Hansel and Gretel
A poverty-stricken family struggles to survive at the edge of the desolate Black Forest.
Filled with dreams of a better life, Hansel and Gretel run away in search of what awaits them on the other side of the woods. After days of wandering through twisted trees, their journey appears to have come to an end when they stumble upon a house made entirely of candy, sweets, and sugary treats!
However, it’s not long before they discover they’ve been lured into a witch’s trap and must work together to escape...
Digitally touring Alberta elementary schools in 2022!
Farren Timoteo
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR/PLAYWRIGHT/LYRICIST/DIRECTOR
Farren is an Edmonton-based actor, writer, and director. He has written and directed many productions for AMTC, including Little Red Riding Hood, Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin, Rumpelstiltskin, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, and Hansel and Gretel. Other directing credits include The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee for the Mayfield Theatre; Everybody Goes to Mitzi's and The Infinite Shiver for Teatro La Quindicina; Pippin for the Young Companies at the Citadel Theatre; The Light in the Piazza for Grant MacEwan University; and Stravinsky's Soldier's Tale for the C'Mon Ensemble at the 2018 Edmonton Fringe Festival. His acting credits include The Fiancée, As You Like It, Peter and the Starcatcher, and Monty Python's Spamalot (Citadel Theatre); The Light in the Piazza (Theatre Calgary); Coriolanus (Freewill Shakespeare Festival); Marvellous Pilgrims (Teatro La Quindicina); Forever Plaid (Mayfield Dinner Theatre); and, Made in Italy (Western Canada Theatre), which he is currently touring across Canada. Farren has been honored by the Sterling Awards on many occasions, most recently for his performances in Made in Italy (2019) and Monty Python's Spamalot (2016) and his direction of AMTC's Pinocchio (2012). In 2018, he was the recipient of a Broadwayworld.com award for his performance in Forever Plaid. In 2015, Farren was included in Avenue Magazine's prestigious list of Edmonton's Top 40 Under 40 in recognition of his artistic contributions to the city. This season, in addition to his work at Alberta Musical Theatre Company, Farren will continue to tour his solo play, Made in Italy, to the Arts Club Theatre in Vancouver and Theatre Aquarius in Hamilton.
Jeff Unger
COMPOSER
During his time with Alberta Opera, Jeff Unger established himself as an important creative voice in Alberta, entertained millions of students and adults across Western Canada, and watched the company grow into a major force in school touring. He co-authored and composed music for sixteen original fairy tale adaptations including Cinderella, The Frog Prince, Rapunzel, Puss in Boots, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty and Aladdin. The Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards recognized Jeff’s musicals and his work as a Musical Director on several occasions, and in 2012 he received the award for Outstanding Score for his work on Pinocchio. In 2010, after more than a decade touring his works, Jeff became an Artistic Director of Alberta Opera, a position he held until his passing in 2015.
Mackenzie Tennessen
MUSICAL DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION MANAGER
Mackenzie made her AMTC debut in 2012 as a performer in Sleeping Beauty. She has worked as an administrator for the company since 2015. Mackenzie is a graduate of MacEwan University's Theatre Arts Program, and holds certificates from the Royal Conservatory of Music in both voice and piano. Select Theatre Credits include: Triassic Parq for Uniform Theatre; Klondykes for Guys in Disguise and Theatre Network; Little Women, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, American Idiot for Scona Alumni Theatre; The National Elevator Project for Theatre Yes; Marvelous Pilgrims for Teatro la Quindicina; Calvin Berger, Dogfight, Songs for a New World for Three Form Theatre, Merrily We Roll Along, Xanadu for MacEwan University. Musical Directing credits include: Sleeping Beauty, Baba Yaga, Pinocchio for Alberta Musical Theatre Company; LIZZIE, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee for Uniform Theatre; Spring Awakening for SatCo.; Ride the Cyclone, Head Over Heels, Big Fish, Footloose, Rent, The Addams Family for Scona Theatre Co., Zanna, Don't!, Ordinary Days, Songs for a New World, I Love You Because for Three Form Theatre. She is the founder of local theatre company, Uniform Theatre. When not working in theatre, she is one of the owners and Lead Planner for Primrose Event Planning and Design.
Deviani Andrea
CHOREOGRAPHER
Deviani Andrea is mestiza of Mexican heritage. First-generation immigrant sharing land and learning from Treaty 6 territory. She graduated from the University of Mexico with a bachelor’s in Literature and from the Ema Pulido’s Dance Studio. Since establishing in the parallel 50º, she has performed with Mile Zero Dance Company and Orchesis Dance Society. She has has the pleasure to teach with Azimuth Theater, Mile Zero Dance, and the Young Acting Company of the Citadel Theater.
Hunter Luth
STAGE MANAGER
Hunter is delighted to be working Alberta Musical Theatre Company on Hansel and Gretel as Stage Manager! Hunter is a graduate of MacEwan University’s Theatre Production program and some highlights of his stage management career include Stage Managing for One Person Hansel and Gretel (Alberta Musical Theatre Company), Light in the Piazza (Walterdale Theatre), Apprentice Stage Managing for Count Ory, Rigoletto, Candide (Edmonton Opera) and Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike (Shadow Theatre).
Patrick Amyotte
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
Whittyn Jason
SET & COSTUME DESIGN
Whittyn Jason (them/them/theirs) is a queer, non-binary, mixed-race artist of South African and Ukrainian descent. They primarily work as a scenographer/lighting designer, and their lighting work has been nominated for a Sterling Award. They are currently living and creating in amiskwacîwâskahikan (colonially known as Edmonton). Previous credits include Brimful of Asha, Horizon’s Lab (Citadel Theatre), and Night (Major Matt Mason Collective). They hold a BFA in Theatre Design from the University of Alberta and are an associate member of Associated Designers of Canada (ADC).
Patrick Beagan
LIGHTING DESIGN
Bobby Smale
TECHNICAL CONSULTANT
Stephanie Urquhart
ARRANGER/PIANO
Stephanie Urquhart is a pianist, composer, and arranger currently based in Edmonton, Alberta. Of Salvadoran descent, she is a versatile musician with experience playing and composing in a wide range of musical genres and styles. Her music has been featured at international events including the 2019 International Jazz Composers' Symposium (IJCS) at the University of Northern Colorado, the 2017 IJCS at the University of South Florida, and the 2017 Earshot Jazz Festival in Seattle, Washington. She won 2nd place in the 5th Annual Jazz Composition Contest for Women Composers in 2017. Stephanie is a regular improvising musician with Rapid FireTheatre and also performs with and arranges music for video game band Experience Points. Select theatre credits include: Music Director ‘Razia’s Shadow’ (Citadel Young Company); Composer ‘Secret in the Wings’ (Studio Theatre); Music Director ‘until the next breath’, Piano/Trombone ‘The Invisibles’ (Catalyst Theatre); Music Director ‘Cinderella: A Christmas Pantomime’ (Capitol Theatre); Composer ‘Sleeping Beauty’ (Alberta Musical Theatre Company), Music Director/Pianosaurus ‘Triassic Parq’, Music Director ‘Xanadu’ (Uniform Theatre).
Chelo Ledesma
HANSEL
Moved in Canada 4 years ago, Chelo continued her passion for music and theatre by joining Resonate Music School & Studio and Citadel Foote Theatre School before eventually being accepted in and graduating from MacEwan University's Music Theatre Arts Program, class of 2020. Select theatre credits include: Grand Acts of Theatre: Until the next breath (Catalyst Theatre), Pippin (MacEwan University), Spring Awakening (MacEwan University), Once on this Island, Himala the Musicale, Dulce Estranghera (De La Salle University - Dasmarinas) Chelo has also been part of the production and publicity team in De La Salle University - Dasmarinas Theatre Organization (TEATRO Lasalliana) She joined the organization's outreach and fundraising programs for a cause. At the moment she is also looking to expand her knowledge in the Arts by joining an IBPOC mentorship which is focused in play writing and play adaptation. Chelo is looking forward and is very ecstatic to join the team and lovely people of AMTC!
Jessica Schnell
GRETEL
Jessica is a graduate of the MacEwan Theatre Arts Program, class of 2020 and is absolutely thrilled to be making her AMTC debut in Hansel and Gretel! During her time at MacEwan, Jessica performed in Pippin and The Crucible, and although the pandemic kept the production from the stage, working on Legally Blonde was definitely one of the highlights of her University Theatre career. Jess could not be more excited to be returning to the world of live theatre with AMTC and cannot wait to share this story with all of you!
Aran Wilson-McAnally
FATHER/THE WITCH
Aran made his AMTC debut as a performer in 2019 in the company's revival of Sleeping Beauty. Aran is a graduate of the MacEwan Theatre Arts Program, class of 2019, and is very excited to be performing with the AMTC again. Some theatre credits include: Sleeping Beauty (AMTC) The Killing Jar (SATCO) 9 to 5, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Guys and Dolls (MacEwan University). Due to the pandemic, Aran has been working many odd jobs while waiting for theatre to return and is over the moon to be a part of this amazing production!