Chicago Tribune - Highly Recommended
"...Herein, you'll find some of Sondheim's greatest songs. I'm going through a bit of an empty-nest crisis, so "Stay With Me" has me at "Don't you know what's out there in the world?," although the little girl in front of me was looking at her mother when Rapunzel sang the line, "I'm no longer a child. I wish to see the world." And, of course, you've got "No One is Alone," which many people find to offer balm after a bereavement or a breakup; Sondheim's most famous lyrical admonishment, "Children Will Listen," and, most complex of all, "No More," a great musical manifesto for anyone trying to activate their lives and put past trauma aside."
Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended
"...Now on a limited tour with several members of the Broadway cast and a couple of legit stage stars in Tony winners Stephanie J. Block (currently out requiring vocal rest, possibly to return for the second week of Chicago performances) and Gavin Creel, the production quite literally places Sondheim's music center stage. The orchestra appears just behind the performers, and the forest setting is depicted with partial, spare, tree trunks above them, hanging from the flies. The orchestra's presence reduces the playing space, placing even further emphasis on the performers, the music, the lyrics, as opposed to production values."
Chicago Reader - Recommended
"...There's peril in these woods: Giants drop from the sky as bakers, children, and even witches become trapped in vicious cycles of violence, unassisted by a "royal family" that's about as helpful as thoughts and prayers against a loaded assault weapon. There's also enchantment here, with outbursts of pure joy and plenty of comic relief throughout the production."
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...Do you love the fairy tales as told by The Brothers Grimm? Stories like “Rapunzel”, “Jack and the Beanstalk”, “Cinderella”, “Little Red Ridinghood” as well as Giants and Witches? If so, and you have never been witness to a production of “Into The Woods”, the glorious work of art with a book by James Lapine and lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim. If you think the Grimm Brothers were clever writers, then you aint seen anything yet! Sondheim was the greatest wordsmith to create musical theater, ever! This particular piece is his masterpiece! And while we just had a marvelous production at one of our local theaters, the Broadway In Chicago touring company’s production ranks with the best of the best!"
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"...This National Tour is brimming with gorgeous songs, side-splitting comedy and poignant morals and messages. Despite it being presented somewhat like a concert version of the full musical, there's a stunning Scenic Design by David Rockwell and brilliant, expressive Lighting by Tyler Micoleau. Andrea Hood's costumes are fairy tale modern, but colorful and effective. Throughout the production we find moments filled with sly naughtiness, hilarious hyperbole, lessons to be learned and lessons that bear repeating ("Children Will Listen," "No One is Alone"). This magical production will charm the child out of even the most hardened grownup. And, as the Baker's Wife sings, "That's what woods are for: for those moments in the woods." Enjoy and savor each and every moment in this magical production."
Buzznews.net - Highly Recommended
"...There’s so much to love about this definitive revival of Into the Woods. Anyone who’s ever had the misfortune of sitting through a bad community (or high school) production knows that when done poorly, it can be a slog. This production moves along at quite a clip in part to its staging, but it’s a welcomed pace. No moment or song, or sweet section of music overstays its welcome. This Into the Woods would make its creator proud."
Third Coast Review - Highly Recommended
"...The latest incarnation of Stephen Sondheim's and James Lapine's storied musical fable, Into the Woods, is making a magical appearance at the Nederlander Theatre through May 7. Brought to town courtesy of Broadway in Chicago, this production is the roadshow version of last year's acclaimed Broadway revival and brings with it several members of that cast. Expertly presented in a pared-down staging (the revival originally began as part of New York's Encores concert series), the show loses none of its powerful enchantments."
Chicago Culture Authority - Highly Recommended
"...We were in good hands, great hands, actually, with the understudies and the regular cast. This production highlights the rich humor of the show, with big laughs coming from Gavin Creel as the Wolf and especially Cinderella's Prince, which he plays with insouciant abandon and perhaps a sprinkle of Eric Trump; Katy Geraghty as a Little Red Ridinghood who knows the score; and Kanagawa, who brings the marvelously articulated cow puppet he lugs around the stage to hilariously baleful life."
NewCity Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...This outing of "Into The Woods" travels well. The elegant, minimal set is little more than a few stage trees that move up and down, a table with a tea set and a bed. The crackerjack orchestra handles Stephen Sondheim's catchy but rhythmically complicated score from on stage. It's up to the cast, under the direction of Lear deBessonet, to create the world they rove through and the audience to fill in through imagination the fairytale settings we know from storybooks and films. "Into The Woods" may have more plot twists than any other musical ever written, but it moves quickly and comprehensibly."