INTO THE WOODS

James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim take everyone’s favorite storybook characters and bring them together for a timeless, yet relevant, piece… and a rare modern classic. The Tony Award-winning book and score are both enchanting and touching. The story follows a baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King’s Festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the Baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a Witch’s curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse. Everyone’s wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results.

A work of giddy playfulness and moral seriousness, INTO THE WOODS forges a path from innocence into experience. – The New York Times

Returning to Farmers Alley Theatre as director is Leonard E. Sullivan (Ride the Cyclone) who received his BFA in Musical Theatre from Western Michigan University. With an impressive resume, some of his credits include Book of Mormon, the Hairspray National Tour, Broadway Bounty Hunter, and Punk Rock Girl! He is excited to be on the directing side of Into the Woods after acting in it twice, “It’s a show I’ve had the privilege of performing in twice as Jack. I’m also excited for this very talented cast and unique style of storytelling we are trying to accomplish. If you are a fan of the show or a first time watcher, it’s going to be new for the whole audience.”

Managing Artistic Director, Jeremy Koch gushes, “We are grateful to have Leonard back to direct. With his incredibly imaginative mind, I know that our audiences won’t see the same old fairy tale musical that’s been done before. This production will be exciting and different with actors playing multiple roles and bringing the story to life in unique and thrilling ways. The show will be mounted in the round, which means the audience will surround the actors on four sides making it more exciting and immersive for our audiences. They will accompany our actors right into the woods!”

Leonard will once again collaborate with brilliant Music Director, Brendan Vincent (Ride the Cyclone, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Come From Away). The dream cast is made up of stellar professionals making their debuts including: Dayna Dantzler (Bway: Waitress and The Book of Mormon), Shawn W. Smith (National Tours: Once and Waitress) and Eli Neslund (Off-Bway: Dutchman). Audiences can expect to see returning and local favorites like Denene Mulay (Come From Away), Carly Rose Mulay (Fun Home), Sydney Harrison (Jersey Boys and Beautiful), Braeden Davis (Ride the Cyclone and Beautiful), Emery Henderson (Ride the Cyclone and National Tour: Hairspray), plus Jay Berkow (Director of Music Theatre Performance at WMU) and Jack Austin (WMU 2026 Graduate and NBC’s The Voice Season 28). Into the Woods will also be supported by outrageously inventive designers plus solid stage managers and crew members.

“All of Farmers Alley Theatre’s wishes are being granted because we have been given such a gifted and accomplished group of artists to guide our audiences along a path of excitement and danger all while holding glass slippers and magic beans,” says Managing Artistic Director, Jeremy Koch. “Into the Woods might be Stephen Sondheim’s most popular title and is sure to delight our audiences but they better be prepared to use active listening because the show is almost entirely sung, and the lyrics are witty, overlapping, clever and complex. This isn’t a simple musical; it’s a brilliant, fast-paced Sondheim puzzle where each and every word has meaning. Tickets are disappearing faster than Cinderella at midnight so grab a ticket to see Farmers Alley’s first production of a fully scripted Sondheim show!”

Into the Woods will run for three weeks only from May 28th through June 14th, 2026. Due to popular demand, it has already extended, initially only set to run until June 7th. Performance days and times are Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30pm as well as Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm. For all performance times, check out our website. Tickets range from $52-$56, with student ticket pricing at $20 for all shows. Farmers Alley Theatre is proud to offer 15% off regular ticket prices for Military/Veterans and Teachers (please call the box office to request that discount and have ID ready to show upon arrival). $20 rush tickets for adults and $10 rush tickets for students are offered for all performances starting 1 hour prior to curtain (subject to availability; theatergoers must be present at the box office). Many of the performances are already completely sold out.

Into the Woods is generously supported by our Season Sponsor: The Schupan Family, our Season Equity Sponsor: The Tyler-Little Family Foundation, our Season Co-Sponsors: Jack and Andy Hopkins and First National Bank of Michigan, and by our show sponsors: Elizabeth Upjohn Mason, Nancy Ford Charles, Acrisure Auto-Owners Insurance, R. Vincent Lavieri, and Todd and Amy Sanford.

Into the Woods is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com