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More: Nevada Ballet Theatre’s ‘Hansel & Gretel’ Headlines The Smith Center May 15-24 in DTLV

There are two remaining performances of Nevada Ballet Theatre’s phenomenal “Hansel & Gretel” at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Symphony Park in Downtown Las Vegas – 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 23, and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 24. Support the arts and go!

Do yourself and family and friends a favor and attend one of the final shows – this is not the children’s classic you might remember or the classic ballet and dance you think makes you fall asleep. You are just wrong.

I attended the opening night of “Hansel & Gretel” on Friday, May 15, at 7:30 p.m. with three good friends, and it was a gift that rejuvenated my soul. It is captivating. It is inventive. It is mesmerizing. It is awe-inspiring. I would happily and unreservedly see it again. My three friends loved “Hansel & Gretel,” as well – even heterosexual males were impressed by it!

You know the basics of “Hansel & Gretel.” Two siblings living in poverty. A gingerbread house, a witch and an oven. But this Royal New Zealand Ballet production that premiered at the Wellington Opera House on Nov. 6, 2019 – and is debuting in Las Vegas as a presentation by Nevada Ballet Theatre – is not your childhood and mother’s “Hansel & Gretel.”

“Hansel & Gretel” is a wonderfully and wholly unique production with fabulous and stirring choreography, music, costumes, set design, lighting and more that also nostalgically reminded of gothic horror, Tim Burton, “Wicked,” Kylie Minogue, “Sleepy Hollow and “The Nutcracker.” And I’ll never look at forks the same way again (the forest of forks is a funny and eerie nod to German Impressionism).

Biggest kudos to music by Claire Cowan, choreography by Loughlan Prior, costume + set design by Kate Hawley, lighting design by Jon Buswell, re-creation by Peter Jakubowski, projections and animations by POW Studios, repetiteur by Nicholas Schultz, stage managing by Alicia Donze and assistant stage managing by Will Nethery and JanNelle Rivers.

The immensely talented and charming Prior and celebrated NBT Artistic Director Roy Kaiser were interviewed at Audacy Studios in Las Vegas on May 11, and their insight into “Hansel & Gretel” made the experience more realized, fascinating, appreciated and engaging. Even 2013’s “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters” starring Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton and Famke Janssen was brought up in conversation!

Biggest kudos to the performance cast: Bailey Roberts (Hansel), Betsy Lucas (Gretel), Mackenna Pieper (Mother), Sergio Alvarez (Father), Jessica Ousterhout (The Ice Cream Witch), Eoin Robinson (The Transformed Witch), Julia Pasquale (Queen of the Dew Fairies), Robert Fulton (King of the Dew Fairies) and Christina Ghiardi (The Sandman).

And all the talented NBT dancers in The Street (adults, children and witch’s bike rider), The Enchanted Forest (birds, ghost children, boogie men, fairy cavaliers and dew fairies) and The Witch’s Banquet (pink-iced gingerbread men and chorus of witches).

I had the honor and privilege of covering the opening of the $470 million, world-class performing arts venue The Smith Center – Art Deco style, inspired by the Hoover Dam, 2,050-seat Reynolds Hall, Myron’s Cabaret Jazz and Troesh Studio Theater – on March 10, 2012.

I didn’t attend the star-studded grand opening but rather the pre-celebration contractor and business grand opening headlined by country legend Randy Travis before he lost his voice. A cherished memory of living in Las Vegas since 2008 – forever and ever, amen.

So I don’t declare it lightly that “Hansel & Gretel” is one of the most amazing productions to grace the hallowed Reynolds Hall in its 14 years. It reminds everyone why society needs the arts – to forget all your worries and be entertained for a few hours and to be inspired and awestruck and know that there is talent, creativity, excellence and beauty in the world.

Is “Hansel & Gretel” family-friendly? The story, themes and sets are dark, but they’re not scary. I think the kiddos can handle it, although The Smith Center says ages 5 and older for this production.

Prove Timothee Chalamet wrong (I actually don’t think he’s wrong, but that ship has passed) and support opera and ballet – and attend “Hansel & Gretel’s” final two performances this weekend. It will hit the sweet spot.

More: NevadaBallet.org + TheSmithCenter.com

Nevada Ballet Theater 2026/2027

Oct. 2-4, 2026: “Carmina Burana” With Serenade

Dec. 12-27, 2026: “George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker”

Feb. 20-21, 2027: “Balanchine & Kylian”

April 9-18, 2027: “Alice (in Wonderland)”

May 5-8, 2027: “Dance Lab”