Chicago Playworks for Families and Young Audiences Presents: HANSEL & GRETEL, A Reimagined Classic for All Ages, 10/26-11/16

The Theatre School at DePaul University proudly presents HANSEL & GRETEL, by Moses Goldberg and directed by Ann Wakefield, as the first production of the 2013-2014 Chicago Playworks for Families and Young Audiences Series. This production opens Saturday, October 12, and runs through Saturday, November 16, 2013, at DePaul's historic Merle Reskin Theatre. Performances are Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 10 AM, and Saturdays at 2 PM. A special Sunday performance (2 PM) will be held on October 27. There will be no Saturday performance on October 26. Friday performances are on November 1 and 15(10 AM).

Hansel and Gretel love to cause mischief. When they are sent to the woods to find berries for their mother, curiosity gets the best of them, and they enter a mysterious candy-covered cottage. In this adaptation of The Brothers Grimm tale, Hansel and Gretel-with the help of the audience-must learn to work together to get themselves out of a sticky situation.

This production is for all ages. Educational themes of Hansel & Gretel include: Adaptation, Creative Thinking, Fairy tales and Storytelling, Family, and Stranger Danger. For more information about pre-show and post-show educational activities and highlighted curriculum connections, please visit theatre.depaul.edu to download our free Teacher Guide. You can also request a Teacher Guide by calling the Box Office.

Tickets are $10. Subscriptions and group rates (15 or more people) are available. DePaul employees, alumni, and college students receive a discount (with ID). Tickets are available online or by calling the Box Office at (312) 922-1999.

DePaul's Merle Reskin Theatre is located at 60 E. Balbo Drive at Michigan Avenue, in Chicago. For information about parking, please contact the Box Office. The theatre is accessible via CTA busses (3-King Drive, 29-State Street, 146-Michigan/ Museums and others), and CTA El stops (Red, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Purple and Pink).

A wide range of events will be held in conjunction with this production including Community Partner Days, as well as an Ice Cream Social, Opening Day Autographs, Post Show Discussions, and much more! For details visit the website or call the Box Office.

The cast features Lucy Blehar (Trickle/ Gretel), George Booker (Bulbov/ Father/ Creator of Forest/ The Sandman/ The Witch's Rooster), Tyler Esselman (Staggio/ The Witch), Joe Keery (Bucol/ Hansel), Madison McLean (Sabrina/ Mother/ Creator of Forest/ The Witch's Cat), and Erica Murphy (Kiko the Mime).

The production staff includes Ann Wakefield (Director), Kristina Fluty (Choreography), Pamela Chermansky (Mime Specialist), Gregory Pinsoneault (Scenic Design), Anne Stebbins (Costume Design), Zachary Dietrich Malsich (Lighting Design), Kevin A. Cushman (Sound Design), Julianne Schwartz (Dramaturgy), and Abbie Betts (Stage Management).

Ann Wakefield (Director) has worked in South Africa, England, France and the U.S.A. as an actor, director and teacher. Ann has directed and written theatre for children and has created touring shows that have played to junior and senior schools and universities. In England, she worked with the Brian Way Theatre in Education Company and was assistant director to the highly acclaimed ZULU MACBETH, UMAMATHA, which was invited by the Royal Shakespeare Company to their World Theatre Season in London. In Chicago, she has been awarded Jeff citations for her performances in THE ROAD TO MECCA and ANOTHER PART OF THE FOREST, and an After Dark award for her performance in THE LION IN WINTER. She has been a teacher in the Residency Program for Lifeline Theatre, has collaborated on a translation of THE BARBER OF SEVILLE for Court Theatre, has served as a dialect coach for British and South African plays and as dramaturg and vocal coach at Loyola University Theatre. At The Theatre School, she teaches a range of BFA and MFA Acting classes and World of Theatre and Acting Workshops, and has directed Introducing Mr. Charles Dickens, THE UNDERGROUND LOVERS, THE BUTTERFINGERS ANGEL, THE PHYSICISTS, BAR AND GER AND OTHERS, THE IDIOT, THE ILLUSION, THE BLUE ROOM, VIEUX CARRE, THE MAN WHO, THE CHEKHOV MACHINE, ANTIGIONE, 4 BY CHEKHOV and BLACK COMEDY. For The Theatre School Showcase, she directed LAPIN LAPIN and for Chicago Playworks she has directed ALICE IN WONDERLAND, THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT WENT TO SEE..., TOKOLOSKE, and MANGO LEAF MAGIC. She wrote and directed TALES AS OLD AS AFRICA for the 2007-2008 season, and most recently directed THE CORAL KING.

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