

Digital Playbill
Synopsis
Gretel and her brother Hansel live with their mother Helga in a small sparsely furnished house on the edge of a mysterious and magical forest.
Helga is struggling to find enough food to feed her hungry children because of a famine in the land. Gretel is a sweet and smart girl who tries to help her mother with the chores, even though she is very hungry. Helga tells her that they do have some milk for dinner tonight, after she finishes sweeping up.
Gretel loves her brother Hansel, but he is a bit of a lazy bones, and doesn’t want to help with the chores. When the two start arguing about who will sweep, Hansel accidentally spills the milk.
This is the last straw for Helga, and she angrily scolds the children. She is distraught at not having anything to feed her children but a few stale breadcrumbs. She tells the two that they must go out into the forest to gather berries, so they have something to eat. Hansel and Gretel reluctantly go into the scary woods, and Helga feels remorse and worries about her children.
Gretel is concerned about losing their way in the dark forest, but Hansel has an idea: he will leave a trail of breads crumbs he snitched from the cupboard which will lead them back home. It seems like a clever idea - until a flock of little birds follow behind and eat the crumbs. When Hansel tells Gretel what happened, they become fearful because they realize they are now lost. The forest is filled with wispy spirits that look like fireflies. Suddenly a strange person appears and begins to dance around. It is the Sandman who puts Hansel and Gretel to sleep so they can rest. A beautiful Dew Fairy comes upon the children and wakes them up so they can continue their journey. Hansel discovers some delicious treats which lead them to a beautiful clearing exposing an amazing house made of gingerbread and decorated with delicious sweets! The two are overjoyed and eat their fill!
Suddenly, two cooks appear with life-sized gingerbread cookies. Hansel and Gretel are amazed. A strange woman emerges from the house. She sweetly introduces herself and dances with Hansel and Gretel, tempting them with cakes and candy. Suddenly, the woman reveals that she is the Sugar Witch who loves children – to eat! She locks Hansel in a cage and tells Gretel she must fatten him up so she can bake him into a tasty cookie.
When the witch leaves, Gretel desperately tries to free Hansel. The cooks take pity on the children, and they leave the keys to the cage for Gretel to find. Just as Gretel frees Hansel, the Witch returns. She tries to catch the two to push them into the oven, but the children lead the Witch on a crazy chase, making her dizzy. They pop her into the oven instead!
The Cooks thank Hansel and Gretel for freeing them. The gingerbread cookies turn back into real children, and they all run off to find their way home. Helga has been searching for her children, and the Dew Fairy and Sandman lead the children to find her. Helga is deeply sorry, but Hansel and Gretel love her so much they forgive her and show her all the food they have brought back from the Witch’s house.
Their little family is reunited, and all their new friends rejoice as Hansel and Gretel bring out a big surprise! And they all live happily ever after!
Cast List
Choreography
Robert Gardner
Music
Edvard Grieg
Costumes
Pam McMindes
Lighting
Demian Spindler
Hansel
Ryo Munakata
Gretel
Anna Ackerman
Helga
Angela Wentling
Sandman
Anna Stewart
Dew Fairy
Lizzie McMindes
Sugar Witch
Keith Justin Reeves
Chefs
Myah Frase
Sophie Stewart
Forest Spirits
Sophie Stewart
Myah Frase
Kendall Austin
Magdalene Ramich
Olivia Allen
Skylar DeVore
Cookies
Ali Baleno
Saanvi Barat
Amelia Glocker
Evie Rose Jackson
Birds
Annabelle Glocker
Esme Hughes
Lilah Mondello
Ava Morton
Brenn Thomas
Artistic Staff

Katherine Johnson
Artistic Director

Robert Gardner
Artistic Associate
The Company
Staff and Production
Production Assistant - Janet Wentling
Photography and Videography - Demian Spindler
Graphic Design - Lisa Gates
Wardrobe Mistress - Pam McMindes
Jim Niger, Professional Instant Press
New York State Ballet Board Members
Katherine Johnson, Founder and Executive Chair
Kara Bosco, Board Member
Miranda Glocker, Board Member
Pam McMindes, Board Member
Claire Mondello, Board Member
Sponsors
CORPORATE SPONSORS
American Packaging Corporation
Brighton Securities Wealth Management
Jim Niger of Professional Instant Press
M&T Bank
Wegmans
INDIVIDUAL SPONSORS
Marilyn Enderby
The Mondello Family
Many thanks
to Mr. Robert Gardner
and
The New York State Council on the Arts and the Monroe County government for making this production possible.
CONTACT
US
Office: (585) 203-1763
Cell: (585) 704-1903
Email: plie@newyorkstateballet.org
Mail:
PO Box 201, Pittsford, NY 14534
VISIT
US
Studio Location:
821 Fairport Rd. E. Rochester, NY 14445