Wireless Mics and Projection for Into the Woods

Show guide · Full-length · 17 roles, medium cast with doubling · Reviewed by Stage Gear staff, October 2026

Stage Gear supplies wireless mics, rentals and projection to school and community theatres across the U.S. Our staff work in theatre; this guide is how we'd mic Into the Woods.

Who gets a mic

We start from MTI's cast list and use the traditional doubles: one actor plays the Narrator and the Mysterious Man, and one plays the Wolf and Cinderella's Prince. That gives 14 onstage body mics. Add one channel for the offstage voice of Cinderella's Mother and the Giant, plus two spares, for 17 channels.

The offstage voice is the borderline channel. If you prerecord the Giant or run her and Cinderella's Mother on a wired offstage mic, you can drop to 16. Do not share mics between Florinda and Lucinda; they sing and speak together constantly.

With a bigger budget, skip the doubling and give the Narrator, Mysterious Man, Wolf and Cinderella's Prince their own channels, for about 21. Smaller speaking roles in the script can play to area mics.

Mic plot

Every Bodymic is wired for one transmitter family: Shure, Sennheiser, Audio-Technica, AKG, MiPro or Creative Audio. Build your Bodymics to match the packs you own. Cast Pack: every 4 Bodymics of the same style and capsule size earn a 5th free. This plot is a starting point; change any row to suit your cast.

The ensemble

This show has little true ensemble, so area mics mostly catch smaller speaking roles and extra voices in the finales. Place three or four area or choir mics at the stage lip; if you add a featured chorus to the finales, area mics are enough unless someone sings a solo line.

Show notes from our team

• The Prologue. The opening passes lines among almost every principal in rapid succession. Leave all principal channels open at a safe level rather than chasing each line, and rehearse the cue with the full cast early.
• The Witch's transformation. The Witch changes look mid-show, often with a wig and makeup swap. An earset survives both looks; rehearse the change with the mic on so the cable is not pulled out.
• Doubled roles. Traditional doubling (Narrator and Mysterious Man, Wolf and Cinderella's Prince) means one pack per actor across both roles. Label the channel with both names and note which scenes use which character.
• The Giant's voice. The Giant is a voiceover role. Use a dedicated offstage mic or a prerecording, add a little reverb, and send it through the main speakers so it feels larger than the onstage cast.

Projection

The woods, the cottages, the castle and the tower all suit projected scenery, and projections make the Act Two changes in the woods easy to show. Most school auditoriums need 7,000–10,000 lumens with the right lens; smaller black boxes can use less.

Our sister company Broadway Media makes Scenic Projections for Into the Woods. Not sure which projector? Read Stage Projectors for Digital Scenery.

Rent it for the run, or own it

Buying for a school? U.S. public schools can pay by purchase order. How school ordering works.

Common questions

How many wireless mics does Into the Woods need?

Plan on 17 channels with traditional doubling: 14 onstage body mics, one offstage channel for Cinderella's Mother and the Giant, and two spares. Prerecording the Giant or using a wired offstage mic brings that to 16.

Does Into the Woods need ensemble mics?

Only a few. Nearly every role sings, so most of the cast is on body mics. Three or four area or choir mics at the stage edge cover smaller speaking roles and any extra voices in the finales.

How should we handle the Giant's voice in Into the Woods?

The Giant is a voiceover role. Record it in advance or use a dedicated offstage mic, add some reverb, and play it through the main speakers so it sounds bigger than the onstage cast.

Can we rent mics just for our show week?

Yes. Stage Gear rentals run Monday to Monday around tech week, so you have mics for tech, dress and every performance. Kits arrive tested with return labels, and school purchase orders are welcome.

Stage Gear is not a show licensor. Into the Woods is licensed through Music Theatre International (MTI); production rights come from them. Stage Gear sells and rents the equipment. See you on stage!