NewsPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "Once Upon a Time..." Ever Deeper Into the Woods With Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren KennedyLast month Lauren Kennedy and Nikka Graff Lanzarone introduced Into the Woods veteran "Twan Baker," their co-star in the Westport-Baltimore production of the Sondheim-Lapine musical. Now those snap-happy ladies of the stage invite readers to take the journey even further, with this exclusive set of behind-the-scenes shots.
By
Matthew Blank
May 23, 2012
As their adventure draws to an end, Kennedy and Lanzarone offer an extensive look at both cities and introduce all of the colorful characters who inhabit the fairytale world of the show.
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "Once Upon a Time..." Ever Deeper Into the Woods With Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "Once Upon a Time..." Ever Deeper Into the Woods With Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Last month Lauren Kennedy and Nikka Graff Lanzarone introduced Into the Woods veteran "Twan Baker," their co-star in the Westport-Baltimore production of the Sondheim-Lapine musical. Now those snap-happy ladies of the stage invite readers to take the journey even further, with this exclusive set of behind-the-scenes shots. Read the Playbill.com story.
81 PHOTOS
BALTIMORE
Once Upon A Time… (I wish)
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
There lived a young Broadway star/photographer… (more than anything)
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Her quirky-brunette-sidekick… (more than life)
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
A troublemaking, half-drunk, overly-ambitious baby… (more than jewels)
They traveled to Baltimore to open a show (festival).
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
They began tech.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
They pretended they were doing A Chorus Line.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
They were judged by their choreographer, Seán Curran.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Jeffry Denman does some serious pointing.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Cheryl Stern, Justin Scott Brown, and Dana Steingold make the finale of Act I zing!
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Britney Coleman KILLS it with her gestures.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
We start rehearsing in costume…
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Twan, of course, starts stealing the hats. He’s particularly fond of Jenny’s boater.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Dana and Jeffry rehearse “I Know Things Now.”
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Jeffry, Eleni Delopolous, Britney, Danielle Ferland, and Bob Lenzi celebrate our first preview in Baltimore!
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Danielle takes a page from Susan Blackwell’s book…
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Eleni recounts the finer points of the show.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Opening Night! The cast poses with Twan.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Twan takes advantage of the spread. Thanks, Centerstage!
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Danielle keeps Twan from embarrassing himself in front of the donors.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Unfortunately, we have a lot of early student matinees in Baltimore. Nikka isn’t too thrilled…
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Neither are Dana and Jenny.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
…or Nik and Danielle.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Or Jeremy Lawrence.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Justin has been happier than he is at this moment.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Jenny sips some intermission coffee.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
If you’re mean to Dana at a student matinee talkback…
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
…it won’t end well for you.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Classic Cinderella.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Nikka makes a crazy face as her corset gets adjusted.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Lauren takes parking to a whole new level. She was REALLY excited about getting a spot in front of the building, okay?
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Jeffry practices his smize.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Lauren, as always, is a walking work of art.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Nik has that howl down pat!
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Bob, ever the picture of princeliness, fixes his hair.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
EXTREME CLOSEUP!!
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Jenny takes some time to decide what her spring wardrobe will look like.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Some love for Cheryl’s dog Tilly. She thinks you’re out to get her.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Dana’s dog Charlie practices his best Beyoncé.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Dana BEGGED to use this basket Easter Sunday. It was vetoed by stage management.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Nikka draws on her heart lips for the last show. Goodbye Baltimore!
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
WESTPORT
Once Upon a Time…later… (I wish)
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
There lived the same young Broadway star/photographer… (more than anything)
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
The same quirky-brunette sidekick… (more than life)
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
The same troublemaking baby…(more than footmen)
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
(who, incidentally, is the only person in the show with an understudy)
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Wait- Twan called OUT?!!?!!?
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
And the same friends…
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
…who decided it might be a good idea to take the same show to the Westport Country Playhouse.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Some similar things happened along the way.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
They had a sitzprobe.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
There was an incredible talkback with Danielle, Joanna Gleason, and Chip Zien.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Jeffry started the show all over again.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Dana waits to begin.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Justin implores the cow to “squeeze, pal.”
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Lauren exits, having successfully made it through the veggie rap!
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Jeremy practices his best Mysterious Man Scary Face.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Bob Lenzi ascends the stairs as only a prince moving in slow motion can.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Danielle and Justin pause backstage.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Lauren gets in on the action.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Dana gives Eleni some makeup tips. Subtle, right?
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Post-makeup, Eleni enjoys some of the food left over from a donor event. Again, subtle.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Jeffry touches up his wig to make sure the lace is laying correctly.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Cheryl makes sure she’s hydrated just before places.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Dana got this serape free from a bar on Cinco de Mayo. Ask her about it sometime, it’s hilarious. There is also a sombrero to finish off the outfit, but she didn’t want to mess up her hair.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Jeremy, as the steward, practices packing for the long journey through the woods…
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
…making sure that nobody catches him with the shoes.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Britney, we aren’t using Sleeping Beauty in this production! Wake up!
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Classic Steingold.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Jeffry, Nik, and Bob. They’re so butch. They have baseball gloves. See how butch they are?
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
And now…for the GLAMOUR SHOTS! Erik Liberman shows his pensive, actorly side.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Cheryl Stern is so lovable!
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Eleni Delopolous is the most glamorous saloon girl!
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Nikka Graff Lanzarone is the absolute sassiest.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Justin Scott Brown serves you smolder.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Nik Walker’s comp card shows his wild side.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Britney Coleman brings back the ‘90s in a major way.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
The one and only Danielle Ferland. Adorable!
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Alma Cuervo is not to be trifled with under any circumstances.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Lauren Kennedy
Elaine Stritch thanks you for checking out our photo journey! Into the Woods closes May 26th!
A co-production between Baltimore CenterStage and the Westport Country Playhouse, Into the Woods ran through April 15 in Baltimore. Westport artistic director Mark Lamos helms the production, which plays in Connecticut through May 26.
Into the Woods features a Tony-winning score by Stephen Sondheim and Tony-winning book by James Lapine. Danielle Ferland (Sunday in the Park With George), who created the role of Little Red Riding Hood on Broadway, appears as the Baker's Wife in a cast that also features Lauren Kennedy (Side Show, Sunset Boulevard) as the Witch, Erik Liberman (LoveMusik, Fiddler On the Roof) as the Baker, Jeffry Denman (White Christmas, Yank!) as the Narrator, Cheryl Stern (La Cage aux Folles, The Women) as Jack's Mother, Dana Steingold (Spelling Bee) as Little Red, Justin Scott Brown (Spring Awakening) as Jack, Jenny Latimer (Les Miserables) as Cinderella, Alma Cuervo (Titanic, Women on the Verge...) as Cinderella's Stepmother, Nikka Lanzarone (Chicago, Women on the Verge...) as Florinda, Eleni Delopoulos (The Phantom of the Opera) as Lucinda, Nik Walker (Rent) as the Wolf/Cinderella's Prince, Robert Lenzi (South Pacific) as Rapunzel’s Prince, Britney Coleman (Stop the Virgens) as Rapunzel/Cinderella's Mother and Jeremy Lawrence (What the Public Wants) as the Mysterious Man.
The production has choreography by Sean Curran, music direction by Wayne Barker, set design by Allen Moyer, costume design by Candice Connelly, lighting design by Robert Wierzel and sound design by Zachary Williamson.
Into the Woods premiered on Broadway in 1987 at the Martin Beck Theatre starring Bernadette Peters, Chip Zien, Joanna Gleason, Kim Crosby and Robert Westenberg. A 2002 Broadway revival played the Broadhurst Theatre. The Public Theater will stage an outdoor revival of the musical this summer as part of the 2012 Shakespeare in the Park season.
