In Strange Woods: A Musical Podcast
4.7/5
Critic Rating
A new podcast musical from the producer of The Bright Sessions and creators Jeff Luppino-Esposito, Brett Ryback, and Matt Sav. After a tragedy in the Whitetail National Forest, 18-year-old Peregrine Wells seeks out survivalist skills from an enigmatic old recluse. In this fictional documentary musical with an original folk-pop score, listeners will follow producer Brett Ryback as he explores themes of grief, adolescence, and our precarious relationship to the wilderness - all set against a sleepy northern Minnesota town reeling from a loss of innocence it will never get back. In Strange Woods is a production of Atypical Artists. It...
Critic Reviews
Score: 5
Miranda Sawyer • The Guardian • Aug 1, 2021
"A musical drama that actually works...Unlike anything you’ve ever heard, this show boasts a fantastically talented cast, excellent writing and top level audio design, and was – unbelievably – made during lockdown. Like an existential Disney film, but made for audio. I am not a fan of musicals, but somehow this ambitious drama transcends. …"
Score: 4
Dea Ratna • Dea Ratna Blog • Jan 12, 2021
"There’s no big mystery or big twist. Or, well, there was, but the ending was not satisfying. In Strange Woods is an ambitious storytelling effort that speaks of grief and loss. It’s an especially poignant story for me after I lost my dad last year. Give it a listen. It’s at the very least, a good story to follow along as we ponder on our own grief and loss."
Score: 5
Phoebe Lett • New York Times • Jan 2, 2021
"...the vocal performances are beautiful; the songs add drama in a way that manages not to be annoying; and the show’s protagonist, a little sister grieving for her brother, makes for a compelling story that is still unfolding..."
Score: 4.9
Nicholas Quah • Vulture • Dec 16, 2020
" I enjoyed what I’ve heard, though I suspect your mileage may vary depending on your relationship with musical theater in general. In Strange Woods carries Spring Awakening vibes in its musical performances, and considering the nature of its premise, it’s likely to run along similar thematic lines of confronting a loss of innocence, not to mention the grief that comes with losing a sibling."
Score: 4.5
Rashika Rao • Heard Work • Dec 14, 2020
"an ambitious production that takes fear of the unknown and tackles how the desire to conquer it through understanding and trial can do more harm than good. While it isn’t billed as a horror, it certainly taps into many a horrifying reality, and will likely hit close to home for many, whether via the sprawling wild or the complicated relationships."
