Into the Woods
Produced by Ball State University
Photo by Kip Shawger
James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim's classic takes everyone's favorite storybook characters and brings them together for a timeless, yet relevant, piece where each person's wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results.
Produced by Ball State University
Directors - Bill Jenkins & Dee Dee Batteast, Sound Design - Aidan Sturgeon,
Mix Engineer - Natalie Papai, Scenic Design - Kerry Chipman,
Hair and Makeup - Robert E. Dirden, Costume Design - Kathryn Rohe, Lighting Design - Victoria Sills.
Signal Line Diagram
System Diagram
A lot of the exploration for the sound design of Into the Woods was the Witch's magic and what role that would play in the world. Our production's aesthetic was influenced by this concept of a decrepit carnival that is being slowly taken back by the forest. The sounds of the Witch wanted to be affected by the world, the sound of purple plasma lamps influences the first sound, the next is a fire-based sound like a fire eater, and the last is a longer hit more influenced by the chimes of midnight that are used throughout the show.
Here are a few of the Giant steps and then the falling of the giant. Because of the speakers and subwoofer that were placed at the back of the theatre, we were able to create a more immersive environment to make the audience feel the giant walking up.
The Witch's death was a frenzy at the end of Last Midnight, this sound paired with CO2 cannons was the Witch's final word in our production. To heighten the exit I recorded the actor screaming, ran that through some processing, and layered on the various magic sounds to tie up the death of the Witch.