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Into The Woods Getting New Treatment from Composer and Writer

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Update: Sondheim walked back some of the rumored changes in a clarification. We’ll see what the final version looks like this Xmas.

Disney has a movie version of Stephen Sondheim’s “Into The Woods” musical currently in production. It has a great list of names starring and on the crew. Included in the production are original composer Stephen Sondheim and the original writer James Lapine. So, when Sondheim mentions at a recent master class that the movie will be changing around some significant portions of the stage version for the movie musical, you have to believe that the film is in good hands.

According to a story in Broadway.com,

“‘You will find in the movie that Rapunzel does not get killed’ Sondheim revealed to the attendees, ‘and the Prince does not sleep with the Baker’s Wife.’ Additionally, the composer revealed that the number “Any Moment” has been ‘probably cut.’ He went on to say, ‘I won’t tell you what happens, but we wrote a new song to cover it.’ Sondheim also discussed Disney’s objections to the sexual nature of the Wolfe and Little Red Riding Hood’s story, suggesting that those scenes may be a bit more tame than on stage”

I don’t think anyone is surprised that Disney would request some of the less child friendly elements of the play be removed. If Sondheim and Lapine agreed to do the project, they must have known that too and are confident the movie will still retain the spirit of the original.

Disney’s Into the Woods is scheduled to hit theaters this Christmas.

Below the cut is a list of many of the big named actors from the stage and screen who will be in the film:

Read More »Into The Woods Getting New Treatment from Composer and Writer

First Picture of Meryl Streep as The Witch from Disney’s Into The Woods

Disney’s production of the feature film musical “Into the Woods” has just started production. I’ve been waiting for the first image from the set to drop, and here it is. Meryl Streep as the Witch: Meryl Streep ventures “Into the Woods” as the Witch who… Read More »First Picture of Meryl Streep as The Witch from Disney’s Into The Woods

Disney Rolls Film on Into the Woods All-Star Musical

into-the-woods-album-obcrI’ve long looked forward to a movie musical production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods;” however, I did not expect Disney to be the studio to take it on. The subject matter does feature familiar Disney territory of fairytales, but while the stories are familiar kid tales, the situations are sometimes very adult. Never-the-less, Disney’s “Into the Woods” kicked off production last week, featuring an award-winning production team and all-star ensemble cast.

Rob Marshall, the talented filmmaker behind the Academy Award®-winning musical “Chicago” and Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” will direct the film. Legendary composer Stephen Sondheim will pen an all-new song for the big-screen adaptation. I can listen to the Broadway version of Into the Woods all day.

“Into the Woods” is a modern twist on the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tales, intertwining the plots of a few choice stories and exploring the consequences of the characters’ wishes and quests. This humorous and heartfelt musical follows the classic tales of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel—all tied together by an original story involving a baker and his wife, their wish to begin a family and their interaction with the witch who has put a curse on them.

The all-star ensemble cast below the jump:Read More »Disney Rolls Film on Into the Woods All-Star Musical