Don’t be late, as this weekend marks a very important date on the Lancer Productions calendar. This year’s Children’s Theatre production of “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” opens Friday night, with shows on Saturday and Sunday as well.
And Children’s Theatre doesn’t just feature a show. Included in the price of a ticket is admission to the Literacy Festival, which features games, an art walk, and a Scholastic Book Fair. The festival opens two hours prior to each show and runs for 90 minutes, closing a half hour prior to curtain.
“Come buy books at the Book Fair so we can buy books for our school libraries!” said producer Stacie Kintigh.
The fun doesn’t stop there. The Drama Boosters have “all kinds of fun stuff planned,” said Kintigh. That includes merchandise, as well as a dinner special featuring a hot dog, corn dog or chicken, and a side, and the Dessert of the Show will also be on offer. And, just prior to the start of each performance, there will be a special preshow presentation by the TickTock Tea Party, featuring a cast of elementary and junior high students from across the district.
“Alice in Wonderland Jr.” is based on the series of books by Lewis Carroll and the animated Disney film. It features songs from the 1951 cartoon and the 2010 live-action film, including “A Golden Afternoon,” “The Unbirthday Song,” and “Painting the Roses Red,” as well as new material written just for the show. While the show is a celebration of imagination and wonder, it also tells a story about the importance of knowing and discovering your true self.
“This is my favorite Disney movie ever,” said Brayden Serrano, who plays the Mad Hatter. “I grew up with the movie, and I came to see it when we did it back in 2014 or something, and I was obsessed with it. I just love ‘Alice in Wonderland’ so much, and like, ‘Coraline,’ all that. And doing this and being the Mad Hatter too. That’s such a staple character.”
“We’ve also been plotting this for a year,” said Grady Kirst, who plays the Caterpillar. “Last year, we were like, we’re going to do ‘Alice,’ we just know it. And now that it’s actually here and we’re doing it, it’s full circle, getting to do what we want to do.”
Director Leiren Jackson said the reward for Children’s Theatre is in the reaction of the audience.
“The payoff is the delight you see with the kids, and they will tell you exactly how they feel about it, good or bad. Whatever reaction they have, they’re not tempering it. And I love that, and I love our tie-in with the literacy program. Seeing the kids’ delight when they get to take the book home. Their squeals are just … it’s everything.”
Addyson Yanke, who plays Alice, said her favorite part of Children’s Theatre is getting to see the impact on young audiences. “I love getting to see their happy faces. And getting to work with everyone and seeing the show come to life. And when (the students) get here, they get so excited and so happy.”
Emma Zrostlik plays the March Hare and said she also enjoys seeing the reactions from the audience. “A lot of the choices and blocking, what we do in Children’s Theatre is geared towards children’s minds. So, seeing their reactions to the jokes we make for them is always fun.”
Another way the cast gets to interact with the audience is during a special performance for fourth graders across the district. After the performance, the cast and crew take questions from the audience about the show. “I love to do the talk-back after the fourth-grade show,” said Kirst. “That’s my favorite part.”
“I always like the show, too, because it’s so fun,” Serrano said. “Doing shows that are really animated is really fun and easy for me, and it’s a way to get my energy out.”
“It’s a different kind of acting, and I think it’s way more fun to do,” agreed Addalie Reese, who plays the mercurial Queen of Hearts. “And I just love the hint of craziness. It’s so different. I feel like we haven’t done a show like this in a really long time, and it’s been really fun to have those moments where you’re watching it and you’re like, ‘I don’t know what’s happening, but I’m enjoying it.’”
Mason Smeltzer plays the King of Hearts, and this is also his first musical with Lancer Productions. “I think it’s kind of set me up to know how to handle them, and how fun it is to be around everybody. And I think this show in particular is very fun, the music and the choreo.”
Kirst said this show will also be a new experience for audiences who might be familiar with the classic “Alice.”
“I think this version came out last year, so it’s relatively new and not many people have seen it before.”
Cast members said there are a lot of Disney jokes sprinkled throughout, including references to “Mary Poppins,” “The Little Mermaid,” and the “Frozen” series.
“This show moves really quickly,” said Jackson. “And it’s really just a lot of fun. It’s not super heavy, and I think that’s a good thing for our times, and in the winter, just being able to come in and say, ‘We’re going to be goofy for a while.’ And I hope that’s the experience the audience has, a little bit of escapism.”
The cast includes: Addyson Yanke (Alice); Bella Suarez (Small Alice); Marlayna Cockshoot (Tall Alice); Ally Sosnowski (Mathilda); Riley Johnson (Friend); Sophia Frahm (Friend); Emme Plett (Cheshire Cats), Emily Stutting (Cheshire Cats); Natalie Sierk (Cheshire Cats), Sophia Nelson (Cheshire Cats); Jane Nichols (White Rabbit); Ashton Goodwin (Doorknob); Ben Hill (Dodo Bird); Taylar Vondal (Tweedle Dee); Riley Plymale (Tweedle Dum); Nora Davis (Rose); Charlotte Madden (Lily); Katelyn Peck (Petunia); Madilynn Hillmann (Daisy); Brooklyn Lacher (Violet); Grady Kirst (Caterpillar); Brayden Serrano (Mad Hatter); Emma Zrostlik (March Hare); Mason Smeltzer (King of Hearts); Addalie Reese (Queen of Hearts); Camdyn Strom (Ace of Hearts); Charli Conner (Two of Clubs); Hayden Lacher (Three of Diamonds); Jack McCarthy (Four of Hearts). Members of the Wonderland Ensemble include: Micah Webb, Eleanor White, Laylah Boutelle, Samantha Mussack, Ella Dierickx, Charlotte Mendenhall, Callie Poinsett, Lyla Jones, Michael Hames, Ezekiel Skyles and Obadiah Hagedorn.
The cast of the TickTock Tea Party preshow includes Kaelyn Biehl, Liam Biehl, Ryli Fierce, Olivia Grimm, James Grubb, Alaina Hickey, Harper Huff, Jax Huntley, Elena Jones, Isabel Jones, Spencer Jones, Ambellina Kelly, Raea Koberg, Savanna Lovell, Rosalyn Lyons, Sawyer Marple, Elly Matheson, Amelia McCarty, Camilla Miller, Reilly Nienhaus, Eila Pearson, Ben Peterson, Eleanor Ruiz, Elena Skadal, Cooper Stevens, Oliver Verhaeghe, Brecken Vondal, Esme Wye and Ashley Yanke.
“Alice in Wonderland Jr.” is directed by Leiren Jackson, and the musical director is Bobby Becher. The show is produced by Stacie Kintigh, with Emily Hintze as marketing and public relations lead. The TickTock Tea Party is directed by Maddie Harbour and Joie Stoefen. Kaitlyn Knepper and Haidyn Koberg are the Literacy Festival coordinators.
Technical director is Josh Tipsword, assisted by Justin Walker. Renae Mohr is costume lead. The stage manager is Mya Kelsey, assisted by Kelsey Clayton. Lighting design is by Hannah Nelson, assisted by Kora Thiessen. Bella Riley is spotlight operator, and Kora Thiessen is light board operator. Madi Brus is the sound effects operator, and Taylor Crain is the sound board operator. The properties master is Pacey Kane. The stage crew includes Alliana Ray and Gabriel Ruggles. The costume crew includes Emma Reif, Eva Wyatt, Ella Siokos and Haidyn Koberg.
Performances are Friday, Jan. 30, and Saturday, Jan. 31, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, Jan. 31, and Sunday, Feb. 1, at 2 p.m. in the North Scott Fine Arts Auditorium. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and students, plus a credit card processing fee if applicable. Tickets are available at the door or at tix.nshslp.com.
The show runs just over one hour, not including the preshow.