INTO THE WOODS and AS YOU LIKE IT official for Shakespeare in the Park- Page 2

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 4:24pm

Thanks for sharing the breakdown somethingwicked, I'd love to read how they are breaking down the witch and what age they list for the baker/baker's wife.

[Owen22]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 4:24pm

What based on the Regents Park production probably means is that its keeping the concept, which was quite extraordinary and moving. At the risk of giving a too slight description of it and making it sound trite, the narrator for this Woods is a modern little boy who has run away from home into some woods presumably near his house. Bored, he unpacks his knapsack and pulls out action figures and begins to tell a story to himself mixing up all the fairy tale characters. The story comes to life before our eyes. The reasons why he ran away come clear through the telling of the show (he seems to be very angry at the Baker's Wife) giving way to the most weeping-inducing finale of Into the Woods ever.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 4:26pm

Michael Bennett, here is the complete breakdown. It looks like they're casting The Baker and The Baker's Wife older than many people here seemed to think.

INTO THE WOODS
1st reh: 6/19/12. Runs at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park from 7/24-8/19.

Seeking (all roles are available):

Casting Directors’ note: “This is a physically demanding ensemble production on a multi-level stage. All cast members must be extremely comfortable with climbing stairs and with contributing to the aesthetics of this production’s universe outside of their individual roles, both through acting and physicality.”

Baker:
35+. Role for a performer who is equal parts actor and singer, as he carries the main conflict and emotion of the show. The Baker is an anxious but goodhearted man who feels somewhat powerless to create the life he wants. His charm and lovability come from his lack of status, his anxieties and his boy-next-door qualities. A reluctant hero with good intentions who is sometimes held back by a fear of being assertive or upsetting others. Ultimately learns that taking responsibility is the only way to serve his goals without harming others.

Baker's Wife:
30+. Driven by her strong desire to start a family at any cost. Quick on her feet and industrious of thought. She is a clever woman who manipulates her husband when necessary and is not willing to take a backseat in determining her own fate. Her story is largely about discovering how her actions affect the world beyond her own family. She is an everywoman. Role for an actress with emotional range and highly evolved comedic gifts.

The Witch:
30s-50s. Frightened, aggressive and possessive woman, still hung up on her childhood experiences. She is driven by an intense need for her world to be set right and for a sense of family and belonging as well as power and beauty. She wants it all, including emotional fulfillment, and is not afraid to use any means to get it. Trapped in a cycle of abuse that ultimately gives way to a moment of transcendence. Her transformation from Act 1 to Act 2 requires an actress with enormous vocal, emotional and physical range.

Narrator:
9-12. Seeking a young boy with strong musical, movement and acting skills. Unafraid to be the center of things. A sense of adventure and curiosity, but also a definite sense of self. This is HIS story. He is on stage throughout.

Jack:
Seeking actor 18+ to play early teens believably. Jack is a naïve teenager in the midst of puberty at its most awkward stage, acne and all, and discovering his sexuality. Full of life and possibilities. His spirit of adventure is often tempered by his fear of the world beyond his mother's apron strings.

Jack's Mother:
45+. Single mother who has raised her son under hardship. Working-class and unsentimental. Strong comedy, which conceals a tough broad. Not a fairy-tale old-lady mother.

Cinderella:
20s. An outsider in her own family, led by a strong sense of morals. Usually caring and kind, but with a bit of grit and the fortitude to learn from her struggles and come out stronger. At first a loner and a dreamer, she comes of age as she falls in love, suffers betrayal and ultimately takes responsibility for her own actions, wishes and desires. Not necessarily a Disney princess.

Cinderella's Stepmother:
40+. Used to an elevated level of comfort and status, and invested in retaining that life. Dry and angular. Role for a strong character actress with a little hauteur and edge as well as humor.

Florinda and Lucinda (The Stepsisters):
20s-30s. Full of character. Attractive in their folly. Witty. Most concerned with their own happiness. Long, lean and mean. Strong singers, strong dancers. Actors in these roles will cover other principal roles.

Prince / Wolf:
30s: Prince: A great sense of irony and pastiche needed. A film-star-like look, with the relevant narcissism. Wolf: Raw and compelling predator. Genuine sex appeal.

2nd Prince:
30s. Film-star-like look, with the relevant narcissism. Great sense of irony and pastiche.

Little Red Riding Hood:
Seeking actor 18+ to play early teens believably. Little Red is an impish teenager who is in the midst of puberty. She is discovering her sexuality and what it can do for her very quickly, yet she retains a level of innocence. Confident, spunky. Overindulges in everything, including food and sweets. Strident and no-nonsense. Full-figured a plus. Actor in this role will cover other principal roles.

Mysterious Man:
55+. A ghost-like presence. A man who has run away from his responsibilities, but has never escaped his own guilt. His conscience has led him to return to fix past mistakes, but not to an extent that leads him to directly engage in the action. NOT doubling with the narrator.

Rapunzel:
20s. In the first act, she is a fairy-tale siren and yearning beauty. In the second act, she becomes a neurotic, addicted, worn-down single mother of two. Actor in this role will cover other principal roles.

Granny:
40+. Seeking character actress to play Little Red Riding Hood’s granny. Granny is spunky and no-nonsense. Lives alone in the woods without fear. Doesn’t concern herself with how she comes off to others, either in appearance or behavior. Needs to be of the same brash world as Little Red. Actor in this role will cover other principal roles.

Cinderella’s Mother:
Late 20s – early 30s. Classic fairy-tale dead mother, at the age at which she died. Beautiful and serene. Held up in Cinderella’s memory as an example of perfect kindness and care. Actor in this role will cover other principal roles.

Steward:
30-50. Steward to the Prince. Officious. Determined to fulfill his duties at any cost. Actor in this role will cover other principal roles.

Updated On: 1/26/12 at 04:26 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 4:27pm

Baker is 35+, his Wife 30+.

As for the Witch:

The Witch:
30s-50s. Frightened, aggressive and possessive woman, still hung up on her childhood experiences. She is driven by an intense need for her world to be set right and for a sense of family and belonging as well as power and beauty. She wants it all, including emotional fulfillment, and is not afraid to use any means to get it. Trapped in a cycle of abuse that ultimately gives way to a moment of transcendence. Her transformation from Act 1 to Act 2 requires an actress with enormous vocal, emotional and physical range.
Into the Woods casting breakdown

[RippedMan]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 4:38pm

I hope they go back to the original Little Red and having someone who is chubby and comedic. The same goes for Jack. I'd love to see a tall Jack instead of the recent revival.

[Kad]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 4:41pm

The Little Red and Jack from the London revival match that.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 4:41pm

Well that breakdown specifically mentions "full figured" for Red and the girl in London was pretty hefty.

[TheaterAddict17]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 4:53pm

So excited for Into The Woods! Can't wait!

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 4:54pm

The narrator is a little boy? Age 9-12? Interesting.

As for the rest of the breakdown, it sounds great for a stage production. I'm sure the film version (if it happens) will go a bit younger (not a lot) with the Baker and His Wife. Maybe the Witch, too. And they'll cast an early-teen Little Red, maybe 13.

Updated On: 1/26/12 at 04:54 PM

[Owen22]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 4:56pm

Best, see my description above for the concept.

[blaxx]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 4:58pm

Or watch the video. That might be easier.

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 4:59pm

Thanks, Owen! I love it. Maybe they can use that for the film adaptation. I'd love to see it done that way.

EDIT: Blaxx, I'll check it out.

Updated On: 1/26/12 at 04:59 PM

[blaxx]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 5:04pm

You can watch it here:

http://www.digitaltheatre.com/production/details/into-the-woods

[AC126748]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 5:15pm

According to the most recent BWW article, this will be an "All-American cast" production, so hopes of Russell or Waddingham coming over are nil.

[blaxx]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 5:18pm

Too bad about Russell - she was really good playing this part.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 5:19pm

I still think Meryl should play the Witch.

[E.Davis]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 5:22pm

I have a feeling Streep might be the Witch, she was attached to something for The Park this summer.

[AC126748]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 5:22pm

I'd rather see Meryl play Jaques in As You Like It.

I never expected them to bring over the UK cast, but a lot of people on the previous thread mentioned it, and it would have been great to see Russell. At least her performance was preserved. I've been saying Martha Plimpton from day one, but as SW noted, it seems like pretty much everyone who does television is out. I like the Ambrose idea--for The Baker's Wife, that is; no interest in her as Cinderella--and her history with The Public makes it seem a logical choice.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 5:23pm

Michael Bennett, because of the extreme physicality required of the role in this production (which will only be elevated by the potential for severe weather amidst the heavy costuming she'll have to wear,) I have a feeling we're going to see an actress closer to the 30s age range as The Witch.

Sara Ramirez is an absolutely perfect fit for this incarnation, but she'll be unavailable because of GREY'S ANATOMY, unfortunately.

Updated On: 1/26/12 at 05:23 PM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 5:27pm

I'm sure if Streep wanted to do it, they'd modify the costume :)

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 5:31pm

Well of course! She would certainly make it an even bigger "event" than it already is. If they want a star in the Hannah Waddingham mold, though, they'd be fools not to get Toni Collette.

Also, Jesse Tyler Ferguson just tweeted the following:

@jessetyler (Jesse Tyler Ferguson)
I want to be The Baker so bad in "Into The Woods" @PublicTheaterNY this summer. Where could Mitchell mysteriously go for a month?

Updated On: 1/26/12 at 05:31 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 5:51pm

Toni Collette would be great as the Witch!

[jayinchelsea]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 9:05pm

Meryl Streep or Toni Collette, YES! Let's hope they get it right this time; the last revival was a dud, and a great production in New York might guarantee that the film gets made this time.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 9:13pm

I would just like to steer the conversation away from Into the Woods for a second to say that Lily Rabe is going to be OUTSTANDING as Rosalind in As You Like It.

[random person 112]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 9:21pm

Meryl would have been divine years ago for the witch, but now with her vocal range what it is, and not wanting to trouble her voice too much, she would work more as a mother to jack. That way she can sing, and still with a good performance steal the show. The witch is alittle much for her vocally.