The Writers Theatre production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Into The Woods combines professional artistry with community theatre charm to create a very immediate and powerful version of this popular musical. Directed by Gary Griffin, one of the world’s leading interpreters of Sondheim, the cast features McKinley Carter as Jack’s Mother, Brianna Borger as the Baker’s Wife, and Bethany Thomas as the Witch, all of whom discuss the challenges of going into the Woods multiple times and making new discoveries every time you do. Featuring impertinent references to The Fantasticks; doing the Lord’s work; creating characters instead of types; heightening the immediacy and stakes; the danger of gateway Sondheim drugs; Borscht Belt energy; and an emphasis on the frequently-fraught (“fraught than I thought,” to quote another Sondheim show) relationships between parents and children. (Length 21:05) (Pictured, l to r: Bethany Thomas, Brianna Borger, and McKinley Carter in the Writers Theatre production of Into The Woods, directed by Gary Griffin. Photos by Michael Brosilow.)

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  1. austin

    Speaking of Vancouver character actors, Human IMDb, I worked with Malcolm “Virgon Delegate on the Quorum of Twelve” Stewart back in my summer stock days.

  2. Robin

    I love playing “Who Was That?” As an avid sci-fi fan, I often find myself playing a variation called “Spot the Vancouver Character Actor”, and I make a conscious effort to learn the names of favorite itinerant thespians. It’s gotten to the point that my friends sort of think of me as a human IMDB and will ask me about actors in things we watch before resorting to the internet. :-]

    (By the way, I recognize Mr. Morrison primarily from a short-lived show called Point Pleasant. He was really good.)

  4. Kurt Quinn

    Austin,
    Thanks so much for the “Just Showing Up” podcast, I can’t wait to see Mr. Morrison’s film. Especially home-hitting was the concept of thinking of the audition as the gig itself, allowing you to leave it behind and move onto the next project.

    Audition Story:
    I was doing a show with the wonderfully talented Michael Faulkner at A Noise Within in Glendale. Having been a huge RSC fan for years and years and years, I felt it was my duty to badger Michael incessantly about any possibility of upcoming auditions. I couldn’t believe my luck when Michael told me that RSC”s required Equity auditions were happening soon.

    I badgered, Michael gave me the info., I showed up – 80% in the bag!

    The remaining 20% of the audition was possibly the funnest “gig” I’ve ever done. I told a bad joke, did a monologue, played my banjo, and got to chat with two of my idols.

    You came to see Michael in the show a week or two later, recognized me in the lobby, and even remembered my name!

    Thanks so much for that, and here’s hoping for an opportunity to “show up” again.

    Kurt

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