Haunting Dance Theater Piece Reimagines Hansel and Gretel Fairytale at Sierra Madre Playhouse, June 28-29

Presented by Sierra Madre Playhouse

RGWW’s “Sugar Houses” by Rosanna Gamson/World Wide (RGWW), delivers a haunting and immersive reimagining of the timeless fairytale Hansel and Gretel, on Saturday and Sunday, June 28 and 29, 2025, 7:30 PM, at Sierra Madre Playhouse.  

Inspired by historical and political themes, “Sugar Houses,” a dance theater work, reflects on abandonment, survival, sibling rivalry, and the dark side of human nature. With a talented cast of multidisciplinary performers that includes dancer-singers and actor-dancers, the full-length piece combines powerful choreography, soundscapes, and storytelling, delivering a thought-provoking and emotionally charged experience that blends dance, movement, theater, music, and visual arts. The work premiered at LA’s REDCAT in 2021. 

A minimalistic set design by production designer Tony Shayne features hand-drawn chalk sets created during the performance and hand-held lights and lanterns as the only light source to place the performers at the heart of the story.  

The cast includes Chris Louis (Father), Clementine Gamson Levy (Mother), Kayla Johnson (Gretel), Brance William Souza (Hansel), Dave X (Bird), and Mallory Fabian (Witch). 
 
The creation of Sugar Houses was made possible by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Performances of Sugar Houses are supported, in part, by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Department of Arts and Culture. 

For tickets ($12-$35) and information, please call 626.355.4318 or visit www.sierramadreplayhouse.org. Sierra Madre Playhouse is located at 87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard, Sierra Madre, CA 91024.

Date:
Venue:
Sierra Madre Playhouse
Organization:
Sierra Madre Playhouse
Genres:
Musical Theater
Categories:
Live Event
City: Sierra Madre
Price Range:
$12-$35
Email:
info@sierramadreplayhouse.org
Phone:
(626) 355-4318
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Sierra Madre Playhouse

Sierra Madre Playhouse

87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard
Sierra Madre, CA 91024
United States

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Sierra Madre Playhouse, a vibrant Southern California cultural hub with a rich history spanning a century, energizes audiences and the community with distinctive theatrical productions and captivating live performances. 

 

Hailed as a “jewel” (Pasadena Weekly) and “a landmark theater” (ABC7 Los Angeles), it has garnered tremendous accolades for its varied repertoire and thought-provoking education and outreach programs curated with social impact in mind. The Los Angeles Times proclaims, “This is theater from the heart.” As one of San Gabriel Valley’s only performing arts center presenting a broad spectrum of performance genres, including theater, music, dance, film, comedy, and family-friendly productions featuring eminent local and national professional artists, the treasured artistic beacon draws audiences from across the Southland. 

 

The intimate 99-seat Sierra Madre Playhouse offers an up-close and personal connection to performances that resonate deeply, earning multiple Ovation Awards, NAACP Awards, and LA Times Critics' Choice honors. In 2023, Rep. Judy Chu named the Sierra Madre Playhouse as a leading ‘Nonprofit of the Year’ in the San Gabriel Valley. The playhouse was given the honor during the 2023 Congressional Leadership of the Year Awards, which recognizes the leadership and volunteerism in the cities making up California’s 28th Congressional District. It is nestled into a historic building on the inviting Main Street of Sierra Madre, a charming village in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. 

 

Retaining its distinctive movie theater façade and instantly recognizable marquee, the structure has undergone numerous transformations since opening in 1910, from furniture emporium to silent movie theatre to the artistic institution that now stands as a vibrant embodiment of the region’s rich cultural legacy. The Sierra Madre Playhouse fosters creativity that aspires to bridge divides and spark dialogue, all while celebrating the rich tapestry of the American experience and the enduring pursuit of shared understanding.