Most of us are familiar with the story of Hansel and Gretel: the young brother and sister from medieval Germany (most likely during the Great Famine of 1315–17) who—as told by The Brothers Grimm in Grimm’s Fairy Tales (1812)—are abandoned in the woods, leave a trail of breadcrumbs, stumble upon a gingerbread house inhabited by an evil witch, and ultimately turn the tables before escaping to return to their family. Like many of the tales compiled by the Brothers Grimm, it’s rather, well, grim (pun intended)—though for centuries, audiences of all ages have delighted in the witch’s eventual comeuppance.

While the bones of that familiar story remain intact, Nevada Ballet Theatre’s (NBT) latest production of Hansel and Gretel is anything but bleak. Performed inside Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Downtown Las Vegas, this clever reimagining transforms the classic fairy tale into a visually exuberant theatrical fantasia. It is a production packed with thematic, visual, and choreographic references that audiences across generations will recognize, and it runs for a limited engagement through Sunday, May 24.

This delightful adaptation, featuring an enchanting score by Claire Cowan and inventive choreography by Loughlan Prior, masterfully replaces the 14th century with the Weimar Republic, as though the story had somehow passed through Christopher Isherwood and not Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. That historical shift proves unexpectedly fertile. Besides the obvious echoes of Cabaret, the production offers brilliant visual nods to Georges Méliès’ groundbreaking 1902 film Le Voyage dans la Lune, Fritz Lang’s 1927 German Expressionist masterpiece Metropolis, Walt Disney’s 1940 animated classic Fantasia, and Mel Stuart’s 1971 psychedelic fantasy Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Keen-eyed fans of Dr. Seuss will also appreciate the allusions to both the inhabitants of Whoville and the Grinch, all brought to life through spectacular costumes by Kate Hawley, whose recent work on Frankenstein (2025) earned her both a BAFTA and an Academy Award.

Beyond the stunning visual design, the production's high-energy choreography is equally referential and no less entertaining. At various moments, the movement language channels Jazz Age exuberance (the Charleston is done with gusto), alongside the elastic comedic physicality of Buster Keaton, the regimented precision of an Esther Williams aqua-musical, and the synchronized spectacle of Busby Berkeley’s kaleidoscopic chorus lines. Elsewhere, amoeba-esque formations deliver just enough stylized theatricality to evoke the Fosse of it all.

What emerges from these varied influences is not mere pastiche, but something surprisingly cohesive. This Hansel and Gretel is sophisticated, Gothic, extravagant, endearing, occasionally hilarious, energetic, surrealistic, Dadaistic, campy, kooky, clever, colorful, and above all else, fun. In short, Nevada Ballet Theatre has created a production that respects the Grimm original while allowing it to delightfully misbehave.

Whether you’re a local or a visitor, if you’re looking for the best live theater and cultural events in Las Vegas, this production stands out as a seasonal highlight. So, don’t dawdle and get your tickets for one of these final performances of NBT’s Hansel and Gretel, now!

Nevada Ballet Theatre presents HANSEL AND GRETEL
Reynolds Hall | The Smith Center for the Performing Arts
Saturday, May 23 (7:30 PM) and Sunday, May 24 (2:00 PM)
Click HERE for tickets and info

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