Hansel & Gretel at Oklahoma City University

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Oklahoma City University opens its opera season Nov. 18-20 with the classic Hansel & Gretel, inspired by the Brothers Grimm tale and featuring a 45-member orchestra and cast of 31.

“This is a fabulous introduction to opera for audiences of all ages,” said Dr. David Herendeen, director of OCU’s award-winning Oklahoma Opera & Music Theater Company. “Audiences will cheer on Hansel and Gretel as they match wits with the witch in this tasty, whimsical masterpiece.”

Composer Engelbert Humperdinck collaborated with his sister, Adelheid Wette, to create a libretto and folk-music score for the fairy tale. The opera became an immediate success after its 1893 debut, and would go on to make history as the Metropolitan Opera’s first full radio broadcast and the world’s first televised opera.

Prof. Jan McDaniel will lead the pit orchestra, said to be the largest show orchestra in the University’s 118-year history. Scenic design is by Prof. Jason Foreman, with lighting design by Ethan Dresser and original costumes by Alyssa Couturier.

Hansel & Gretel will be presented 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 18-19, with a 3 p.m. Sunday matinee Nov. 20, in the Wanda L. Bass School of Music’s Kirkpatrick Auditorium, 2501 N. Blackwelder Ave.

Tickets ($15-30) are available from www.okcu.edu/tickets or 405-208-5227. A free director’s talk will be held 45 minutes before curtain.

A German-themed opening dinner will be held 6:15 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, in the Bass Music Center Atrium. Tickets ($25) available from www.okcu.edu/tickets.

THE CAST:

Featuring Nina Eisenberg and Rachel Schoenecker as Gretel; Lucy Abramowitz and Alexa Cortes as Hansel; Arden Hearne and Avery Mahan as Gertrude (Mother); Troy Freeman and Irma Gonzales as The Witch; Holly Parker and Amelia Unger as Sandman/Dew Fairy; and Joshua Cominsky and Jackson Barnes (u/s) as Peter (Father). The Chorus: Anna Coleman, Kylie Merrill, Raeslyn Miller, Lianna Paglia, Elizabeth Perrone, Sahara Seifried, Claire Ehlers, M. K. Lee, Maddie Miller, Anna Catherine Morgan, Leigha Trejo and Sadie Wilson.

OCU’s Oklahoma Opera & Music Theater Company’s 71st season continues Feb. 17-19 with Mozart’s The Magic Flute, performed in German with English dialogue and supertitles, led by guest director Cynthia Stokes and music director Jan McDaniel.

The Feb. 24-26 spring opera spotlight is Jacques Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld, led by Herendeen and music director Chuck Koslowske. The season concludes April 21-23 with Stephen Sondheim’s Tony-winning Sunday in the Park with George on the Kirkpatrick main stage.

This year marks the 71st consecutive season for OCU’s award-winning Oklahoma Opera and Music Theater Company, the world’s oldest campus troupe devoted to both opera and music theater.

Under the leadership of Dr. David Herendeen, who this season celebrates his 26th year as director, OCU has won 11 National Opera Association production awards in the past decade.

For more information on events, visit www.okcu.edu/music.