Hansel & Gretel: On the Run; How a Joplin junior brought a childhood idea to life
When Joplin High School junior J.D. Wheeler sits in the black box theater, now home to a bustling student-led production, he’s surrounded by something he began imagining nearly a decade ago. Long before cast lists, co-directors or complex set plans, the spark for “Hansel and Gretel: On the Run” began in an unexpected place: a children’s summer workshop at Joplin Little Theatre.
“The idea for Hansel and Gretel: On the Run first came to me at Joplin Little Theatre's Summer Workshop,” J.D. said. “There was a station that had to do with costume design and the teacher wanted us to make original costumes for an original show. I drew from my love of fairy tales and thought of how that could be made into something new.”
It wasn’t just the assignment that stuck with him: it was the possibility of playing with the classics. Fairy tales, with their built-in morals and cultural echoes, have always fascinated him. “I had always loved fairy tale retellings like ‘Into the Woods’ and ‘Once Upon a Time,’” he said. “It was kind of a perfect storm of ideas and life experiences and interests that all came together to forge this story.”
For a sixth grader dreaming big, the idea lingered. And it stayed with him, until now, when he’s finally transforming it into a full production for the Joplin High School stage.
A Childhood Dream Meets a Real Stage
Turning a long-held idea into reality has been more surreal than J.D. expected.
“Turning this into a real show was a surreal ordeal,” he shared. J.D. originally imagined the play as the children’s show traditionally directed by a senior, but when he shared the idea with Joplin High School theater teacher Ashley Trotnic, she saw something bigger.
“I had pitched it as the children's show for my senior year,” he explained, “but Ms. Trotnic let it have its own slot and become this show that didn't have to fit into a certain length or box.”
That decision gave J.D. room to expand, explore and elevate the script in ways he never could have imagined when the idea first took root.
“To finally get these ideas down as a real script was creatively fulfilling! The most fascinating part is when you surprise yourself - there were characters I hadn't expected and elements I was even shocked by.”
The play itself takes a wildly comedic turn on the classic Grimm tale. After Hansel and Gretel shove the witch into the oven, they find themselves wrongly accused and on the run. The witch, very much alive, gives chase, and the siblings encounter a hodgepodge of fairy tale characters along the way. But beneath the humor is a surprising emotional depth.
“The show honestly becomes this message about forgiveness and familial love,” J.D. said. Through the siblings’ complicated relationship with their father, the theme of strained but hopeful family ties unfolds.
“I think everyone can and has been a Gretel along with a Hansel,” he said. “It’s a really real theme and message.”
The Moment It Became Real
Though he always intended to someday bring his idea to life, the moment everything clicked wasn’t exactly planned.
The timing turned out to be significant. The play now serves as a fundraiser for a summer theater education trip to London for several Joplin students, giving the production even deeper purpose.
“It’s really exciting,” J.D. said. “Since the proceeds go to more opportunities for students, it’s a really meaningful production.”
But the opportunity also meant taking on a major responsibility as a junior, the hardest academic year for many students. That’s when he knew he needed a co-director.
A Co-director Who Complements the Vision
“I knew almost instantly that I would want a co-director,” J.D. said. He’d known senior Macie Hale for six years, and the two share a deep appreciation for theater and each other’s creativity.
“I reached out to Macie that night, and she said she'd love to do it. It all honestly worked out perfectly.”
Macie didn’t hesitate. “There wasn't a doubt in my mind that I wanted to do this,” she said. “I couldn’t be happier.”
The two bring different but highly complementary strengths.
“Me and J.D. have very different strengths,” Macie shared. “His strengths are to make sure everything is the best it can be, and he has a very creative mind. My mind sees his ideas and gives him ways to make his creative ideas possible.”
For her, the experience is both practical and personal.
“This play is special because I never imagined directing a show. The fact I can do it with one of my close friends makes this experience enjoyable, exciting and memorable.”
The collaboration between two students who truly trust each other is exactly what their teacher hoped to see.
A Teacher’s Pride, a Student-led Production
When J.D. brought the idea to teacher Ashley, she immediately saw potential, not just in the script, but in J.D. himself.
“J.D. is a very talented and ambitious student,” she said. “When he brought this idea to me, he was so excited and passionate about the project I knew it would be successful.”
What followed has been an inspiring example of student ownership, something central to the culture of the JHS Theatre Department.
“Our department is completely collaborative,” Ashley said. “This show is another example of what these students are used to doing, just on a bigger scale.”
She sees the strength in both directors: “J.D. has specific visions as the playwright but Macie can see things from an outside perspective. Together they balance nicely co-directing the students.”
More than anything, Ashley hopes audiences see what she sees every day: that these students are creating something extraordinary with very little adult intervention.
“This will be completely run by students: concept, writing the script, casting, directing, technical designers, actors, the whole nine yards. These students are capable of amazing things if given the opportunity.”
A Lesson in Leadership, Creativity and Courage
For J.D., this experience has already left a personal imprint.
“I think my biggest lesson is that creativity is very much a flow-at-the-moment type thing,” he said. “Ideas shift, and they reveal things about yourself.”
He’s gained confidence, too, confidence that he can create something expansive, emotional and fully stage-worthy.
“I want to remember how I did something hard, and that I could do it,” he said. “I want to remember the hard rehearsals and tech week. I never want to forget how amazing it felt to emerge on the other side.”
And this time, stepping out of the wings and into the co-director’s seat has led to plenty of surprises, both on the page and in the rehearsal room.
“The biggest surprise has been seeing how fast a show shapes up,” he said. “One conversation can burst open the floodgates.”
A Fairy Tale Reimagined by Students Who Are Living One
What began as a child’s imaginative spark has become something much bigger: a story about courage, friendship, forgiveness and the fearless creativity of young artists.
“I am incredibly proud of J.D. and Macie,” Ashley added. “Their passion will be evident when you come and see the show.”
If the journey of “Hansel and Gretel: On the Run” teaches anything, it’s that sometimes the best stories don’t just unfold onstage; they grow in classrooms, summer workshops, cast meetings and the hearts of students who dare to believe they can bring them to life.
Catch “Hansel and Gretel: On the Run” Jan. 22, 23 & 25. Find out more details by visiting the JHS Theatre Department’s Facebook page.
