Hans Brinker
Music byPhilip Seward, Lyrics by John Sparks, Book by Jane Boyd
Full-length musical in two acts adapted by the novel by Mary Mapes Dodge
In a mid-19th century Dutch village, all the children are looking forward to a skating race sponsored by a local merchant who offers silver skates as the prize. Hans and Gretel, raised by their mother since their father’s accident, can only race on wooden skates which Hans carved. Hans is unsure how he can win, but is reassured by his friend, Annie. Hans’ mother, Metje, reflects on the difficulties of raising the two children alone, as Hans is torn between the responsibility of a young man helping his family and the pull of the children preparing for the race. With the help of his friends, he seeks a famous doctor and persuades him to come to see his father. On the eve of the feast of St. Nicholas, the doctor arrives at the Brinker cottage as Saint Nicholas visits the children in town. After a difficult surgery, Hans’ father begins to recover and Hans is free to race for the silver skates. In the midst of the race, Hans faces a choice between racing with the other children or accepting the responsibility of an adult as the show comes to an exciting conclusion.
Hans Brinker was commssioned by New Tuners Theatre in conjunction with the National Alliance for Musical Theatre and created for family audiences and opened at the Theatre Building Chicago New Tuners Theatre to rave reviews. It subsequently played for six subsequent seasons in Chicago in a holiday run from mid-November to early January.