Directed by James Ortiz and Claire Karpen, with associate direction by Devin Dunne Cannon, The Woodsman will officially open Jan. 18 for a run through Feb. 22.
Back following a sold-out, three-week engagement at 59E59 Theaters, The Woodsman features music by Edward W. Hardy and lyrics by Jennifer Loring.
The cast of nine includes Ben Bass, Will Gallacher, Alex J. Gould, Amanda Lederer, Lauren Nordvig, James Ortiz, Eliza Simpson, Meghan St. Thomas and Sophia Zukoski, who are accompanied by composer-violinist Edward W. Hardy.
The Woodsman, according to press notes, "is the untold story of Oz's Tin Woodsman, the woman he loved, and the witch that would stop at nothing to keep them apart. A lonely woodsman from the Land of Oz must embark on a harrowing journey to protect the love of his life from her evil guardian, the Wicked Witch of the East. Through puppetry, movement, and song, Strangemen & Co. presents a hauntingly beautiful and ultimately heartbreaking twist on the forgotten writings of L. Frank Baum."
The Woodsman has scenic design by Liz Lundberg, costume design by Molly Seidel, lighting design by Catherine Clark, sound design by Adam Salberg and set and puppet design by James Ortiz. It is associate-produced by Rebecca Black.
The Woodsman, a recipient of the 2014 Jim Henson Foundation Grant, premiered at Brooklyn’s Standard Toykraft in 2012 followed by a production at the Ars Nova Ant Fest in 2013. It transferred to 59E59 Theaters in January 2014 for a three-week, sold-out run. The Woodsman is one of the only shows in the theatre's history to make a return engagement.
59E59 Theaters is located at 59 East 59 Street between Park and Madison Avenues. For more information, visit TheWoodsmanPlay.com or StrangemenCompany.com.