With Into the Woods, I wanted to explore what it means to survive in today’s world—how we endure the curses we inherit, and what stories we choose to pass on to the next generation. This production was staged on a private campground, beginning around a campfire—the most ancient form of storytelling—before the audience was led deep into the forest on the Baker and the Baker’s Wife’s journey. As the themes darkened, so did the world around us. Daylight faded into twilight, and eventually into night, as audiences held flashlights and lanterns to illuminate the path through crisis. We re-orchestrated the score, with special permission, for an intimate acoustic ensemble—guitar, acoustic bass, violin, melodica, and accordion—who also served as narrators and guides through the story. Each performance welcomed only thirty audience members, transforming the experience into a kind of theatrical pilgrimage: a shared act of gathering, listening, and surviving together.