Ways to Win the Woods

Ways to Win the Woods is an original play reimagining Hansel and Gretel through the lens of navigating homelessness. Featuring an original score, this powerful production invites audiences into conversation about home, hope, and change. A collaboration among GPTC, Anastasis Theatre Co., the Omaha Symphony, PACE, and MICAH House. *This concert is free and open to the public. Recommended for ages 12 and up.

Thursday, Feb 12 | 7:00 PM
Friday, Feb 13 | 7:00 PM
 

Artists

Ellen Struve Playwright More
Reese Pike Composer More
Haley Haas Director More
Liz Stinman Music Director More
Serena Reuten Associate Conductor More

Serena Reuten

Associate Conductor

Serena Reuten is a German-Canadian conductor currently serving as the Associate Conductor of the Omaha Symphony. Over the last year she has led over 50 performances for over 15,000 students and audience members across a range of repertoire, including Masterworks, Community, Family, and education concerts such as Carnegie Hall’s Link Up series. Between 2024-2026 she also joins the third cohort of the Orchestre Métropolitain’s Orchestral Conducting Academy mentorship program under the guidance of Yannick Nézet-Séguin. In 2025, she was selected to join the next cohort of Women in Musical Leadership through Tapestry Opera. Recent activities include participating in the 2025 Fiskars Conducting Academy lead by the LEAD! Foundation in Finland, 2025 Tanglewood Conducting Seminar, and the 2024 Järvi Conducting Academy in Pärnu, Estonia. She has served as guest assistant conductor for the Toronto Symphony and National Arts Centre Orchestra, as well as guest conductor with the Winnipeg Symphony during their annual Winnipeg New Music Festival. In 2023, she was the inaugural recipient of the Bernhard Gueller Conducting Fellowship with Symphony Nova Scotia as well as one of CBC’s 30 under 30 Classical Musicians. Over the past few summers she has also attended several international conducting masterclasses, studying under such conductors as Alexander…
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Anastasis Theatre More
Great Plains Theatre Commons More
MICAH House More
PACE More

This original script is a powerful collaboration between GPTC, Anastasis Theatre Co., the Omaha Symphony, PACE, and MICAH House, which provides a safe, supportive environment for families and individuals experiencing homelessness. Emerging from story-sharing workshops at MICAH House conducted by GPTC and Anastasis, WAYS TO WIN THE WOODS will reflect the lived experiences of women navigating homelessness through the lens of the familiar fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel. Featuring an original score and musicians from the Omaha Symphony Forte initiative for selected performances, the play will provide a springboard for conversations between performers and audiences about what it means to be homeless and how we can effect meaningful change together.

*This concert is free and open to the public. Recommended for ages 12 and up.

An additional performance featuring piano accompaniment at Yates Illuminates is scheduled for February 15, 2026 at 2:00pm.

*Reservation is highly recommended!