Discover how the Tinman lost his heart.
THE WOODSMAN
BY JAMES ORTIZ
MUSIC COMPOSED BY EDWARD W. HARDY
LYRICS BY JEN LORING
DIRECTED BY JAMES ORTIZ and CLAIRE KARPEN
TO OPEN AT OFF-BROADWAY’S NEW WORLD STAGES
FOLLOWING TWO CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMED SOLD OUT ENGAGEMENTS
AT 59E59 THEATERS
“The spectacle is handmade, infused with breath and light.” – The New York Times
“The Woodsman is a grown-up fairy tale that proves happiness is a worthwhile goal, even if it doesn’t last ever after.” – Time Out New York
“Overflows with vivid imagery and emotion.” – New York Magazine
(New York, NY) Producers Robb Nanus, Rachel Sussman, Ryan Bogner and Adam Silberman announced today that the critically acclaimed play The Woodsman, a uniquely inventive retelling of the origins of Oz’s Tin Woodsman, will begin performances on Wednesday, January 27, 2016 and officially open on Sunday, February 7, 2016 at Off-Broadway’s New World Stages – Stage 5 (340 West 50th Street).
Based on the beloved writings of L. Frank Baum, The Woodsman tells the origin story of the Tin Woodsman, the woman he loved, and the witch that would stop at nothing to keep them apart. Back by popular demand, Strangemen & Co. brings this hauntingly beautiful Land of Oz to life through spectacular puppetry and original music.
Directed by James Ortiz and Claire Karpen and written by James Ortiz with music composed by Edward W. Hardy and lyrics by Jen Loring, The Woodsman features Benjamin Bass, Devin Dunne Cannon, Will Gallacher, Alex J. Gould, Amanda A. Lederer, Aaron McDaniel, Lauren Nordvig, James Oritz, Eliza Simpson, Meghan St. Thomas and Sophia Zukoski, reprising their roles from the 59E59 productions.
The Woodsman has set and puppet design by James Ortiz, costume design by Carol Uraneck, lighting design by Catherine Clark and Jamie Roderick, associate direction by Devin Dunne Cannon and costume coordination by Molly Seidel.
The Woodsman was originally produced and developed by STRANGEMEN & CO.
The Woodsman, a recipient of the 2014 Jim Henson Foundation Grant, was created by Strangemen & Co. and premiered at Brooklyn’s Standard ToyKraft in 2012 followed by a production at the Ars Nova ANT Fest in 2013 before transferring to 59E59 Theaters in January 2014 for a strictly limited 3-week, sold out run.
The Woodsman returned by popular demand for a critically acclaimed strictly limited engagement at 59E59 Theaters in January 2015, making it one of the only shows in the theater’s history to ever make a return engagement.
In its 59E59 Theaters return engagement, The New York Times hailed, “Mr. Ortiz’s puppets are fanciful and gorgeous: the witch, with her pinched face and dowager’s gown; the crows, whose wings in motion are all taffeta susurration; a fabulous golden-eyed monster, a cross between a tiger and a bear. (Oh, my.),” and The Huffington Post called The Woodsman “A winner! Clever pure theater.” A Time Out New York Critic’s Pick, The Woodsman was praised “as a grown-up fairy tale that proves happiness is a worthwhile goal, even if it doesn’t last ever after.”