Christian Reif to lead opera production of "Hänsel & Gretel" at Minnesota's Lakes Area Music Festival
Photo credit: David Boran
Lakes Area Music Festival brings a fairytale forest to life in ‘Hänsel & Gretel’By Dispatch Staff ReportBrainerd DispatchJuly 31, 2025
Aug. 9-10 performances reimagine a classic tale in the Minnesota North Woods with acclaimed cast and local youth choruses.
BRAINERD — Lakes Area Music Festival continues its 2025 MYTHS & MAGIC season with a fully staged production of Engelbert Humperdinck’s “Hänsel & Gretel,” a heartwarming opera for audiences of all ages.
Performances take place 7:30 p.m. Aug. 9 and 3 p.m. Aug. 10, at the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts in Brainerd.
Set in Minnesota’s enchanted North Woods, this new production is directed by Justin Lucero, a nationally acclaimed Latinx director and Artistic Director of Theater Latté Da, whose vision brings whimsical storytelling and theatrical flair to the stage. Conducted by Christian Reif and featuring a lush, Romantic score, “Hänsel & Gretel” promises musical enchantment for opera lovers and young audiences alike.
This year’s cast includes rising stars and celebrated guest artists. Ariana Wehr (Gretel), praised for her “vibrant lyricism” by Opera News, stars alongside festival-favorite Abi Levis (Hänsel), the Joy in Singing Foundation’s “Debut Artist of the Year.” Contralto Sara Couden returns to the festival in the role of the Witch, joined by John Taylor Ward (Father), Amy Guarino (Mother), and members of the Lakes Area Music Festival Opera Residency. Rounding out the magic are youth performers from the Legacy Chorale of Greater Minnesota and Northfield Youth Choirs, who form the production’s charming children’s chorus.
“‘Hänsel & Gretel’ is an opera rich in imagination, humor, and heart,” said Lakes Area Music Festival Artistic Director Taylor Ward. “This production blends local talent and national artistry in a way that truly represents our Festival’s mission.”
Part of Lakes Area Music Festival’s 17th anniversary season, “Hänsel & Gretel” joins a vibrant lineup of concerts, opera, chamber music, and community events running July 25-Aug. 17.
The Aug. 9 performance is sponsored in part by Victual; The Aug. 10 performance is sponsored in part by Gull Lake Resort. Tickets and full program details available at lakesareamusic.org.
Cast: Hänsel — Abi LevisGretel — Ariana WehrWitch — Sara CoudenFather — John Taylor WardMother — Amy GuarinoSandman — Jillian TateDew Fairy — Sarah Rachel Bacani
Creative team:Conductor — Christian ReifStage Director — Justin LuceroLighting Designer — Jennifer FokCostume Designer — Arian Marie MoyeHair and Makeup Designer — Emma GustafsonChoreographer — Hannah BendittChorus Masters — Michelle Bendett (Northfield Youth Choirs), Kennedy Niska (Legacy Chorale)Principal Coach — Bretton BrownStage Manager — Kate Fehan
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