The cast features Olivier nominee Euan Morton (Taboo) as the puckish Narrator in the production that Kaufman reconceived for Kansas City audiences. The playwright and director of 33 Variations has created a bookend to the work that incorporates a small Victorian children's room nestled within a forest, which serves as the seed for the Stephen Sondheim-James Lapine musical that begins with "Once upon a time."
In a break with traditional casting, Morton does not double as the Mysterious Man. Actor Kip Niven portrays the latter role as well as Cinderella's Father. Into the Woods also features Brynn O'Malley (Wicked) as the Baker's Wife, Zachary Prince (Jersey Boys) as the Baker, Michele Ragusa (Young Frankenstein) as the Witch, Lauren Worsham (Spelling Bee) as Cinderella, Claybourne Elder (Road Show) as Cinderella's Prince/Wolf, Brandon Sollenberger as Rapunzel's Prince/Cinderella's Prince, Dana Steingold as Little Red Riding Hood, KC Comeaux as Jack and Lauren Braton as Rapunzel.
Completing the cast are Patrick DuLaney (Steward/Father), Katie Kalahurka (Stepsister), Katie Karel (Stepsister), Melinda MacDonald (Cinderella’s Stepmother), Tina Stafford (Jack's Mother/Cinderella's Mother/Granny/Giant) and Zachary Hoar.
Into the Woods has a creative team including Curtis Moore (music director), Daniel Pelzig (choreographer), Narelle Sissons (set designer), Clint Ramos (costume designer), Japhy Weideman (lighting designer) and Andre Pluess (sound designer).
Into the Woods features a Tony-winning score by Stephen Sondheim and Tony-winning book by James Lapine. The musical premiered on Broadway in 1987 at the Martin Beck Theatre starring Bernadette Peters, Chip Zien, Joanna Gleason, Kim Crosby and Robert Westenberg. A 2002 Broadway revival played the Broadhurst Theatre. In addition to 33 Variations, Kaufman earned a Tony nomination for his direction of I Am My Own Wife. As a playwright, he has authored The Laramie Project and Gross Indecencies: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde. Kansas City Rep will also stage Kaufman's Laramie Project: Ten Years Later, the epilogue to the 2000 Tectonic Theater Project docudrama based on the brutal murder of gay student Matthew Shepard in 1998. Over 100 regional theatres nationwide are expected to present the work on Oct. 12 to commemorate Shepard's death.
Into the Woods runs through Oct. 4. For tickets, visit KCRep.
