Galli Theatre Presents HANSEL & GRETEL 1/8-30

Galli Theater will enchant young audiences with Brothers Grimm fairy tale HANSEL AND GRETEL at the National Comedy Theatre - Galli's new residence at 347 W. 36 Street - every weekend this January. The play will start at 2 p.m.

In the uplifting remake of this classical Brothers Grimm fairy tale the siblings Hänsel and Gretel run away from home and find themselves alone in a dark forest. Very soon they discover a Gingerbread House and meet its respective owner, the wicked Witch. Hänsel and Gretel interact with the children in the audience and ask them to help them trick the Witch. At the end Gretel outsmarts her, using the Witch's own spell, and frees herself and Hänsel from the magical bonds.

"This is bare bones, interactive, early childhood performance that dips into the rich archive of Grimm's Brothers' fairy tales. Galli's revolving repertoire of improvisational performance stresses audience participation and stays away from sensory overload," said Erin Leigh Peck from Broadway World Junior.

On Saturdays the show will be followed by a one-hour after-show workshop where the theater group invites kids to act out their favorite fairy tale character and dress up in costumes. The workshop is followed by a mini performance for the adults.

Playwright, clown, and director Johannes Galli has been bringing fairy tales to kids for almost 25 years. Believing that fairy tales are healing for children, he uses the original story but changes the "grim" version into a humorous play that entertains kids and adults alike and has a fun and educating message in the end. "Galli's Fairytale Theater is one of our city's greatest resources for young children and their families," said Virginia Connor, head of St. Hilda's & St. Hugh's independent episcopal day school.

Show are January 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, and 30 at 2 p.m. (new show time) Tickets for adults are $20 and tickets for kids 2-17 years old are $15.

There will be after-show workshops on January 8, 15, 22, and 29 at 3 p.m. Admission is $15 and $10 for siblings.

For reservations, please call 212-810-6485, or email newyork@galli-group.com. Online ticket sales at www.gallitheaterny.com.

The Galli Group is a worldwide umbrella organization and was founded by philosopher, actor, and playwright Johannes Galli 25 years ago. The theater group operates eight theaters in Germany and has training facilities in nine countries that are all operated independently. Members of the Galli Group also perform for children in hospitals, orphanages and disaster areas. Galli Theater-Theater for Personal Growth in New York City, Galli's first location in the U.S., is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization, whose programs support underprivileged children worldwide. For more information about its work and shows, please visit www.gallitheaterny.com.