I’ll admit it.  I am a Theatre geek.  (After all I do have a degree in Musical Theatre from NYU.)  But I have to confess that I am than thrilled about the news that Chicago director Rob Marshall is in line to direct a long-awaited (and in some circles feared)  big screen remake of Into the Woods, Stephen Sondheim/James Lapine Tony-winning musical which intertwines the plots of several Brothers Grimm fairy tales and follows them further to explore the consequences of the characters’ wishes and quests

But this isn’t the first production of “Into The Woods” on film and will never be the best. 

The original production was taped in May 1989 and was broadcast on U.S. public television on March 20, 1991 1987. (And is available on DVD through Amazon.com) with  Bernadette Peters’ performance as the Witch and Joanna Gleason’s portrayal of the Baker’s Wife which brought acclaim to the production during its original Broadway run.

I worry that a big screen remake will lead to big screen stunt casting.  Gywnth Paltrow as Cinderella?   Meryl Streep as The Baker’s wife?  Beyonce as The Witch?  Justin Bieber as Jack from Jack in the Beanstalk.  Nooooooooooooo!

Do yourself a favor and run on over to Amazon.com and buy or rent the original and see the original Broadway version BEFORE this one is made.

You won’t be disappointed.