Missouri Western State University will offer quality entertainment for young and old alike with the one act children’s opera “Hansel and Gretel.” The production will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 2 and at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3 and Sunday, Nov. 4. General admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children, students and seniors.
“This is the perfect opportunity to expose children to the arts with this hilarious family friendly adaptation of ‘Hansel and Gretel,’” Dr. Susan Carter, director of vocal studies and the show’s director said.
This production represents a collaboration between Missouri Western’s departments of music and art. The cast members are all students in the opera workshop class taught by Dr. Carter. Art students in two-dimensional design, taught by Eric Fuson, instructor of art, created the publicity posters for the opera, activity books and interactive backdrops.
“The collaboration between the music and art department is unique in the sense that it equally provides for both departments,” Fuson said. “The opera provides the art students with an audience, so their work can be seen, while the art students provide a visual impact for the musical production that otherwise it wouldn’t have.”
The backdrops that the students have created for “Hansel and Gretel” are unlike anything Missouri Western has done before. The students have created three-dimensional animations that will be projected onto screens to create interactive sets.
“What these art students have been able to design is truly incredible. They have literally made the backdrops come alive and move with the actors. It’s amazing to see it all coming together,” Dr. Carter said.
Before the production begins the art students will give a brief presentation on how the three dimensional art was created as well as show example sketches.
The music students involved with the opera include Jacob Mills, freshman music major of St. Joseph, as Hansel; Adrienne Collins, sophomore music major of St. Joseph, as Gretel; Sarah Waters, senior English major of St. Joseph, as Mother; Daniel Brooks, sophomore music major of Kearney, Mo., as Father; Ian Fast, senior music major of Mendon, Ill., as Sandman; Kaitlyn Christian, freshman music major of St. Joseph, as Dewfairy; Jeremy Howe, sophomore of St. Joseph, as Witch; Donovan Jones, sophomore music major of Tarkio, Mo., on piano; and Ara Ju, adjunct faculty and staff pianist, on piano.
The art students involved with the opera include Truman Vasko, junior digital animation major of Shelbyville, Ill., animation design; Danny Janovec, senior, digital animation major of St. Joseph, animation design; Shelby Hughes, junior graphic design major of Bolckow, Mo., poster design; Richard Allnutt, junior graphic design major of Trenton, Mo., activity book; Adam Clifton, freshman graphic design major of St. Joseph, activity book; Kelsy Noe, sophomore studio art major of Gower Mo., activity book.
In addition, 58 freshmen from Fuson’s drawing class will have exhibits set up during the productions. The exhibits will feature their interpretations of the “Hansel and Gretel” theme.
The production is also touring area elementary schools this fall with a shortened version of the opera.
Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.