NMU Presents 'Into the Woods' Musical

Northern Michigan University Theatre and Dance will present Into the Woods, a fantasy musical by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, Sept 25-27 and Oct 2-4. This "darkly enchanting" production blends familiar fairy tale characters with profound themes of desire, consequence and hope.

"Into the Woods begins with characters everyone recognizes, like Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk and Little Red Riding Hood, but Act II gets, as most Sondheim pieces do, much more mature and more personal," said director Paul Truckey. "Everybody goes into the woods at some point in their life, and this show explores what happens when you do."

Along with its emotional resonance, Into the Woods delivers plenty of comedy. The pompous, over-the-top princes are audience favorites, and the intertwining plotlines keep the action fast-paced and surprising. Truckey said the show begins with a wish and ends with a wish, reminding audiences of both the optimism and the risks that come with chasing dreams. He explained that this shift is what makes the piece so powerful.

"The first act shows characters who are almost one-dimensional in their goals; they want something, and they go after it," he said. "But the second act transforms them into three-dimensional figures. We see them wrestle with grief, responsibility and how to move forward when life doesn't turn out the way they imagined."

More than three decades after its Broadway debut, Into the Woods remains timely. Its message about community, resilience and facing the unknown strikes a chord with modern audiences navigating their own challenges. The blend of humor, tragedy and hope ensures that the story speaks to all ages, offering both entertainment and reflection.

This production also highlights the strength and growth of NMU Theatre and Dance. The department welcomed 60 new freshmen this fall, it's largest incoming class to date, which is a testament to its continued success and reputation.

"The cast is full of seniors down to freshmen," said Truckey. "They have fabulous voices and are great actors; just incredible to work with all around. We're doing incredible things here at the Forest Roberts Theatre. All the shows we put on are just terrific every year, and we're doing more of them. The quality of kids that we're getting now in the BFA programs is just amazing, and our audience support has always been absolutely tremendous."

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m., with a 1 p.m. sensory-friendly Theatre For All matinee Saturday, Sept 27, and an additional 1 p.m. regular matinee on Oct 4. Tickets are $25 for the general public; $22 for NMU employees, seniors, and military; $15 for youth; and $5 for NMU students. They can be purchased at nmu.universitytickets.com.