Monica Yunus Competition. In 2001, Yunus sang the role of Nanetta in "Falstaff" in her debut with Amato Opera. In the 2002–2003 season, Yunus made her debut with Nashville Opera as Gretel in Engelbert Humperdinck's "Hänsel und Gretel", her debut with Virginia Opera as Oscar in "Un ballo in maschera", and performed the role of Walter in "La Wally" at Alice Tully Hall with Teatro Grattacielo. She also performed the roles of Servilia in Mozart's "La clemenza di Tito" and Polly in "Die Dreigroschenoper" with Pittsburgh Opera as part of her internship there. Yunus was also awarded a career grant from the
Hansel and Gretel: An Opera Fantasy called "kinemans". The bodies of the kinemins were sculpted in clay by James Summers and cast in foam latex by George Butler. Summers also did the paint job and their "makeup. The puppets were one-third life-size and cost $2,500 apiece to build. The Witch was re-named Rosina Rubylips. This is different from the original opera, where the witch tells Hansel that her name is Rosine Leckermaul (translated as Rosina Tastymuzzle). The mother and father figures were sculpted to resemble Mildred Dunnock ("Death of a Salesman") and Frank Rogier, who supplied their voices. After production, the Hansel & Gretel sets were