Encores! NewsNeil Patrick Harris Joins Encores! Into the Woods
The Hedwig and the Angry Inch Tony winner has stepped in for the previously announced Christian Borle.
By
Logan Culwell-Block
April 13, 2022
Neil Patrick Harris
Tony-winning TV and stage star Neil Patrick Harris has joined the cast of the upcoming New York City Center Encores! production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Into the Woods. The Hedwig and the Angry Inch star replaces the previously announced Christian Borle as The Baker for the production, running May 4-15.
A Tony winner for his performance in the 2014 revival of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Harris' Broadway credits include Proof, Cabaret, and Assassins. The How I Met Your Mother star also hosted the Tony Awards twice, in 2011 and 2012.
Harris joins a cast that includes Heather Headley as the Witch; Sara Bareilles as the Baker's Wife; Julia Lester as Little Red; Jordan Donica as Rapunzel's Prince; Shereen Pimentel as Rapunzel; Cole Thompson as Jack; Denée Benton as Cinderella; Gavin Creel as the Wolf and Cinderella's Prince; Annie Golden as Cinderella's Mother, Grandmother, and the Giant's Wife; Ann Harada as Jack's Mother; David Patrick Kelly as the Narrator and Mysterious Man; Tiffany Denise Hobbs as Lucinda; Brooke Ishibashi as Floridna; Kennedy Kanagawa as Milky White; Lauren Mitchell as Cinderella's Stepmother; and David Turner as the Steward.
Encores! Artistic Director Lear deBessonet will helm the production, with choreography by Lorin Latarro and music direction by Rob Berman.
With a book and direction by Lapine and a score by Sondheim, Into the Woods originally opened at Broadway's Martin Beck Theatre November 5, 1987, playing 765 performances before closing September 3, 1989. The original Broadway company boasted Bernadette Peters, Chip Zien, Robert Westenberg, Joanna Gleason, Tom Aldredge, Barbara Bryne, Kim Crosby, Chuck Wagner, and Ben Wright. The musical won Tonys for Best Book, Best Score, and Best Actress in a Musical (Gleason). The 2002 revival—starring Vanessa Williams, Laura Benanti, Stephen DeRosa, Gregg Edelman, Kerry O'Malley, and Christopher Sieber—played 18 previews and 279 regular performances at the Broadhurst Theatre. Meryl Streep headed the cast of the film version.
The Sondheim score features such tunes as "Agony," "On the Steps of the Palace," "Children Will Listen," "Giants in the Sky," "No One Is Alone," and the title tune.
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From Screen to Stage and Back Again! Check Out These Highlights From Neil Patrick Harris' Show Biz Career
From Screen to Stage and Back Again! Check Out These Highlights From Neil Patrick Harris' Show Biz Career
The ever-busy Neil Patrick Harris, who won the 2014 Tony Award for his performance in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, is headed back to TV in his new hour-long TV variety show "Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris," which will premiere Sept. 15 on NBC. Harris — who rose to fame as the young star of "Doogie Howser, M.D." — has had quite a stage career in addition to his success on screen. Here's a look back!
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Harris in the 1997 La Jolla Playhouse production Rent.
Emily Bergl and Neil Patrick Harris in the 1998 Old Globe Theatre production Romeo and Juliet.
Patti LuPone and Neil Patrick Harris in the 2001 San Francisco Symphony concert production Sweeney Todd.
2002: Neil Patrick Harris In the Broadway play Proof.
Neil Patrick Harris as the Emcee in the Broadway musical Cabaret.
Harris and company in the 2004 Broadway musical Assassins.
Joan Marcus
James Barbour and Harris in the 2004 Broadway musical Assassins.
Josh Radnor and Neil Patrick Harris in the 2004 Los Angeles production of The Paris Letter.
Neil Patrick Harris, Lawrence Pressman, Josh Radnor, Patricia Wettig and Ron Rifkin in the 2004 Los Angeles production The Paris Letter.
Harris and Cassidy Janson in the 2005 London production tick, tick...BOOM!
Tee Jaye, Neil Patrick Harris and Cassidy Janson in the 2005 London production tick, tick...BOOM!
Neil Patrick Harris, Laurie Metcalf and Len Cariou in the 2006 Los Angeles production All My Sons.
Neil Patrick Harris and Len Cariou in the 2006 Los Angeles production All My Sons.
Harris and Kimberly Williams-Paisley in the 2006 Hollywood Bowl special event Amadeus Live.
Neil Patrick Harris and Craig Bierko in the 2011 concert production of Company
Neil Patrick Harris and Jon Cryer in the 2011 concert production of Company
Christina Hendricks and Neil Patrick Harris in the 2011 concert production of Company
Neil Patrick Harris and Patti LuPone in the 2011 concert production of Company
Neil Patrick Harris in Company with the New York Philharmonic, 2011.
Neil Patrick Harris (center) and cast members from Sister Act perform in the opening number.
Harris with Mario Cantone, Michael Cerveris and James Barbour in the 2012 Assassins reunion concert.
Harris and Michael Cerveris in the 2012 Assassins reunion concert
Neil Patrick Harris
Harris and Mike Tyson at the 2013 Tony Awards
Harris hosting the 2013 Tony Awards
Derek DelGaudio, Helder Guimarães and Neil Patrick Harris meet the press to discuss Nothing To Hide, directed by Harris.
Harris in Hedwig and the Angry Inch on Broadway
Lena Hall and Harris in Hedwig and the Angry Inch on Broadway
Harris in Hedwig and the Angry Inch on Broadway
Neil Patrick Harris at the Hedwig and the Angry Inch opening night curtain call.
Joseph Marzullo/WENN
Lena Hall and Neil Patrick Harris at the Hedwig and the Angry Inch opening night curtain call.
The cast at the Hedwig and the Angry Inch opening night curtain call.
John Cameron Mitchell and Neil Patrick Harris at the Hedwig and the Angry Inch opening night curtain call.
John Cameron Mitchell, Michael Mayer, Lena Hall, Neil Patrick Hrris, Stephen Trask, and Spencer Liff at the Hedwig and the Angry Inch opening night after party.
Neil Patrick Harris, Winner of the 2014 Drama Desk Award for Best Actor in a Musical
Neil Patrick Harris, Winner of the 2014 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical
Joseph Marzullo/WENN
Neil Patrick Harris, Nathaniel Motulsky as Little NPH and Nicole Scherzinger on "Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris"