For the first time, two of Queensland’s biggest storytellers unite for a spectacular season close, as Opera Queensland and Queensland Theatre Company bring Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Tony Award-winning Into the Woods to QPAC’s Glasshouse Theatre from 11–21 November, and Toowoomba’s Empire Theatre on 3 and 4 December.

Cinderella, Jack, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and a Baker and his Wife venture beyond the safety of their familiar stories and into a mysterious forest, where wishes come true, fairy tales collide and happily-ever-after comes with consequences.

Darkly funny, deeply human and packed with Sondheim’s unforgettable music, Into the Woods explores what happens when we finally get what we wished for and discover that the story doesn’t end there.

Directed by Opera Queensland CEO & Artistic Director Patrick Nolan, the production brings together a stellar Australian A-List cast of musical theatre and opera performers, including Amy Lehpamer, Ali McGregor, Kanen Breen, Justin Smith, Nina Korbe, Tom Oliver and Carla Beard, accompanied live by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.

For Nolan, the calibre of the ensemble is matched by the extraordinary demands of Sondheim’s score.

“Sondheim never wastes a word, and he never wastes a note. He’s renowned for being a composer who is precise about the relationship between language and music. There’s a rigour to the music that places a lot of demands on the performers, so it’s wonderful to have such an incredible mix of talent in this cast,” says Nolan.

“To bring all of these people together and to have Queensland audiences experience what they can do with Sondheim’s music is really special. It’s going to be an incredible group of performances and audiences are going to be blown away by what this cast can do.”

Queensland Theatre Company Chief Executive Criena Gehrke says the production is a chance to bring together two major Queensland arts organisations and demonstrate what can happen when their creative strengths meet on one stage.

“This production is about more than presenting a great musical, it’s about showing what happens when Queensland’s major companies unite their creative strengths,” Gehrke says.

“Queensland Theatre Company brings its theatrical mastery, and Opera Queensland its musical tradition. Joined together, we’re creating something truly magical.”

Minister for Education and the Arts John-Paul Langbroek said this exciting collaboration between major Queensland arts organisations would deliver a world-class production for audiences in Brisbane and Toowoomba.

“The Crisafulli Government invests in our state’s arts companies to deliver enriching arts experiences for all Queenslanders, a key priority of our 10-year arts and cultural strategy, Queensland’s Time to Shine.

“Touring Into the Woods to Toowoomba’s Empire Theatre will increase regional communities’ access to this exceptional work, while encouraging intra- and interstate visitors to experience this special production.

“It is wonderful to see Opera Queensland and Queensland Theatre together engaging the services of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra to present a production of this scale and quality, while showcasing the talent of so many Queensland creatives.”

Nearly four decades after its Broadway debut, Into the Woods continues to find new audiences through its deceptively simple fairytale premise and very human questions about desire, responsibility, family and consequence.

The production is among the first major works to take to the stage at QPAC’s Glasshouse Theatre, before travelling to Toowoomba’s Empire Theatre for performances in December.

The production’s world takes shape through the set and costumes designed by Elizabeth Gadsby and Charles Davis. Crafted by Opera Queensland’s wardrobe team, the costumes feature detailed handwork and offer audiences a richly imagined take on characters they think they know. The set brings the woods to life with shimmering green trees surrounding a multi-purpose house, while lighting by Alexander Berlage and video design by Craig Wilkinson transform the stage throughout the story.

Sondheim’s intricate score is brought to life by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra alongside some of Australia’s leading musical theatre and opera performers. Into the Woods invites audiences to step beyond happily-ever-after and discover what lies on the other side.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit Into the Woods Tickets.

Opera Queensland, Queensland Theatre Company and Queensland Symphony Orchestra are supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.

ENDS

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