BWW Interviews: Hagerstown Hub Opera to Present HANSEL AND GRETEL

Just in time for Halloween, Hagerstown Hub Opera will present the classic children's fairy tale Hansel and Gretel on October 4 and 5, featuring an enchanted forest, magical creatures and, of course, a wicked witch!

Directed by Sam Little and musically directed by Scott Crowne, Hansel and Gretel, composed by Engelbert Humperdinck, is an operatic adaptation of the classic Brothers Grimm fairytale. Brother-sister pair Hansel and Gretel are punished for misbehaving and sent into the woods to gather strawberries. After losing their way in the forest, they stumble upon a gingerbread house, owned by an evil witch, and must find a way to avoid being eaten themselves!

Though the story is a classic fairytale, Hub Opera has included several updates to bring the opera to a new audience Traditionally performed as a Christmastime opera, this performance is styled to coincide with a spooky Halloween time performance, with some historical relevance.

"This production of Hansel and Gretel draws on some unusual inspirations. It's not your grandmother's fairy tale. We've pulled in bits of James Agee's "Let Us Now Praise Famous Men," which brought global attention to the poverty of the American Dust Bowl. The connection isn't completely original (Samuel Barber styled his "Knoxville: Summer of 1915" concert aria after the same material) and it's one of my favorites. But I always love performing when the material has a chance to surprise even the most loyal opera-goers who think they've seen it all" said Susan Wheeler, who plays Mother.

The opera is comprised of professional opera singers in the principal roles, and the performers enjoyed the challenging aspects of bringing the folklore characters to life.

"The mother in Hansel and Gretel is a tough survivor. Whether it's maintaining dignity in the face of infidelity or doggedly ensuring your family's survival in times of extreme poverty, strong female operatic roles are my bread and butter. I admire the mother's survival instinct in spite of her circumstances" said Wheeler.

"I play two magical characters, the Sandman and Dew Fairy. I actually get to play two very different characters, both of which have really fun costumes: one is a little man who tries to calm the children and get them to sleep, and the other is a glittery fairy who wakes the children up in the morning. They have to be both fantastic and realistic to be believable within the context of a fairy tale" said Stacey Mastrian on playing the dual role of Sandman/Dew Fairy.

Founded in 2010, Hagerstown Hub Opera is committed to bringing professional operatic performances to Hagerstown and allowing professional singers and artists the opportunities to spread the joys of professional opera to surrounding communities without easy access to the arts. The entire cast is excited to share the latest production with an audience.

"This production is entertaining and one of the few opportunities to see a professional opera with live music for reasonable prices in this area. The music is awesome!" said Deborah Stotelmyer, orchestra manager and violinist.

"Audiences should come for the tremendous energy that emanates from a wonderful group of singer-actors. This [opera] has the power to reach audiences. It is incredible to hear their reactions and to know that our work moved them. We want everyone to be able to have that kind of experience" said Mastrian.

Hansel and Gretel features Madelyn Wanner as Hansel, Elizabeth Overman as Gretel, Andrew Pardini as Father, Leah Crowne as the Witch, Chloe Dickinson, Elizabeth Mackley, Socks Whitmore, Cheyenne Herson, Cheyenne Rickett, Katie Snyder, Tamia Branch, Mary Lungu as Chorus members and Diane Draper, Sarah Elwood, Alexis Harris, Megan Kiley, Ladonna Jones, Kaitlyn Lamkin, Katie Myers, Briana Rohrer, Katelyn Shreiner and Harley Strakal as Dancers.

Hansel and Gretel will run October 4 at 7:30 PM and October 5 at 3:00 PM. All performances occur in the Kepler Theater at Hagerstown Community College, 11400 Robinwood Drive, Hagerstown, MD. Tickets are $30 for general admission and $20 for student and senior tickets. Tickets are available at the door. For more information, or to purchase advance tickets online, please visit http://www.huboperaensemble.org/

Photo Credit: Hagerstown Hub Opera

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