[248] MTSU, McFadden Students Visit Gingerbread House for 'Hansel and Gretel'

MTSU, McFadden students visit gingerbread house for ‘Hänsel and Gretel’

FOR RELEASE: Jan. 31, 2012
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Tim Musselman, 615-898-2493 or tim.musselman@mtsu.edu

MURFREESBORO—The MTSU Opera and Theater departments will present three performances of Engelbert Humperdinck's “Hänsel and Gretel,” featuring students from the McFadden School of Excellence, Feb. 10-12 on the University’s campus.

Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 10 and 11, and 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 12, in Hinton Music Hall inside MTSU’s Wright Music Building.

Based on the classic story of Hansel and Gretel and their encounter with the wicked witch in the wood who tries to bake the children into bread, the MTSU version will feature MTSU opera students Katie Spencer as Hansel, Sarah Wofford as Gretel, Amanda Smith as Mother, Corbin Phillips as Father, Leslie Freemans as Sandman/Dew Fairy and Kevin Isbell as the Witch.

Dancers and angels, played by MTSU students, are Caleb Marshall, Heather Danielsen, Katie Hahn, Kayla Allsop, Kayla Holt, Tiffany Philpot, Christine Phillips, Sarah Upchurch, Victoria Stephens, Cora Frye, Elizabeth Elliott and Sarah Taylor, among others.

The children's chorus of McFadden students features flower dancers Camryn Adcock, Kathryn Hans, Sara Posey, Abi Shamburger and Emma Jo Shamburger, along with other choristers Harrison Arney, Allie Boatwright, Lilly Ann Brow, Mia Collins, Hannah Coutcher, Ross Eady, Peter Hays, Aubrey Knowles, Allison Meisel, Zoe Naylor, Emma Beth Petty, Sidney Roberts and Charles Shamburger.

The opera is under the musical direction of Dr. Raphael Bundage. Staging director is Kristi Shamburger, and Erin Rehberg is choreographer. 2012 marks the 200th anniversary of the Brothers Grimm publication of the fairy tales that include “Hänsel and Gretel.” The German composer Humperdinck adapted the tale to opera, and it was first performed in 1893.

General-admission tickets for the Feb. 10-12 performances are $10 for adults and $5 for all non-MTSU students and will be available at the door. MTSU students, faculty and staff wil be admitted free with a valid ID. For more ticket information, call 615-898-2849.

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