Like many musical theatre kids, Joaquina Kalukango's first exposure to Into the Woods was in high school, and she only saw the first act of the show. So as an adult, when she finally saw the full show, she had an intense experience: "I was weeping at the end," she recalls. 

Now Kalukango is playing the Witch at the Broadway revival of Into the Woods at the St. James Theatre, beginning December 16 and until the show closes January 8. Kalukango takes over for a number of esteemed actresses who have played the Witch in this new production; she succeeds Patina Miller and Montego Glover. And Kalukango also had Bernadette Peters, Vanessa Williams, Phylicia Rashad, Donna Murphy, and Heather Headley on her brain as she's stepping into the Witch's cape.

"[They're] people who I love and admire," she says. "And to know that they're all uniquely different is really exciting to me. Because that means anybody can come in here and do this role. So it's just open and endless and beautiful. I love it."

Below, Kalukango shares with Playbill about how the show has changed for her since she's become a mother.