Is there anything weighing more heavily on the mind of the musical theatre nerd right now than what we are going to get out of our Christmas present this December 25th? For many of us, a film of Into the Woods has been a LONG TIME coming. I don't think that there is a Stephen Sondheim musical with more cinematic possibilities than Into the Woods. The opportunities for cameras to wend their way through gnarled trees and blowing leaves. The reveal of entering a glade to find a beloved character sharing both their wishes and their flaws. The possibility for gorgeous costumes and an art design to rival any Merchant-Ivory film? The amping-up of the orchestrations to augment Jonathan Tunick's already lush, evocative arrangements. A complex, interweaving story, as labyrinthine as the titular woods themselves. An adult approach to fairy tales that makes them fresh, relevant, and deeper in meaning than we could ever hope to extract from any Disney incarnation of our childhood. And what about beanstalks, giants, gilded carriages, doorless towers, and magic, all handled very cleverly onstage but screaming for a chance at cinematic interpretation? Into the Woods should make a wonderful film and there is every reason for us to greet it with both anticipation and  trepidation. Remember: Into the Woods cautions us to be careful what we wish for