Music Department presents Hansel and Gretel
FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Huntington, Ind. "The Huntington College Music Department presents Hansel and Gretel, a magical evening of family fun in the Zurcher Auditorium of the Huntington College Merillat Centre for the Arts. Hansel and Gretel, a fairytale opera, is set in storybook fashion and will delight both children and adults. The curtain rises on Thursday, March 10 and Friday, March 11 at 7:30 p.m. Admission for evening performances is $8.00 for the general public, $6.00 for seniors, and $4.00 for students. The opera, based on Grimm's fairytale Hansel and Gretel, traces the antics of the two beloved children on their perilous journey to outwit the Witch who dwells in the darkness of the forest. Written by German composer Engelbert Humperdinck, the opera first premiered in Weimar, Germany, in December of 1893, and was conducted by Richard Strauss.
Directed by Dr. John Thompson, assistant professor of music at Huntington College, the Hansel and Gretel cast includes:
PETER, A BROOMMAKER " Dr. John Thompson from Huntington, Ind.
GERTRUDE, HIS WIFE " Sara Phares, from Albion, Ind.
HANSEL " Dana Frick, from Kendallville, Ind.
GRETEL " Cathy Bennett, from Centerville, Ind.
THE WITCH, WHO EATS CHILDREN - Maria Rhodes, from Celina, Ohio
SANDMAN, THE SLEEP FAIRY " Tasha Hauff, from Huntington, Ind.
DEWFAIRY, THE DAWN FAIRY " Stephanie Baehrens, from Oak Harbor, Ohio
The Angels, Fairies and Wood Nymphs will be played by the Combined Choirs of the Children's Choirs of Huntington County.
