Like so many great and fully implausible schemes, a two-nights-only production of “Into the Woods,” running this week on the Lower East Side, was hatched in a crevice of time, when its masterminds were madly busy with other things.

In their case, that was serving dinner and drinks to about 500 people one night last March in Gotham Hall, an old bank building near Pennsylvania Station that has become a catering venue. Kevin Horne — actor, director, writer — was working at the party as a captain for the catering company, Great Performances. Aubrey Elson — actress and singer — was working as a waiter.

During a break, Ms. Elson sidled up to another waiter, Nick Locilento, actor, singer, dancer.

“Kevin and I were talking about putting on ‘Into the Woods,’ ” she said. “What would you think about playing the Baker part?”

“Sure,” Mr. Locilento said instantly.

Casting had begun. So, too, had a mighty project, unmoored from the ordinary ballast of life, with no investors, no salaries, no prospects of anyone’s making a dime: a bubble of joy, with a life span of Tuesday through Wednesday night. They got backing from hundreds of people, in scores of ways — including $25 donations, discounted rentals and a volunteer electrician.