Eastern to present 'Hansel and Gretel' opera April 1-3

by Molly Boucher

Willimantic, CT (03/22/2022) — The opera studio at Eastern Connecticut State University will present Engelbert Humperdinck's classic fairytale opera "Hansel and Gretel" on April 1-3 in the Fine Arts Instructional Center (FAIC) Concert Hall. The production is directed by Music Professor Emily Riggs with musical direction by David Ballena. Showtimes are April 1 at 7:30 p.m. and April 2 and 3 at 4 p.m.

Based on the 19th century German fairytale by the Grimm Brothers, the opera follows siblings Hansel and Gretel as they travel through an enchanted forest. Soon they get lost and are forced to stay in the woods overnight. When they wake the next morning, they discover a magical house made of sweets and candy. Their curiosity gets the best of them, and they soon find themselves trapped in the spell of a nasty witch. Hansel and Gretel must use all their wit to outsmart the witch before they are baked into gingerbread.

The cast includes Samantha Warshauer (West Hartford) as Hansel; Emily Gillespie (Lebanon) as Gretel; Christiana Montalbano as The Witch; Mya Millbauer as the Mother; Callie Sullivan as the Sandman; and Sarah Potter as the Dew Fairy. Scenic design is by Kristen P.E. Zarabozo; lighting design is by Megan O'Brien; and the scenic artist is Anna Brewster.

This production will be performed in English with original narration. The run time is one hour and 20 minutes, with no intermission.

Tickets are free for all children and youth (under 18); $10 for senior citizens (62+); free for Eastern students; $12 for Eastern faculty, staff and alumni; and $20 for the general public. Free youth tickets are possible due to a generous grant from the Jeffrey P. Ossen Family Foundation. To purchase tickets, please visit http://easternct.showare.com/hanselandgretel

For more information, visit: https://www.easternct.edu/music/event/hansel-and-gretel.html or contact the FAIC Box Office at (860) 465-5123 or email theatreboxoffice@easternct.edu .

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Eastern Connecticut State University is the state of Connecticut's public liberal arts university, serving more than 4,300 students annually on its Willimantic campus. In addition to attracting students from 163 of Connecticut's 169 towns, Eastern also draws students from 31 states and 10 countries. A residential campus offering 41 majors and 65 minors, Eastern offers students a strong liberal art foundation grounded in a variety of applied learning opportunities. Ranked as the #1 public regional university in New England by U.S. News & World Report in its 2020, 2021 and 2022 Best Colleges ratings, Eastern has also been awarded 'Green Campus' status by the Princeton Review 12 years in a row. For more information, visit www.easternct.edu.