INTO THE WOODS
by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine
Produced by Weathervane Playhouse, July 2009.
Directed by Matthew Trombetta
Sound Design by Tony Tambasco
Cast
Narrator/Mysterious Man .... Dennis Kholer
Cinderella .... Kirstin Flaglor
Jack .... Raymond Havey
Jack's Mother .... Belinda Paisley
Milky White .... Marissa Riegle
Baker .... Jonathan Bragg
Baker's Wife .... Katherine DeBoer
Cinderella's Stepmother .... Carolyn Clippinger
Florinda .... Maggie Taylor
Lucinda .... Lisa Anfield
Cinderella's Father .... Mike Hopper
Little Red Ridinghood .... Logan Baker
Witch .... Sara Michalski
Cinderella's Mother/Granny/Giant .... Carolyn Redman
Wolf/Cinderella's Prince .... Morgan McCann
Rapunzel .... Samantha Mastrian
Rapunzel's Prince .... Jesse Adam Koza
Steward .... Andrew Edward Thomas Jr.
Snow White .... Darien Crago
Sleeping Beauty .... Amanda Lynn Fannon
Swings & Understudies .... Amanda Lynn Fannon (Rapunzel u/s), Andrew Edward Thomas Jr. (swing), Carolyn Redman (Witch u/s), Darien Crago (swing)
Orchestra
Piano .... Cheridy Keller
Synthesizer .... Briana Keller
Clarinet .... Alex Petrak
Flute .... Samantha Stoker
Trombone .... Steven Angles
Trumpet .... Greg Taylor
Percussion .... Chris Boisvert
Violin .... Johann Bast
Violin .... Todd Sothern
Crew
Director .... Matthew Trombetta
Choreographer .... Erika Twining
Musical Director .... Cheridy Keller
Stage Manager .... Kelsey Rudiger
Sound Designer .... Tony Tambasco
Scenic Designer .... Adam Liston
Costume Designer .... Tory Depew
Lighting Designer .... Jennifer Sansfacon
Properties Manager .... Meghan Chandler
Into the Woods is more than a show, it is a cultural event. There are as many interpretations of Sondheim and Lapine's masterpiece as there have been productions of it, and Matthew Trombetta's attempt to build a consensus of what the show, and the wilderness itself, meant to the designers was a wonderful way of getting everyone on the same page. As the characters leave the safety of home for the dangers of the woods, they meet themselves for the first time, and as the happily ever after promised by the end of the first act begins to disintegrate, they all need to confront the destructive consequences of their youthful naivete.
Into the Woods is a treat for any sound designer. Much of the second act consists of sound effects, and the on-stage character's interactions with those. Since the Weathervane Playhouse isn't equipped with a fly space, the entire story of the Giant's attack, and eventual defeat, would need to be told through sound effects. Crafting these effects was some of the most precision work I have done, and it is a particular point of pride that Matthew and Erika told me this was one of the best, if not the best, sound design they'd heard at Weathervane.
Reviews by two TheatreVault.Com contributors: Krista Threadgill and Tahrea Maynard.
Death of the Narrator Effect: the death of the narrator at the hands of the Giantess. This was played through a speaker behind the house (which I also played the Giantess' voice through), and one of the advantages of mixing the show myself was that I got ot watch the audience look up for the non-existent Giantess and cringe at the sound of the Narrator hitting the ground. Without the bass boost I gave this through the house system, you don't get the full effect, but this should give you a decent idea about what it sounded like.
Death of the Giantess: the death of the Giantess is a complex moment. In our production, while the sound effect plays, I was mixing the voices of the actors through the mains, and the giantess through behind-the-house speakers, but as the Giantess stumbles about, under attack by the birds, I brought her in and out of the mains, and across my set of behind-the-house speakers. Along with the bass boost I gave the cue through the system, it produced a rather convincing effect of the Giantess stumbling around, under attack, followed by a bone shaking explosion as she hits the ground.
Cue Sheet: My cue sheet from the production (which only accounts for pre-recorded cues).