02/12/2026
I’m still in awe of last evening’s invited dress for Pitt Musical Theatre Club’s production of INTO THE WOODS. This entirely student run production was filled to the brim with talent onstage and off. Performances were so superb all around, there’s not quite one or two people to easily single out. It was a true ensemble show! Although, the celebrity guest appearance by Becki Toth as the voice of the Giant might have been my favorite (move over, Hillary Clinton! IYKYK).
Beyond the magic of the actors, I was astounded at the wonderful vocals, which are a true testament to the work of Monica Fazzolari. Sondheim is not easy music and it was clear everybody had done their homework. Scenic/props designer Aidan Kelleher created a magical world onstage, enhanced by the sharp and imaginative lighting and sound design by Hayley Rizor and Sadie Seggerson respectively. Finally, director Sam Couch handles this work with an absolute creativity that takes the text seriously and insists the performers do as well.
Sondheim only truly reveals his hand upon subsequent viewings and listenings. This was not my first trip in the woods. Because of that, I was really dropped into the intricate lyrics of Sondheim and genius dialogue by Lapine - for example, the clever number imagery in “It Takes Two” excited me in ways it hadn’t before. This show from the late 1980s might be the most relevant it has ever been, with questions of community responsibility, moral ambiguity, and legacy. It’s not often we get a REALLY good production of INTO THE WOODS. MTC’s staging is that.
Take the journey.
