by Amelia Johnson, dramaturg In 1976 Austrian-born psychoanalyst Bruno Bettelheim published The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales. In this book, Bettelheim applied Frued’s theories to fairy tales and argued that they are psychologically beneficial to children. Though each tale offers individual benefits, there are many themes used generally.

by Amelia Johnson, Dramaturg The inspiration for Into the Woods came because Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine wanted to create a show that blended several stories. They did not originally intend to use fairy tales, but these stories have played an important role in many people’s lives.

by Amelia Johnson, Dramaturg When I mention Into the Woods, there are those who love it and those who don’t. For those who aren’t fans of the show, the main comment I hear is that the show does not end like the typical fairytale. It breaks the idea of happily ever after that we grew up with as children. Though the show certainly does not have a typical fairytale ending, I feel that this is a great part of where the value of the show lies.