Stage and Cinema - Recommended
"...Directed by Lear deBessonet, Into the Woods features a presentational-style of acting wherein actors, often outward-facing at the front few feet of the stage, play less to each other and more to the audience. Similarly, actors don't so much embody their characters as "wear" them like costumes. In spite of this, some performances still manage to shine quite brightly, while others feel cartoonishly contrived as actors ham it up and hold (fingers crossed) for laughs."
LA Splash - Highly Recommended
"...Based on beloved Grimm fairy tales that most of us treasured as we were growing up, INTO THE WOODS proved irresistible to famed music composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim – and so it was only to be expected that, in collaboration with James Lapine, the iconic musical would be born. Intertwined among many of the most famous fairy tales of all time – “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Jack and the Beanstalk,” “Rapunzel,” “Cinderella” – INTO THE WOODS weaves a fascinating new story from the remnants of the old."
Stage Scene LA - Highly Recommended
"...Stunningly fresh takes on iconic roles distinguish the the newest Broadway revival of composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim and book writer James Lapine’s Into The Woods, now playing at the Ahmanson, from the myriad productions that have preceded it."
Entertainment Weekly - Recommended
"...While the fairy-tale trappings often get all the attention, it's the show's second act and the uplifting, heartrending message of "No One Is Alone" that make it a singular entry in the musical theater canon. "Sometimes people leave you halfway through the woods," wrote Sondheim. Those lyrics hit all the harder in the wake of Sondheim's passing. But he followed them with "Do not let it grieve you, no one leaves for good." How lucky are we then, that with his body of work and revivals such as this, that he will never truly leave us?"
Stage Raw - Highly Recommended
"...Once upon a time, in the far-off kingdom of Los Angeles, the touring production of Stephen Sondheim's twisted musical fairytale Into the Woods arrived on the stage of CTG's Ahmanson Theatre. After six months on Broadway starring Tony-winning veterans like Sara Bareilles and Brian d'Arcy James, Into the Woods comes to SoCal sporting a new cast line-up and the same four fairytales by the Brothers Grimm: "Jack and the Beanstalk," "Cinderella," "Rapunzel," and "Little Red Riding Hood." The show weaves these classic capers together into one shared fantastical land, allowing the fairytale protagonists to bump into one another as they chase their happily ever afters-but the story is far from over when they get their happy endings."
Ticket Holders LA - Highly Recommended
"...Into the Woods will always be something I conjure in my head whenever I consider the glories of live performance as the genre of musical comedy began to transform into the complexities and innovations of contemporary musical theatre late in the 20th century-and this incredible revival of the great Sir Stephen's groundbreaking pioneer will surely now be the first thing I envision."
Its Not About Me - Highly Recommended
"...But I absolutely loved this new version, which is the National Tour of the recent very successful Broadway run. As campy as the show is in general, this one seems to be a bit more so than the other renditions; every actor seems to be hamming it up, in a good way, which makes it even more amusing."
The Hollywood Times - Highly Recommended
"...The highlights in a strong ensemble are Katy Geraughty as Little Red Riding hood, David Patrick Kelly as the Mysterious Narrator, and Stephanie J. Block as The Baker's Wife. As Little Red Ridinghood, Katy Geraughty is anything but sweet and innocent. Instead, she is a bit of a terror, demanding what she wants and usually getting it. From the Baker's scrumptious creations to her triumph over the Wolf, she holds the stage with a sweeping comic presence that never falters."