By Shari Barrett
Into the Woods is a musical mashup of several Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault fairy tales, exploring the consequences of the characters’ wishes and quests, including Cinderella and her Prince, Little Red and the Wolf, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel and her Prince, all centered around the Witch and the Baker and his Wife as they quest to begin a family (the original beginning of The Grimm Brothers’ Rapunzel). All the stories meld together thanks to the artistry of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, whose score is one of the most difficult to perform due to the complicated phrasing and speed. But guided by director Elijah Green, with choreography by Danielle Jensen and music direction by Will Nazareno, the sixteen cast members are perfectly matched to their roles, making the production hilarious, musically glorious, attention-grabbing, and brilliantly staged from start to finish.
At the musical’s center is the Witch (Minque Taylor who shines during her solo “Children Must Listen”) who sets the Baker (Ramón Garcia) and his Wife (standout singer Rachel Richins) on a quest for four items to lift the childless curse she placed on them. The Baker and his Wife’s duet “It Takes Two” celebrates their competition as well as support of each other as they search in the woods to find these items from the other main characters, each of whom is on their own journey to get what they want.
Jack (Aydin Washington) is sent by his financially struggling Mother (Ariella Salinas Fiore) into the woods to sell his beloved pet cow companion, Milky White, who no longer gives them any milk. To gain the first item needed in his quest, the Baker tricks Jack into selling his cow for “magic beans.” And of course, those beans lead to the growth of the beanstalk which Jack climbs up to steal two prized “golden” items from the Giant, causing the Giant’s wife to descend in Act 2 to get her revenge on Jack and the entire town.
On his journey, Jack also meets Little Red (the impeccably-animated Fiona Okida) whose stubbornness challenges him at every step along her way to Granny’s with treats from the Baker, all of which she consumes on her journey there. Her meet up with the Wolf (suave and alluring Frankie Nieman, who shares the role with Elliott Santos) is enchanting as he sings “Hey Little Girl” in his attempt to get close to her. And in all the commotion, the Baker manages to steal Little Red’s beloved red vest as item #2 in his quest.
The two handsome Princes, each pursuing the woman of his dreams, are portrayed by Frankie Nieman as Cinderella’s Prince and Elliott Santos as Rapunzel’s Prince who harmonize comically and beautifully as they let us see into their character’s personalities and foibles while singing about the “Agony” of not getting what they want. The women they are pursuing, Cinderella (Jayla Marie Bryant who shines singing “On the Steps of the Palace”) and Rapunzel (Clara Darlington) both long to escape from their entrapped lives – Cinderella working as a maid for her Stepmother and Stepsisters (evil and comically-perfect Lyndsay Palmer; tall and vivacious Vivian Oxley and Sophia Joy), and Rapunzel locked in a tower by her mother the Witch. The Baker’s Wife manages to get some of Rapunzel’s long blonde locks and one of Cinderella’s shoes as items needed in their quest.
Act I ends with everyone getting exactly what they want so their “happily ever after” takes place. But Act 2 deals with the reality of what it means to get what you want – and then not wanting it any longer. So though Into the Woods may sound like a children’s show, be warned that this is an adult treatment of children’s characters and Act 2 deals heavily with adult themes such as adultery, abandonment, and death – with a total run time of almost 3 hours (with one intermission). And due to acoustic design limitations, sit in the center of the audience to best appreciate all the talented singers in this phenomenal production.
Performances continue on Friday and Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2pm through October 18 at the Morgan-Wixson Theatre, 2627 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica 90405. Tickets run $25-$35 available online at https://ci.ovationtix.com/1221, via email to boxoffice@morgan-wixson.org, or at the box office. Talkbacks with the Cast and Creative Team take place on Friday, October 2 and Sunday, October 11.
ArtsUP! LA presents the world premiere of Alex in Wonderland, a musical inspired by Lewis Carroll’s beloved classic, written and directed by Laurie Grant. The story follows Alex as he tumbles down the rabbit hole into a topsy-turvy world filled with unforgettable characters, including the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, the Caterpillar, the Cheshire Cat, and, of course, the Queen of Hearts!
With music direction by Laurie Grant and Devin Weitz, the story comes to life through a lively collection of iconic songs spanning the 1960s to the present day. Together, the funny and heartwarming script and memorable music bring energy, humor, and emotion to Alex’s journey, making the family-friendly Alex in Wonderland a joyful celebration of friendship, individuality, and finding the courage to be yourself.
The cast features Rex Lewis-Clack, the blind and autistic pianist and vocalist hailed as a musical savant by “60 Minutes” as the Narrator, along with other members of Rex & Friends, a remarkable performance ensemble of uplifting neurodiverse and disabled artists, including Julio Hoyos (Alex), Yaro Calderon (The White Rabbit), drummer August McAdoo (Mr. Mellow Yellow the Caterpillar), Patrick Storey (Mr. Cheshire Cat), Alan Davis (The Mad Hatter), Igor Zaninovich (Mr. March Hare), Olena Calderon (The Queen of Hearts), with Gaby Gutierrez on Electric Harp.
Imaginative set design by Joyce Hutter, a puppet designer, storyteller, and the artistic director of Strings & Things Puppet Theatre, brings the magic of the story to life, complemented with lighting design by Doug Gabrielle, sound design by Laurie Grant, and props design by Aden Calderon & Devin Weitz.
Fall down the rabbit hole with Rex & Friends in Alex in Wonderland from October 16 – 25, 2026 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m. at ArtsUP! LA’s theater, The Blue Door, 9617 Venice Blvd., Culver City 90232. General admission tickets are $20 (plus service fee) available online at https://www.artsupla.org/ with discounts offered at the box office for veterans, seniors, and students with proper ID.
