Entertainment

The 'Into the Woods' Cast's Singing Histories

by Alanna Bennett

Dec. 17, 2014

On Christmas Day, a new round of severely entertaining fare will hit movie theaters worldwide. Chief among them is the big screen adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods . It's a star-studded affair: Meryl Streep's there to throw all the characters around, including Anna Kendrick's Cinderella and Emily Blunt's Baker's Wife. Some of the cast, though, like Chris Pine (who'll be playing a pompous prince), have not had their singing abilities aired to the public much before.

Only actually hearing everyone's contributions to the music will be able to determine how well everyone does in their respective parts — but until then there's a certain amount of fun to be had just digging through their musical histories and watching these people sing for the (often relatively smaller) masses in their pre-Woods days. So here are some musical moments from Into the Woods' main cast.

It is important to note that this is in no way a comprehensive history. A comprehensive history would have to involve most of the Pitch Perfect soundtrack (for sure a worthwhile listen). That Anna Kendrick has been singing publicly for a long time!

Anna Kendrick (Cinderella)

It could be argued that this entire post is really a ploy to get you to watch this video of an adorable young Anna Kendrick (aged 12) singing a song with the raunchy Kit Kat Girls of Cabaret. I won't deny it.

Another must-see: Kendrick's borderline iconic take on "Ladies Who Lunch" from the underrated Camp.

Chris Pine (Cinderella's Prince)

Pro tip: If you're watching a talk show and either the host or Pine himself mentions that Pine likes to sing in the shower, prepare yourself, because this is Pine's go-to segue into singing. He's gunning for that Frank Sinatra biopic, you can tell.

(His singing here can be found at about 2:25.)

And here he is singing much more in Small Town Saturday Night.

Meryl Streep (The Witch)

Oh, Meryl. Where to begin with Ms. Streep? There's this great moment from Postcards From the Edge where she sings that beautiful song "You Don't Know Me:"