University of Kentucky Opera Theatre is delighted to present Hansel and Gretel, our fall opera production, for a student matinee at the Lexington Opera House (401 W Short St, Lexington, KY 40507) on Friday, October 3, 2025 at 10:00am.
Hansel and Gretel is sung in English with supertitles above the stage. The production runs about 2 hours and 5 minutes including a 20 minute intermission.
Journey into the heart of a timeless tale with Engelbert Humperdinck's enchanting opera, Hansel and Gretel. This masterful operatic retelling of the Brothers Grimm classic brings a tender twist to the familiar story: Driven by abject poverty, Hansel and Gretel venture into the forest not abandoned, but sent by their mother in search of berries to nourish their struggling family. Lost and alone as night falls, they are visited by the gentle spirits of the Sandman, Dew Fairy, and protective woodland angels, set to some of the most exquisitely beautiful music found in the operatic repertoire. The dawn reveals the infamous gingerbread house, where the brave children must then confront the evil witch, fighting for their lives and their unbreakable bond.
To request information and begin the ticketing process, please fill out our interest form here. All ticketing and payments will be handled by UK Opera Theatre. Please allow 48 hours after submission to allow us to respond before following up. Anyone attending the performance needs a ticket – students, teachers, parent chaperones, etc. Ticket prices for all attendees are the same: $8.50.
Interest form submissions must be completed at least one week prior to the performance date (before Friday, September 26, 2025 at 5:00pm). Any submissions or additions to existing orders after this time may incur additional fees.
We cannot issue refunds. All sales are final. The exception to this is if public or school safety policies require that the performance be canceled. If we cancel this performance for safety reasons due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, then a full refund will be issued. In this event, we would contact you to coordinate the refund.
If you have any questions about the performance, please contact Jeryl Cunningham at UKOTSOOP@gmail.com. If you have payment questions, please contact Aaron Bowling at Aaron.Bowling@uky.edu.
Ready to give your students an unforgettable live arts experience?
There are a number of other local grants and resources available to assist educators in providing these types of enriching experiences to their students. UK Opera Theatre is committed to providing a cost-effective, educational, and culturally enriching experience to Kentucky students.
The word opera is Italian for “work”. It is an art form that includes acting, singing, dancing, a live orchestra and stunning visual elements in sets and costumes. The strongest focus of opera is the music, with powerful orchestration and performers singing beautiful arias (solos). The first opera was Dafne, written by Jacopo Peri in 1597. The first opera house opened in Venice, Italy in 1637. Later on, opera was the basis for musical theatre, with early productions in the 1800’s being called operettas (little operas). Opera has even featured in Bugs Bunny cartoons: “What’s Opera Doc?” and “Rabbit of Seville”.
Filled with Eloise Wilkins’ gentle, detailed illustrations, this edition of Hansel and Gretel captures the story’s blend of adventure, danger, and triumph in a way that's perfect for young readers.
An Illustrated Treasury of Grimm’s Fairy Tales, illustrated by Daniela Drescher is a collection of the Brothers Grimm’s classic stories. “Each tale is brought to life with radiant, faithful pictures from Daniela Drescher, one of Germany's best-loved illustrators, which are sure to fire any child's imagination."
By Lovester J. Posey. This work retells the Grimm Brothers’ tale with a bi-lingual twist.
This edition of Hansel and Gretel, retold and illustrated by Rachel Isadora, showcases lush African-themed artwork.
Ready to give your students an unforgettable live arts experience?
