'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' comes to Bryn Athyn March 21

It’s a mad, mad world in Alice’s Wonderland, but amid its fractured perception of reality are lessons to be learned and many opportunities for self-exploration.

Plus, it’s great entertainment for any age, as the Academy of the New Church Secondary Schools demonstrates when it brings Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland to Mitchell Performing Arts Center in Bryn Athyn for four performances: Thursday and Friday, March 21 and March 22 at 8pm and Saturday, March 23, at 3pm and 7pm.

Join Alice as she follows the White Rabbit into a curious new world of childhood fantasy. After tumbling down a hole and into a strange land of talking animals, quarrelsome royalty, rude strangers and political races where contestants run in circles, Alice embarks on a journey to figure out what’s happening—and perhaps find herself along the way.

This comedic, family-friendly production of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland shines a modern lens on an old classic, where nonsense makes quite good sense and audiences are left feeling curiouser and curiouser.

“We chose this show because it’s a childhood favorite and a timeless classic, without heavily gendered roles,” says Baird Kistner, director. “This allows us to develop a variety of actors for different roles—to focus on what each actor brings to the character without worrying about the character’s gender.

“In addition, our students always play a big role behind the scenes. Luke David, an alum of ANCSS’s theater program, is doing a great job as the show’s new assistant director. Lisa Uber, who took on the lighting design for this production as her Senior Project, is part of the reason Alice’s unique uses of lighting and sound take the audience to a different world.”

Seniors Serena Boyesen and Camryn Buss, both of Bryn Athyn, share the role of Alice as a way to depict the fractured nature of her environment and experiences in Wonderland. Junior Teagan Dewees of Huntingdon Valley is the Mad Hatter; sophomore James Gay of Elkins Park plays the perennially late White Rabbit; the tyrannical Queen of Hearts is played by junior Isabelle Kline of Bryn Athyn; sophomore Sofia Boyesen of Slatington, Pa., is the grinning Cheshire Cat.

Tickets are $10, $8 for students and children. Purchase online at www.ANCSS.org, by phone at 267.502.4810 or at the door. Use the code “WhiteRabbit” for $4 off of Thursday’s opening night performance; “like” ANC Performing Arts’ Facebook page for early discounts on other performances. MPAC is at 800 Tomlinson Rd, Bryn Athyn 19009.

This year’s spring production is directed by Baird Kistner, assisted by Luke David. Set design and construction is by ANCSS’s StageCraft Class (taught by Chris Waelchli) and Lori Odhner’s Costuming Class created the costumes. Naomi Haus-Roth and Alison Cole oversaw MPAC management, lights, sound and props. The show is produced by Sarah Cooper Waelchli.

This production of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is based on the book by Lewis Carroll, adapted by Tim Kelly and produced by special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Service, Denver.

Performing Arts at ANC
The Academy of the New Church Secondary Schools’ robust arts program includes not only classes in instrumental, choral and dance but also two plays a year, a year-round dance team, two-week summer acting camp for middle-schoolers and an intensive Performing Arts Portfolio class taught by the Sarah Gladish and Chris Waelchli.

Students interested in the backstage aspects of theater can take courses in set design or costuming. They can also participate as members of the stage crew or by joining the sound and lighting team.