I love the idea of this. Woods is in my top five musicals of all time. I, like the host, experienced the birth and rise of it in real time - before we had much internet to obsess over it with. My touchstones through high school came from the PBS recording and the cast album and the Tony awards. The difficulty of hosts who are mega fans of a thing is that you spend your time researching your obsession- understand when you interview people who participated in it that they don’t research it- they don’t know the weird fan theories usually. Some of these interviews are like interrogations- because the host’s exuberance for the subject matter railroads the guest. Let them talk. Ask questions- let them talk. We want to hear the guest- and the host is talking over them way too much. It comes from a place of love - that’s obvious, but I wish someone had told the host early in the show to leave room for the guest to expound. Sometimes his ADD/impatience to get the guest to speak leads to him just talking over the guest to get to the answer he wants. These people did this decades ago- they may not remember. That’s okay. Let the guests talk - the fans will listen.

Your interview skills are amazing! Such an inspiring role model.

Wow. I’m hooked.

This is a must for anyone who wants to learn what goes into creating a broadway show. The oral histories dive deeply into all aspects of the development of the show.

So interesting to hear about the creation of this great musical by the greatest talents.

An endlessly fascinating deep dive into my favorite thing. But beyond …Woods (beyond witches, and slippers, and hoods), this offers a fun look at Broadway in the late 80s, the creative process, and the mystery of learning what happened when the only source material is the memory of people who were there.

This is a treasure trove of musical theater history! You will never hear, “It’s the witch from next door” the same way again. I wish every show had this kind of deep dive. To bastardize a Sondheim lyric, “I could listen to this forever…”

I had no idea when I first listened to this podcast that I would become addicted. I saw the original production and loved it. Bernadette signed my playbill and it’s still hanging on my wall all these years later. The podcast is truly amazing to listen to. I enjoy hearing the different points of view and the recollections of people who have been involved in ITW. Ben has a knack to make everyone he interviews interesting and relevant to the story of ITW. Ben’s passion for ITW is contagious and I would never miss an episode of this podcast.

What a brilliant idea to do an oral history of the creation of Into the Woods, a beloved show for generations! I love hearing all the different perspectives, from James Lapine to the stage manager, dismissed cast members, and even Sondheim’s intern. The host shares my obsession with the idea of Betty Buckley as the Witch. I wish she had recorded those songs then. Thank you for documenting all these recollections and making it available to the public!

Unlike many, ITW was not my “gateway” into Sondheim and I used to dislike it, yet this podcast (and the 2022 revival) has deepened my understanding and appreciation of the piece so much that it’s now in my top 5 Sondheim shows. Ben is a great interviewer and it’s fascinating to hear each artist’s perspective on the same events.

I utterly love this. He talks to everyone! Maybe work on the sound levels a bit. Some of your guests aren’t coming through as well as others.

Dying to hear him go into his process of this orch

This marvelous podcast is a MUST for fans of Into the Woods, Sondheim, or musicals in general. Bravo Ben!

What a treat! Great stories from the cast and creative team of Into the Woods. I particularly loved Burke Moses’ story and insight into Lapine and Sondheim’s process and personalities.

If you love musical theatre, specifically Into the Woods, you’ll be in heaven. It’s a great deep dive into some really interesting unheard stories about creating the show.

This podcast is a must if you are a musical theatre fan. One of my favorites!!!

I just recently discovered this podcast, and after three episodes of catch up I’m absolutely obsessed! Thank you for doing this!

These conversations/interviews have been fascinating and fun! Thank you, Ben Rimalower!

I have no idea how Ben gets these amazing performers and artists to tell the stories behind this amazing musical. He’s brilliant at keeping a conversation going, so you feel like you’re actually sitting down with him and the people the interviews. Big thanks to Ben. I’m a fan for life.

Ben has really curated a fascinating group of conversations here. As always, it feels like you’re sitting down to gossip with the smartest and funniest guy in the room and the time flies by. A really captivating look at this beloved show that any Sondheim lover should not miss!

The info Ben Rimalower mines through these conversations is endlessly fascinating and makes for an invaluable record of this important piece of American theater.

A MUST for any theatre or Sondheim nerd. So good!

I saw Into the Woods in San Diego, then the 1st preview on broadway and then the broadcast version. Almost 4 different shows and now I know why. Ben is a great interviewer

Hey theater buffs, have you checked out Ben Rimalower's new podcast on "Into the Woods"? It's a deep dive into the iconic musical, with insider interviews and personal insights from Rimalower himself. He's seriously passionate about the show and knows it like the back of his hand. But don't worry if you're not a musical theater expert – Rimalower makes it all accessible and fun. He breaks down even the most technical aspects of the production in a way that's thought-provoking and engaging. Trust me, whether you're a die-hard fan or just curious about the making of a Sondheim masterpiece, this podcast is a must-listen. So add it to your queue and get ready to be swept away into the magical world of "Into the Woods" with Ben Rimalower as your guide.

A longtime fan of INTO THE WOODS (I think I caught in back on Bravo back when Bravo wasn’t Real Housewives), I am thrilled to listen to these interviews. ITW has been my favorite musical since I was a kid and hearing all the juicy details in these interviews is wonderful. (Betty Buckley as the Witch?!) Listen to this podcast -you won’t be disappointed.

A must for ITW fans, which…who isn’t?

For Theatre lovers who enjoy knowing all the behind the scenes details, this podcast wonderfully gives you tidbits from those directly involved. Not negative drama, just the fascinating truths behind this Sondheim great and everything else swirling around it. Enjoy this fun joyous listen!

THE most extraordinary theatre podcast out there at the moment. A deep, dishy, granular dive into the art of making art. Ben’s interviews are chock full of heart, respect, and curiosity. A must listen. 10s across the board!

Having grown up with the PBS capture like so many of a certain age, ITW was one of my “gateway” shows into deep love of musical theatre. What a treat to get this podcast after all these years! I love that it has angles and stories and information that are new to me. I thought I knew all there was to know, but no!

Every theater kid of a certain age watched the VIDEO of INTO THE WOODS obsessively!! Finally, thanks to Ben’s podcast, we are getting a deep dive into the creation. Ben asks a mixture of thoughtful, researched questions and the gossipy/dish we ALL want to know. Really great listen. ❤️

This podcast is so satisfying for Into the Woods fans, Sondheim aficionados, and the musical theater curious. With in-depth interviews with the show’s creators, designers, and cast, this podcast delivers the rich history from inception to triumph of this beloved show. Serving up all the thoughtful (and juicy) questions we want, Ben Rimalower is a charming and knowledgable host whose love for the show is beautifully met when his guests reflect on their experience with deep love and fondness for this giant of musical theater.

Ben has done it again. This podcast is riveting and educational. A must listen.

I’m so glad this podcast exists!! There are so many facets that go into the development of a new musical, especially an iconic one, and it’s amazing to hear all the anecdotes and stories from the legends themselves. Every episode is a treat!

Into the Woods was the show that made a generation of young people fall in love with serious musical theater. Ben Rimalower’s interviews offer a fascinating deep dive into the making of this classic show—and, in the process, an interesting look at the trickiness of memory and historical research. If you love Sondheim, this is a treasure trove of insights and details.