Into the Woods: The Public eyes Broadway

The Public Theater's upcoming Shakespeare in the Park's production of Sondheim's and Lapine's Tony Award winning musical Into the Woods, may be heading to Broadway according to Michael Riedel of the New York Post.

Riedel reports that the Public is seeking to raise the funds necessary for a possible Broadway transfer and has asked agents to negotiate a possible 20 week extension of the actors current contracts in preparation for such a move.

If the move goes ahead, it will be follow other recent transfers of Shakespeare in the Park productions to Broadway. 'The Merchant of Venice', starring Al Pacino as 'Shylock' and Lily Rabe as 'Portia' transferred in 2010, and a revival of the musical 'Hair' moved to Broadway in 2011.

Directed by Timothy Sheader, with co-direction by Liam Steel, the Shakespeare in the Park production of Into the Woods opens at the Delacorte Theateron 9 Aug 2012, following previews from 23 Jul 2012, and runs through to 25 Aug 2012.

The cast features three-time Academy Award nominated actress Amy Adams as 'Baker's Wife,' Tony Award-winner Donna Murphy as the 'Witch,' Jack Broderick (Narrator), Gideon GlickCooper Grodin (Rapunzel's Prince), Ivan Hernandez (Cinderella's Prince/Wolf), Tina Johnson (Granny), Josh Lamon (Steward), Jessie Mueller (Cinderella), Laura Shoop (Cinderella's Mother) and Tess Soltau (Rapunzel).

Casting for the roles of 'The Baker,' 'Little Red' and the 'Mysterious Man' is still to be announced.

Into the Woods: A witch's curse condemns the Baker and his Wife to a life without children. They embark on a quest to find the four items required to break the spell: the cow as white as milk, the cape as red as blood, the hair as yellow as corn, and the slipper as pure as gold. Will they succeed? And what happens after 'happily ever after?' A reimagining of the classic fairytales: Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella.

The creative team features sets by John Lee Beatty and Soutra Gilmour, lighting by Natasha Katz, costumes by Emily Rebholz and sound by Acme Sound Partners.

The Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary season, each year presents two theatrical productions for free at Central Park's Delacorte Theater. This year the productions are Shakespeare's As You Like it and Stephen Sondheim's and James Lapine's Tony Award winning musical Into the Woods.