Into the Woods’ Cooper Grodin Sidelined by Illness; Paris Remillard Steps in as Rapunzel’s Prince

Hair alum Paris Remillard has stepped into the role of Rapunzel’s Prince during several press previews of the Stephen Sondheim/James Lapine musical Into the Woods, after actor Cooper Grodin was sidelined by appendicitis. No exact date has been announced for Grodin’s return to the Central Park production, but a press rep for the show confirms that he will be back "very soon." The highly anticipated revival officially opens on August 9.

In addition to Grodin, Into the Woods stars Amy Adams (Baker’s Wife), Jack Broderick (Narrator), Glenn Close (the Voice of the Giant), Gideon Glick (Jack), Ellen Harvey (Cinderella’s Stepmother), Ivan Hernandez (Cinderella’s Prince, Wolf), Tina Johnson (Red Ridinghood’s Granny), Josh Lamon (Steward), Bethany Moore (Florinda), Jessie Mueller (Cinderella), Donna Murphy (the Witch), Denis O’Hare (the Baker), Jennifer Rias (Lucinda), Laura Shoop (Cinderella’s Mother), Tess Soltau (Rapunzel), Sarah Stiles (Little Red Ridinghood), Kristine Zbornik (Jack’s Mother) and Chip Zien (Mysterious Man).

A witty reimagining of beloved fairy tales, Into the Woods centers on the Baker and his wife, who embark on a quest to find the four items required to break a witch’s spell: the cow as white as milk, the cape as red as blood, the hair as yellow as corn, and the slipper as pure as gold. Will they succeed? And what happens after “happily ever after”?

Remillard moved up to the leading role of Claude in the 2011 Broadway return engagement of Hair after stints in the show's Tribe at Shakespeare in the Park and in the 2009 Broadway revival. His regional credits include A Midsummer Night's Dream, Antony and Cleopatra, Much Ado About Nothing and Hamlet.