years at the Ivy Arts Centre, Guildford. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ The Guildford School of Acting’s love-in with the works of Stephen Sondheim – Into the Woods follows their summer productions of Anyone Can Whistle and […]
Bernadette Peters plays first UK solo concerts in more than 15 years
The triple Tony, double Drama Desk and Golden Globe Award-winning Broadway star Bernadette Peters will perform her first UK solo concerts in more than 15 years, returning to the Royal Festival Hall, London on Friday 3 June 2016 and playing her first ever date at the Opera House, Manchester on Sunday 5 June 2016. The […]
Into the Woods at Royal Exchange Manchester – Alex Gaumond and Gillian Bevan star
Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre’s associate artistic director Matthew Xia makes his main-stage debut this Christmas with his exploration of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Tony Award-winning fairy tale Into the Woods. As a composer and former BBC Radio 1Xtra presenter, DJ Excalibah, Xia’s passion for telling stories with music has been long held. Xia said: “The music and […]
Grimm! – Oper Graz, Austria
Grimm! continues in rep at the Oper Graz, Austria until April 2015. Star rating: 3 stars *** The Oper Graz, in a co-production with Next Liberty, the youth theatre located next door, presents the premiere of a new family musical penned by Peter Lund (book and lyrics) and Thomas Zaufke (music) entitled Grimm! Die Wahre Geschichte Von Rotkäppchen […]
