Hänsel und Gretel
by Engelbert Humperdinck | libretto by Adelheid Wette
Based after the Brothers Grimm
Kevin Newbury, guest stage director
Raphael Jiménez, conductor
Hansel und Gretel is a story about the search for home, sustenance and security. Our production is set on the Lower East Side of New York City in the Summer of 1977, a time when New York was plagued by economic insecurity, a brutal heatwave and rampant crime, including the Son of Sam’s notorious killing spree. At the same time, downtown New York was experiencing a cultural Renaissance, from the genre-defining music scene to the gender-bending nightclub culture.
The young and curious Hansel and Gretel get lost “in the woods” in a foreign city — a city both dangerous and magical. Inspired by vibrant real-life characters like David Bowie and Andy Warhol, our production is a valentine to New York's rich history and culture. In fact, Summer 1977 featured the debut of an actual valentine: the now-legendary “I♥NY” campaign. Most of all, our production is a tribute to the wit, wonder and imagination of childhood, flourishing even in the face of great hardship.
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TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets will go on sale September 1, 2026
Reserved Seats $15 ($10 for students, faculty, staff, military & seniors)
For assistance in purchasing tickets, please contact Oberlin College Central Ticket Service.
This fully-staged production of Oberlin Opera Theater will be presented in four performances, November 5 through 7 at 8pm and November 8 at 2pm.
