Into the Woods theater adventure at the Morgan-Wixon Sept 26th-Oct 18th- Preview, Tickets

October 1, 2026 todd elliot

The Morgan-Wixson Theatre’s Into The Woods is a must-see whimsical adventure and a profound reflection on the choices we make.

Into the Woods

Santa Monica, CA – September 16, 2026. The Morgan-Wixson Theatre brings INTO THE WOODS to Santa Monica this fall season, a seldom performed production in Los Angeles. This production of INTO THE WOODS is a must see event, with the world presented free of the traditional Eurocentric barriers. Without changing a word, everyone working on this production will give you a fairy-tale adventure that looks and feels like our beautifully diverse modern world at every turn. Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Book and originally directed on Broadway by James Lapine, Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick, is presented through special arrangement with Music Theater International (MTI), All Authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI www.mtishows.com

INTO THE WOODS is a musical that intertwines the plots of several classic fairy tales, exploring what happens after “happily ever after.” The story follows characters like Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack, a Baker and his Wife as they venture into the woods to fulfill their deepest wishes. As their stories overlap, the consequences of their actions begin to unravel their happy endings. The musical cleverly blends humor, heartache, and moral complexity, challenging the simplicity of traditional fairy tales. Stephen Sondheim’s intricate music and lyrics bring depth to each character’s journey. The first act delivers familiar stories with a twist, while the second act reveals the darker costs of pursuing one’s desires. Responsibility, community, and the loss of innocence emerge powerfully throughout the woods.

In an effort to engage and grow the Morgan-Wixson community, INTO THE WOODS has curated an event surrounding select performances. September 26th will continue The Morgan-Wixson’s tradition of the post-show opening night party for all patrons. They will also be continuing the tradition of their two post-show talkbacks, after the Friday, October 2nd and Sunday, October 11th performances.

INTO THE WOODS is Directed by Elijah Green; Music Director is Will Nazareno; Choreographer is Danielle Jensen; Assistant Director / Assistant Music Director is Rebecca Wade; Production Stage Manager is Joshua Levitt; Producer is Julia Ribas; Wardrobe Assistants are Morgan Hansen and Aya Sasaki; Assistant Stage Manager is Julia Sison; Costume Designer is Ale Lechuga; Lighting Designer is Daniel Mitchener; Scenic Co-Design / Painter is Melodie S. Rivers; Sound Design / Audio Engineer is Elijah Saintlouis; Hair Design / Make-Up Design is Elina Luong; Intimacy Director is Natalie Nelson; Props Designer is Kelley Dawdy; Lighting Technician / Props Assistant is Hikaru Kurose; Sound Technician is EJ Saintlouis; Wig Committee is Morgan Hansen, Elina Luong, Julia Ribas, and Rebecca Wade; Morgan-Wixson Theatre Technical Director / Scenic Co-Designer is William Wilday.

INTO THE WOODS Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Book and originally directed on Broadway by James Lapine, Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick, is presented through special arrangement with Music Theater International (MTI), All Authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI www.mtishows.com will be presented at the Morgan-Wixson Theatre, opening September 26 and running through October 18, 2026. The play features (in alphabetical order) Jayla Bryant as Cinderella, Clara Darlington as Rapunzel, Ramón Garcia as Baker, Ben Hess as Narrator/Mysterious Man, Sophia Joy as Florinda, Laura Loo as Cinderella’s Mother/Granny, Frankie Nieman as Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf, Fiona Okida as Little Red, Vivian Oxley as Lucinda, Lyndsay Palmer as Cinderella’s Stepmother, Rachel Richins as Baker’s Wife, Ariella Salinas Fiore as Jack’s Mother, Elliott Santos as Rapunzel’s Prince/Wolf, Brad Simanski as Cinderella’s Father/Steward, Minque Taylor as Witch, Aydin Washington as Jack.

NEWS ALERT • JUST THE FACTS

Into the Woods

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

Book and originally directed on Broadway by James Lapine

Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick

WHO:

Director – Elijah Green

Music Director – Will Nazareno

Choreographer – Danielle Jensen

Assistant Director / Assistant Music Director – Rebecca Wade

Production Stage Manager – Joshua Levitt

Producer – Julia Ribas

Wardrobe Assistants Morgan Hansen and Aya Sasaki

Assistant Stage Manager – Julia Sison

Costume Designer – Ale Lechuga

Lighting Designer – Daniel Mitchener

Scenic Co-Design / Painter – Melodie S. Rivers

Sound Design / Audio Engineer – Elijah Saintlouis

Hair Design / Make-Up Design – Elina Luong

Intimacy Director – Natalie Nelson

Props Designer – Kelley Dawdy

Lighting Technician / Props Assistant – Hikaru Kurose

Sound Technician – EJ Saintlouis

Wig Committee – Morgan Hansen, Elina Luong, Julia Ribas, and Rebecca Wade

Morgan-Wixson Theatre Technical Director / Scenic Co-Designer – William Wilday

Cast (alphabetical order):

Jayla Bryant
Clara Darlington
Ramón Garcia
Ben Hess
Sophia Joy
Laura Loo
Frankie Nieman
Fiona Okida
Vivian Oxley
Lyndsay Palmer
Rachel Richins
Ariella Salinas Fiore
Elliott Santos
Brad Simanski
Minque Taylor
Aydin Washington

WHAT: INTO THE WOODS Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Book and originally directed on Broadway by James Lapine, Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick.

WHERE: The Morgan-Wixson Theatre, 2627 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica 90405
WHEN: September 26 – October 18, 2026. Fridays – Saturdays at 8PM, Sundays at 2PM

HOW: Reserved seats available at www.morgan-wixson.org, by phone at 310-828-7519 or by email at [email protected]. Adults $35, Seniors and Students $25 – plus applicable ticketing fees.

ABOUT THE MORGAN-WIXSON THEATRE

For more than 75 years the Morgan-Wixson Theatre has been a leader and innovator in community theatre. Long a home for passionate theatre practitioners and a center of live theatre in Santa Monica, students, incredibly talented local artists and future stars alike have graced its Mainstage — from James Dean and Harvey Korman in the 1940s and 50s, Rod McKuen composing an early score or Joyce DeWitt being “discovered” in the 70s to current Broadway star to Beanie Feldstein shining in our Youth Theatre program. The 200 seat non-equity Morgan-Wixson Theatre also welcomes concert programs, guest productions, rehearsals for up-and-coming productions and more. In addition to scheduled seasons of sophisticated, fully-mounted productions, the growth of the theatre includes expanding to offer New Works Festivals and unique “specials” that invite collaboration with an increasingly diverse audience and artistic community. The American Alliance for Theatre-lauded Y.E.S (Youth Education/Entertainment Series) program trains new generations of theatre artists, who are welcomed regardless of their financial means. The Morgan-Wixson’s commitment to community is reflected in its many Community Partnerships and ticket access initiatives. For more details, please visit our website at www.morgan-wixson.org, join us on social media and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

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Contact Information

Box office 310.828 -7519

[email protected]

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The Morgan-Wixson Theatre is committed to a meaningful effort to amplify new voices to engage, challenge and connect our audiences to each other and the wider community as we elevate the greater potential of what theater can offer to our lives.