In a theater town as rich as Chicago, families can choose from a plethora of “Christmas Carols” and “Nutcrackers” throughout December, not to mention a number of Broadway tours. Amid this bounty comes a world-premiere rock musical from Emerald City Theatre — “Hansel & Gretel: A Wickedly Delicious Musical Treat” — boasting tunes composed by Grammy-nominated kindie star Justin Roberts.
Emerald City’s artistic director Ernie Nolan approached Roberts about collaborating almost two years ago. The two sifted through some possibilities before settling on the German folk tale popularized by the Brothers Grimm. Nolan wrote the script (or “book,” in the lexicon of musicals) and Roberts wrote the songs — his first foray into musical theater.
Following a workshop this summer, the musical now gets a full production at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place. We chatted with Nolan and Roberts about the spell they cast together.
Q: We noticed the lengthy subtitle. What do you want to communicate with that?
Nolan: It’s part of this cheeky, “Hey! This isn’t your regular Hansel & Gretel.” The show has one or two rough edges on it — that’s the wicked part. At the same time, there’s a delicious holiday-musical quality with big laughs.
Roberts: There’s a lot of heart to it too. Ernie really twisted the tale around —it has the elements of the story, but it’s much different. So I think it’s really exciting and unexpected.
Q: There are so many versions of this folk tale, including the Engelbert Humperdinck opera from the late 19th century. I really love the comedic version told by Cookie Monster on “The Sesame Street Fairy Tale Album.” What versions inspired you?
Nolan: I tracked down on eBay my childhood version, a book and cassette tape that I listened to. I relived those memories! I also read “Sisters Grimm,” a detective series for young adults … and then of course I totally watched the ones for adults: “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters.” It’s not a great movie, but hey, it was a fun Saturday night with a bottle of wine. I also really looked at the universal themes of the story, and what really resonates with people.
Roberts: What I remember is the idea of kids being out on their own. That’s a fascinating thing when you’re a child. Some of my favorite stories were “The Little Prince” and “Oliver,” the musical. “Hansel and Gretel” has some of that built into it: the danger of stepping out into the world, and the joy of it too.
Q: Without spoiling too much, how does your musical stand apart from other “Hansel & Gretel” adaptations?
Nolan: It’s a mixture of rock concert and theatrical performance. The entire cast literally are the Brothers Grimm Band that accompanies the musical. We’ve got some great drums that are rocking out right now.
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Q: The original is quite dark, with the kids’ parents abandoning them in the forest. Does that happen here?
Nolan: First off, I flipped the ages of the siblings: Gretel is definitely the older and Hansel the younger. At the top of our story, instead of Hansel and Gretel’s parents abandoning them, we learn Hansel and Gretel’s mother, who was the schoolteacher, has disappeared with all of the other children of the village. They live with their father, who’s a toymaker — but because there are no more children to buy toys for, they’ve fallen on hard times. Gretel has become the survivor; she’s scrappy and hardened. Hansel just truly believes that something with magic is at play here.
Roberts: Another element to point out is that the witch — while she has a dangerous element to her, as she should — is a much more lighthearted character. She’s not as completely horrifying as the real story.
Nolan: The spoiler alert is that Gretel says to the witch, “Don’t you dare eat my brother,” and the witch laughs: “That’s an old wives’ tale. Witches don’t eat children!”
“Hansel & Gretel: A Wickedly Delicious Musical Treat” runs Dec. 6-Jan. 4 at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St. (800-775-2000, emeraldcitytheatre.com, broadwayinchicago.com). Tickets cost $29. Running time is one hour with no intermission, and an original cast recording will be on sale.