Into the Woods – Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Book by James Lapine Programme – Season 2019/20

The legendary composer and lyricist of musical theater Stephen Sondheim and great author James Lapine’s masterly and multi-awarded musical Into the Woods premieres in Greece in a big production of the Greek National Opera’s Alternative Stage. A dark coming-of-age fairy tale, full of enrapturing melodies, constant overturns, disarming humour and an emotive atmosphere, Into the Woods comes to the GNO Alternative Stage at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, in the approved version for piano and percussion, in two cycles, in February 2020.                                                                                                                               The musical direction and music teaching are by conductor Stathis Soulis, and the direction and translation bear the stamp of Dimitris Bogdanos, one of the most charismatic and creative composers in his generation. Lyrics are translated by Julia Diamantopoulou.

Into the Woods, the musical, first premiered at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego in 1986 and has since then enjoyed a spectacular trajectory thanks to its unsurpassable music and its masterly libretto. It was honoured with three Tony awards in 1988 and triumphed on Broadway and West End. It was also transferred to the big screen by Rob Marshal in 2014 and still continues to enchant audiences across the world with its constant anniversary revivals.