In Strange Woods

In Strange Woods
Genre
Created by
  • Jeff Luppino-Esposito
  • Brett Ryback
  • Matt Sav
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes5
Production
Executive producers
  • Matt Sav
  • Jeff Luppino-Esposito
  • Brett Ryback
  • Lauren Shippen
  • Briggon Snow
Running time35–57 minutes
Production company
  • Atypical Artists
Original release
ReleaseDecember 14, 2020 (2020-12-14) –
January 11, 2021 (2021-01-11)

In Strange Woods is an American musical fiction podcast produced by Atypical Artists and created by Jeff Luppino-Esposito, Brett Ryback, and Matt Sav. The series is told in the style of a true crime documentary with an original folk-pop score.[1][2][3][4][5]

It was nominated for Best Fiction Podcast at the 2022 iHeart Radio Podcast Awards.[6]

Premise

After the tragic death of her brother in the Whitetail National Forest, 18-year-old Peregrine Wells seeks survivalist skills from the enigmatic old recluse who found her brother's body.[2][3][7][4]

Cast and characters

Starring

  • Brett Ryback as Brett Ryback (a fictionalized version of himself)
  • Lily Mae Harrington as Peregrine Wells
  • Donna Lynne Champlin as Kathy Wells
  • Patrick Page as Peter "Howl" Howland
  • Larry Bates as Donald Van Calcar
  • Michaela Watkins as Irene O'Connor
  • Kristian Bruun as Declan O'Connor
  • Jonah Platt as Sheriff Neal Porter
  • Ryan Alexander Holmes as John Francis Van Calcar
  • Lana McKissack as Lexy DeKoenig
  • Philip Labes as Shane "Woodsley" O'Connor
  • Briggon Snow as Eric Miller
  • Raymond J. Lee as Bobber Andersen
  • Lauren Shippen as Gerda Pulnik
  • Beth Leavel as Sandra Pierce

Additional voices

  • Julia Addis as Vicky, Party Mom
  • Christian Barillas as Derek Rodriguez, Party Man
  • Jamison Haase as Bait, Fordham
  • Jeff Luppino-Esposito as Party Dad
  • Vanessa Mizzone as Party Woman
  • Brent Pope as Tackle
  • Danielle Robay as Chelsea Hamilton
  • Matt Sav as "Happy Times" Vocalist

Episodes

No.Title [8]Directed by [8]Written by [8]Original release date [2]
1"A Man Who Cannot Be Saved"Jeff Luppino-EspositoBrett Ryback & Jeff Luppino-EspositoDecember 14, 2020 (2020-12-14)
2"Dead Reckoning"Jeff Luppino-EspositoJeff Luppino-EspositoDecember 21, 2020 (2020-12-21)
3"Alone"Jeff Luppino-EspositoBrett RybackDecember 28, 2020 (2020-12-28)
4"The Man I Remember"Jeff Luppino-EspositoBrett RybackJanuary 4, 2021 (2021-01-04)
5"The Final"Jeff Luppino-EspositoJeff Luppino-EspositoJanuary 11, 2021 (2021-01-11)

Production

Music and sound

The series features original music composed by Matt Sav and Brett Ryback, with lyrics by Ryback and Jeff Luppino-Esposito. Matt Sav and Evan Cunningham produced the music, and it was mixed and mastered by Cunningham.[9]

Nicholas Quah of Vulture said of the show's sound that it "carries Spring Awakening vibes in its musical performances."[3] Maureen Lee Lenker, writing for EW, commented that the score "draws more on the sound of The Decemberists or Sufjan Stevens than theatrical composers."[5]

Sound design for the series was by Brandon Grugle and Stephen Jensen, and it was edited by Lauren Shippen and Jeff Luppino-Esposito.[9]

Recording

The original pilot for the series was recorded in 2018, featuring many of the show's eventual stars, including Donna Lynne Champlin, Patrick Page, and Lily Mae Harrington.[4]

After teaming up with Atypical Artists, In Strange Woods was recorded remotely during the 2020 lockdown for the COVID-19 pandemic.[10][4]

Release

Podcast

The series premiered on December 14, 2020, on all major podcast platforms.[11][2]

Cast album

A cast album of original songs from the series was released independently through Atypical Artists on March 11, 2021.[12]

Reception

Critical response

In Strange Woods received positive critical attention from The New York Times, The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal, and the BBC.[13][10][14][15] The series currently has a 4.9 rating out of 5 on Spotify and a 4.4 out of 5 on Apple Podcasts.[16][2]

Speaking to the show's format, Miranda Sawyer of The Guardian described it as "A musical drama that actually works," going on to say, "I am not a fan of musicals, but somehow this ambitious drama transcends."[10] Rob Herting, CEO of Qcode Media writing for The Wall Street Journal, commented on the podcast's "part docu-fiction, part straight fiction and part musical" format, saying, "I love the ambition of it."[14] And Ella Watts of the BBC 4 Podcast Radio Hour said, "on paper it shouldn't work, but it does here."[15]

Other critics have focused on the work of the cast, including Phoebe Lett of The New York Times who said "the vocal performances are beautiful," and Chloe Rabinowitz of Broadway World who said that guest star Beth Leavel "makes a fierce dramatic turn with her tour-de-force performance."[13][17]

On October 13, 2021, it was announced that In Strange Woods was nominated for Best Fiction Podcast at the 2022 iHeart Radio Podcast Awards.[6]

References

  1. ^ Cristi, A.A. (November 30, 2020). "Beth Leavel, Patrick Page and More Join IN STRANGE WOODS Musical Podcast". Broadway World. Archived from the original on December 1, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e "In Strange Woods". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Quah, Nicholas (December 16, 2020). "According To Need, In Strange Woods, and 3 More Podcasts Worth Trying". Vulture. Archived from the original on December 16, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d White, Peter (November 6, 2019). "Podcast Studio Atypical Artists Teams With Musical Theatre Writers On 'Serial'-Meets-'Glee'-Style Audio Series". Deadline. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Lenker, Maureen Lee (January 15, 2020). "Is the musical theater podcast the new concept album?". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 16, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Chan, J. Clara (October 13, 2021). "iHeartRadio Podcast Awards: 'SmartLess' Leads Nominations (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 13, 2021. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  7. ^ "In Strange Woods". IMDb. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  8. ^ a b c "In Strange Woods Episode Credits". Atypical Artists. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  9. ^ a b "In Strange Woods Cast & Crew". Atypical Artists. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  10. ^ a b c Sawyer, Miranda (August 1, 2021). "Raves, musicals and a time-travelling diner: 20 must-listen indie podcast gems". The Guardian. Archived from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  11. ^ "Meet The Cast Of New Musical Podcast In Strange Woods Premiering Monday Featuring Broadway's Beth Leavel and Patrick Page". Broadway Box. December 10, 2020. Archived from the original on December 10, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  12. ^ Cristi, A.A. (March 11, 2021). "Musical Podcast IN STRANGE WOODS Cast Album Released". Broadway World. Archived from the original on August 22, 2021. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  13. ^ a b Lett, Phoebe (January 2, 2021). "Icy Podcasts to Warm Your Cold, Cold Heart". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 3, 2021. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  14. ^ a b Herting, Rob (December 23, 2020). "An Expert Recommends: 'The Bright Sessions,' 'In Strange Woods,' 'Moonface'". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Podcast Musicals". BBC. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  16. ^ "In Strange Woods: A Musical Podcast". Spotify. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  17. ^ Rabinowitz, Chloe (December 30, 2020). "Listen to a Sneak Peek of Beth Leavel's Fiction Podcast Debut on IN STRANGE WOODS". Broadway World. Archived from the original on December 30, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2022.