Vashon Opera
Hansel and Gretel
Friday, May 29th, 7:30 pm
Sunday, May 31st, 2:30 pm
Vashon Center for the Arts
Escape into enchantment! Vashon Opera presents Engelbert Humperdinck's beloved Hänsel und Gretel. Journey into a world of fairy-tale wonder with a glorious, sweeping score. Witness Hansel and Gretel's adventure, the tempting gingerbread house, and local celebrity drag queen Anita Spritzer as the delightfully wicked witch. Perfect for families and opera aficionados alike. Experience the magic live on Vashon.
Humperdinck wrote this opera as a gift for his sister’s children, so many of the melodies are based on child-like folk-tunes that you’ll leave the theater humming. However, what he built from those tunes was a lush, rich, bombastic orchestral score in the tradition of Wagner, one of his teachers. The story is the familiar Brothers Grimm fairy-tale, but this German libretto focuses on the powerful bond between the famous siblings and how they save each other’s lives when their situation becomes dire. This production marks Artistic Director Allison Pohl’s debut as stage director, and her particular spin on the classic story will focus on the importance of family. Anita Spritzer’s interpretation of the role of the Witch will add an unforgettable magical touch to this Vashon Opera production.
Performance Information
• Music by Engelbert Humperdinck, German libretto by Adelheid Wette, based on the Brothers Grimm fairy-tale
• Sung in German with English supertitles
• Run time approx. 2 hours including one intermission
• Tickets $38-$64
Vashon Center for the Arts (19600 Vashon Hwy SW Vashon, WA 98070)
Friday, May 29, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Sunday, May 31, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Stage Director: Allison Pohl
Conductor: Jim Brown
Set Designer: Ryan Ross, Studio Nest Designs
Technical Director/Lighting Designer: Alex Wren
Costume Designer: Alex Lewington
Children’s Chorus Master: Judith Herrington
Rehearsal Pianists: Jessica Hall, Chris Kollar
Hänsel: Laurel Semerdjian
Gretel: Emma Petersen
Die Knusperhexe (The Witch): Anita Spritzer
Peter (Father): Andy Krikawa
Gertrud (Step-mother): Jennifer Krikawa
Sandmännchen/Taumännchen (Sandman/Dew Fairy): Ellaina Lewis
Squirrel/Witch’s Minion: Peter Dorman
Crow/Witch’s Minion: Rick Turner
Birth Mother: Erika Strandberg
with members of the Tacoma Youth Chorus
Tickets and information at www.vashonopera.org *** Follow us on facebook and instagram