Into the Woods
Into the Woods by James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim
Colorado State University - Fort Collins, CO - 2024
Directed by Noah Racey
Music Directed by Hannah Swanson
Scenic Design by Bridget Poulter
Lighting Design by Katie SImonson
Costume Design by Anna Defrees
Props Design by Avi Miller
Photography by John Eisele
Sound Design/A1 Mixer Joshua Moore
Assoc. Sound Designer Chandler Webb
Sound Board Operator Nyx Levis
A2 Technician Spencer Ammon
ACTF National Sound Design Award - 2nd Place
ACTF Region 7 Sound Design Award - 1st Place
ACTF Region 7/8 Student Choice Award - Sound Design
ACTF Region 7 Merit Award for Excellence in Sound Design
Into the Woods is a classic show that takes familiar fairy tale characters such as Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella and more and puts them on a transformative journey through the woods. Act 1 sees the characters descending into the woods chasing their respective wishes. While many of them do get their wishes, it isn't all happy ever after. They soon learn that their actions have consequences in Act 2 when the fairy tale woods turn to something much darker and a much larger foe seeks their end.
Our design mirrored the characters growth arcs by setting Act One in a lighthearted "Disney" style fairy tale forest. As the show progresses the woods become darker so we set Act Two in a dark woodland "Brothers Grimm" style fantasy. The Sound Design utilized highly stylized sound effects to emphasize the magic of the show and acted to balance the two acts by slowly introducing darker elements that make up Act 2 throughout the show. We placed subwoofers in the house to bring the Giants footsteps to the audience and utilized backstage fx speakers aimed into the walls to create a distant ambient sound for the forest.
Paperwork Samples
Sound Effects
A sound effect used for the end of Act 1 when the beanstalk shoots out of the stage up to the sky. I used the sound of a leather belt creaking overlaid with sticks breaking and rocks tumbling to create this sound.
Inspired by the iconic scene from Jurassic Park we imagined the Giant as something you felt before you saw or heard it. By placing Subwoofers within the audience seating we were able to recreate this feeling and speak to the Giants immense size.
The first inkling that something is quite wrong in Act 2, this sound effect needed to rock the audience as it breaks the peace of the prologue. I utilized every speaker in the room to create a spatial sound as the bakers house is crushed by the giant.