HANS: My Life in Fairy Tales

Premiering in 2025

Meet Hans Christian Andersen, the legendary storyteller behind The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, The Emperor's New Clothes, and more. But this time, he's not just a name on the page—he's the star of his own story. As the world marks the 150th anniversary of his passing, HANS: My Life in Fairy Tales reimagines Andersen's journey from a struggling young dreamer to one of the world's most celebrated writers, blending his life with the unforgettable tales he left behind.

This premiere production is a theatrical feast, packed with puppetry, live video, clown, slapstick, opera, and an original accordion soundtrack. Created by acclaimed theatre-makers Craig Francis and Rick Miller (Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Jungle Book, FRANKENSTEIN: A Living Comic Book), it's a spellbinding mix of humor, heart, and visual magic.

A celebration of imagination for kids, families, and anyone who still believes in the power of a good story.

Age Range: 4+

A Kidoons and WYRD production in association with The 20K Collective
HANS: My Life in Fairy Tales
Written and Directed by Craig Francis and Rick Miller
Adapted from the works of Hans Christian Andersen

CAST
Astrid Atherly*: Old Hans
Annie Luján*: Young Hans
Adam Paolozza*: Adult Hans

CREATIVE & PRODUCTION TEAM
Craig Francis*: Co-writer/ Co-Director / Co-Designer
Rick Miller*:  Co-writer/ Co-Director / Co-Designer / Sound Designer
Michael Scholar, Jr.: Assistant Director / Artistic Consultant
Jeff Lord: Executive Producer
Andrew Dollar*: Stage Manager
Aidan Ware: Lighting Designer / Technical Director
Irina Litvinenko: Multimedia Designer
Melanie McNeill: Props / Costumes / Puppets Designer
Rick Miller, Craig Francis: Set Designers
Rick Miller: Sound Designer
Alexina Louie: Original Music Composer / Music Arrangement
Alex Pauk: Additional Music Arrangement
Matti Pulkki: Accordion Music
Michael Bridge: Additional Accordion Music
Paul Van Dyck: Artistic Consultant
Illustrations: Irina Litvinenko, Craig Francis

Still Photography: Aidan Ware
USA / MEXICO BOOKING AGENT: Robin Klinger Entertainment, New York RobinKlingerEntertainment.com
CANADA BOOKING AGENT: Craig Francis & Rick Miller
INT'L BOOKING AGENT: Menno Plukker Theatre Agent (with Isaïe Richard and Magdalena Marszalek)
LOGOGRAPH: Graphic Design and Marketing
OFFICIAL SITE: hanstheshow.com
SOCIAL: @kidoons 

MUSIC
Original compositions by Alexina Louie
Last Rose of Summer, traditional, based on a poem by Thomas More
Jolly Caballero, Pietro Frosini 
Hot Points, Pietro Frosini
Gavotte (from French Suite No. 5), Johann Sebastian Bach
Chacun Le Sait, from “La Fille du Régiment”, Gaetano Donizetti

PRODUCTION HISTORY
HANS: My Life in Fairy Tales was developed through a 2023 workshop at Glendon College, York University in Toronto, followed by a 2024 production residency at Governors State University in Illinois. The show premiered in June of 2025 at Young People’s Theatre, as part of Luminato, Toronto Festival of Arts, Culture and Creativity. 

We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.




For Booking Details, Tour routing, full-length Archival Videos, Scripts, Study Guides, Press Kits, and Tech Riders, please contact:
Robin Klinger: (516) 318-5405


*Kidoons and WYRD Productions engage, under the terms of the Independent Theatre Agreement, professional Artists who are members of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association. HANS: My Life in Fairy Tales is presented under the Reciprocal Agreement Between Actors' Equity Association of the United States and Canadian Actors' Equity Association.