When you’re young you’re afraid not to wander off into the woods. Once you’re old, you wish for it. The masterly and Tony-award-winning musical Into the Woods by leading composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim and the great writer James Lapine returns to the GNO Alternative Stage, at the SNFCC, in the new approved version for piano and percussion. From 14 December 2023 and for nineteen performances through 7 January 2024, one of the finest musicals of all times is inviting you to wander off into a forest of desires and wishes, along with the heroes of the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm, Charles Perrault, and Walt Disney. Off into the forest!
Into the Woods is a dark tale of coming-into-age, full of fascinating melodies, constant plot twists, disarming humour and an evocative atmosphere. The Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Jack and his Beanstalk, and Rapunzel all wander off deep into the woods and get involved in a modular story that reverses their known paths and evolves in a totally unpredictable and gripping way, exactly like life.
The musical direction and coaching has been undertaken by conductor Stathis Soulis, while the direction and Greek translation bears the stamp of Dimitris Ayiopetritis Bogdanos, one of the most charismatic and creative directors of his generation. The song lyrics have been rendered into Greek by Julia Diamantopoulou. With the participation of an excellent cast of distinguished actors and singers, accompanied on piano by Christos Sakellaridis and on percussion by Theo Vazakas and Costas Seremetis.