The Woodsman (play)

'''''The Woodsman''''' is a 2012 American stage play (described on the official website as a "dramatico-musical"){{cite web |title=The Woodsman - Discover How The Tin Man Lost His Heart |url=https://www.woodsmantheplay.com/ |website=WoodsmanThePlay |access-date=16 June 2021}} written by [[James Ortiz]] with music composed by Edward W. Hardy and lyrics by Jennifer Loring.Hayley Levitt, [https://www.theatermania.com/off-broadway/news/the-woodsman-new-world-stages-photos_75796.html "'The Woodsman' Returns to New York at New World Stages"], ''Theatremania'', February 01, 2016. It focuses on the story of the [[Tin Woodman]] character from [[L. Frank Baum]]'s [[List of Oz books|series of books]] set in the fictional [[Land of Oz]], notably Baum's 1918 book ''[[The Tin Woodman of Oz]]''.Frank Scheck, [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/woodsman-theater-review-862944 "'The Woodsman': Theater Review"], ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'', February 8, 2016. The production employs live performers, puppets, music, and very few spoken words.Mark Kennedy, [https://web.archive.org/web/20161008194125/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1A1-e69744c0750b4cf69c799e6da4a46f68.html "New York home to idiosyncratic works from actor-playwrights"], [[Associated Press]], May 5, 2016.

'''''The Woodsman''''' is a 2012 American stage play (described on the official website as a "dramatico-musical"){{cite web |title=The Woodsman - Discover How The Tin Man Lost His Heart |url=https://www.woodsmantheplay.com/ |website=WoodsmanThePlay |access-date=16 June 2021}} written by [[James Ortiz]] with music composed by Edward W. Hardy and lyrics by Jennifer Loring.Hayley Levitt, [https://www.theatermania.com/off-broadway/news/the-woodsman-new-world-stages-photos_75796.html "'The Woodsman' Returns to New York at New World Stages"], ''Theatremania'', February 01, 2016. It focuses on the story of the [[Tin Woodman]] character from [[L. Frank Baum]]'s [[List of Oz books|series of books]] set in the fictional [[Land of Oz]], notably Baum's 1918 book ''[[The Tin Woodman of Oz]]''.Frank Scheck, [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/woodsman-theater-review-862944 "'The Woodsman': Theater Review"], ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'', February 8, 2016. The production employs live performers, puppets, music, and very few spoken words.Mark Kennedy, [https://web.archive.org/web/20161008194125/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1A1-e69744c0750b4cf69c799e6da4a46f68.html "New York home to idiosyncratic works from actor-playwrights"], [[Associated Press]], May 5, 2016.

Conceived by Strangemen Theatre Company,Lortel Archives, [http://www.lortel.org/Archives/Production/6100 "'The Woodsman'"], ''Lortel Archives Internet Off-Broadway Database''. originally created by James Ortiz & Diana StahlBWW News Desk, [http://www.broadwayworld.com/off-off-broadway/article/THE-GIRL-OF-THE-GOLDEN-WEST-WELCOME-TO-THE-JUNGLE-and-More-Set-for-ANT-Fest-at-Ars-Nova-617-22-20130616 "THE GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST, WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE and More Set for ANT Fest at Ars Nova, Now thru 6/22"], ''BroadwayWorld'', June 17, 2013. and produced by Steven Laing & [[Jason Ralph]],Stage Tube, [http://www.broadwayworld.com/off-broadway/article/STAGE-TUBE-Inside-Look-THE-WOODSMAN-Original-Off-Broadway-Solo-Recording-Tugs-the-Heart-Strings-20170214 "STAGE TUBE: Inside Look - 'THE WOODSMAN' Original Off-Broadway Solo Recording Tugs the Heart Strings"], ''BroadwayWorld'', February 14, 2017. the show debuted in 2012 at Standard ToyKraft in Brooklyn, followed by a 2013 run at the [[Ars Nova (theater)|Ars Nova]] ANT Fest. It has been produced [[Off-Broadway]] at [[59E59 Theaters]] in 2014[http://www.59e59.org/moreinfo.php?showid=151 ''Woodsman'' (2014 production)], [[59E59 Theaters]] (accessed 2016-09-27). and 2015,Laura Collins-Hughes, [https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/21/theater/the-woodsman-tells-the-tin-mans-tale.html "Led by a Tender Heart, Before It Is Ripped Out: ‘The Woodsman’ Tells the Tin Man’s Tale"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', January 20, 2015. and at [[New World Stages]] in 2016.Laura Collins-Hughes, [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/22/theater/review-in-the-woodsman-a-love-lost-in-oz-under-a-witchs-spell.html "Review: In ‘The Woodsman,’ a Love Lost in Oz Under a Witch’s Spell"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', February 21, 2016. In 2019, a limited run was produced at the [[Bluebarn Theatre]] in Omaha, Nebraska.{{cite web |last1=Swerczek |first1=Christine |title=Review: THE WOODSMAN at Bluebarn Theatre Leaves Me Speechless |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/omaha/article/BWW-Review-THE-WOODSMAN-at-Bluebarn-Theatre-Leaves-Me-Speechless-20190518 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en |date=May 18, 2019}}{{cite web |last1=American Theatre |title=May/June 2019 Onstage |url=https://www.americantheatre.org/2019/05/06/may-june-2019-onstage/ |website=AMERICAN THEATRE |date=6 May 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Wild |first1=Stephi |title=One Month Revival Of THE WOODSMAN To Be Presented For Bluebarn's 30th Anniversary |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/off-broadway/article/One-Month-Revival-Of-THE-WOODSMAN-To-Be-Presented-For-Bluebarns-30th-Anniversary-20180802 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en |date=August 2, 2018}} There have been two high school productions, produced by Timpview High School in April of 2025 and Joseph Case High School in March of 2026, which was one of three schools who won state finals for the 2026 METG Competitions. {{Cite web |last=Elder |first=Ashlyn |title=The Woodsman: Review |url=https://timpviewnews.org/13821/culture/the-woodsman-review/ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=The Thunderbolt}}{{Cite web |last=Elder |first=Ashlyn |title=The Woodsman: Meet the Cast |url=https://timpviewnews.org/13812/culture/the-woodsman-meet-the-cast/ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=The Thunderbolt}}

Conceived by Strangemen Theatre Company,Lortel Archives, [http://www.lortel.org/Archives/Production/6100 "'The Woodsman'"], ''Lortel Archives Internet Off-Broadway Database''. originally created by James Ortiz & Diana StahlBWW News Desk, [http://www.broadwayworld.com/off-off-broadway/article/THE-GIRL-OF-THE-GOLDEN-WEST-WELCOME-TO-THE-JUNGLE-and-More-Set-for-ANT-Fest-at-Ars-Nova-617-22-20130616 "THE GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST, WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE and More Set for ANT Fest at Ars Nova, Now thru 6/22"], ''BroadwayWorld'', June 17, 2013. and produced by Steven Laing & [[Jason Ralph]],Stage Tube, [http://www.broadwayworld.com/off-broadway/article/STAGE-TUBE-Inside-Look-THE-WOODSMAN-Original-Off-Broadway-Solo-Recording-Tugs-the-Heart-Strings-20170214 "STAGE TUBE: Inside Look - 'THE WOODSMAN' Original Off-Broadway Solo Recording Tugs the Heart Strings"], ''BroadwayWorld'', February 14, 2017. the show debuted in 2012 at Standard ToyKraft in Brooklyn, followed by a 2013 run at the [[Ars Nova (theater)|Ars Nova]] ANT Fest. It has been produced [[Off-Broadway]] at [[59E59 Theaters]] in 2014[http://www.59e59.org/moreinfo.php?showid=151 ''Woodsman'' (2014 production)], [[59E59 Theaters]] (accessed 2016-09-27). and 2015,Laura Collins-Hughes, [https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/21/theater/the-woodsman-tells-the-tin-mans-tale.html "Led by a Tender Heart, Before It Is Ripped Out: ‘The Woodsman’ Tells the Tin Man’s Tale"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', January 20, 2015. and at [[New World Stages]] in 2016.Laura Collins-Hughes, [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/22/theater/review-in-the-woodsman-a-love-lost-in-oz-under-a-witchs-spell.html "Review: In ‘The Woodsman,’ a Love Lost in Oz Under a Witch’s Spell"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', February 21, 2016. In 2019, a limited run was produced at the [[Bluebarn Theatre]] in Omaha, Nebraska.{{cite web |last1=Swerczek |first1=Christine |title=Review: THE WOODSMAN at Bluebarn Theatre Leaves Me Speechless |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/omaha/article/BWW-Review-THE-WOODSMAN-at-Bluebarn-Theatre-Leaves-Me-Speechless-20190518 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en |date=May 18, 2019}}{{cite web |last1=American Theatre |title=May/June 2019 Onstage |url=https://www.americantheatre.org/2019/05/06/may-june-2019-onstage/ |website=AMERICAN THEATRE |date=6 May 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Wild |first1=Stephi |title=One Month Revival Of THE WOODSMAN To Be Presented For Bluebarn's 30th Anniversary |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/off-broadway/article/One-Month-Revival-Of-THE-WOODSMAN-To-Be-Presented-For-Bluebarns-30th-Anniversary-20180802 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en |date=August 2, 2018}}

The play has received critical praise, and won a 2016 [[Obie Award]] for Ortiz's puppet design.[http://www.obieawards.com/events/year-2016/ 2016 Obie Award winners], accessed 2016-09-27.Zoe Beery, [https://web.archive.org/web/20160525134836/http://www.villagevoice.com/arts/the-tin-man-of-oz-gets-a-refit-in-the-woodsman-8652154 "The Tin Man of Oz Gets a Refit in 'The Woodsman'"], ''[[The Village Voice]]'', May 24, 2016. On May 29, 2016, the cast recording of the musical soundtrack was released worldwide.{{cite web |title=The Woodsman [Original Off-Broadway Solo Recording] Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/mw0003029216 |website=All Music |publisher=allmusic.com |access-date=12 July 2022 |language=en}} On September 2, 2016, a filmed performance of the work was broadcast by [[PBS]] stations, as part of the ''Theater Close-Up'' series produced by [[WNET]] in association with [[BroadwayHD]].[http://www.thirteen.org/uncategorized/theater-close-woodsman/ "Theater Close-Up: The Woodsman"], [[WNET]] (accessed 2016-09-27).

The play has received critical praise, and won a 2016 [[Obie Award]] for Ortiz's puppet design.[http://www.obieawards.com/events/year-2016/ 2016 Obie Award winners], accessed 2016-09-27.Zoe Beery, [https://web.archive.org/web/20160525134836/http://www.villagevoice.com/arts/the-tin-man-of-oz-gets-a-refit-in-the-woodsman-8652154 "The Tin Man of Oz Gets a Refit in 'The Woodsman'"], ''[[The Village Voice]]'', May 24, 2016. On May 29, 2016, the cast recording of the musical soundtrack was released worldwide.{{cite web |title=The Woodsman [Original Off-Broadway Solo Recording] Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/mw0003029216 |website=All Music |publisher=allmusic.com |access-date=12 July 2022 |language=en}} On September 2, 2016, a filmed performance of the work was broadcast by [[PBS]] stations, as part of the ''Theater Close-Up'' series produced by [[WNET]] in association with [[BroadwayHD]].[http://www.thirteen.org/uncategorized/theater-close-woodsman/ "Theater Close-Up: The Woodsman"], [[WNET]] (accessed 2016-09-27).