PHILADELPHIA, PA: Kids and their adult friends will love the WST for Kids’ production of Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Jr. Based on the book by Lewis Carroll and the unforgettable 1951 Disney film, this hour-long musical will be performed LIVE at Walnut Street Theatre September 20 through September 28, 2014.
Audiences are invited to travel down the rabbit hole and join Alice's madcap adventures as she chases the White Rabbit, gets tied up with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, and beats the Queen of Hearts at her own game! The show is full of colorful energy with Disney songs including "I'm Late," "The Un-birthday Song" and "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah."
The Walnut Street Theatre for Kids Series is celebrated for its commitment to encouraging parents (and grandparents) to read to their kids. Families can read together, and then discover a whole new level of imagination when they see the shows live onstage. The Walnut takes pride in bringing families together and beginning a creative conversation through reading and the arts.
Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Jr. is based on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, one of the most famous books written by English author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson. Published under his pen name Lewis Carroll in 1865, the book was met with great commercial success. In 1898, Alice had become the most popular children’s book in England. By 1932, it became one of the most popular in the world. This led to adaptations including Broadway productions (1915, 1931, 1932), comic books, works of art, television series and films. Walt Disney produced one of the most successful adaptions, an animated feature film. It received an Academy Award nomination for Best Score. Many of the songs in the film are heard in Alice in Wonderland Jr.
Ashley Kerns returns to WST for Kids to direct, following last season’s production of Seussical Jr. A South Philadelphia resident, she has been Assistant Director for Walnut Mainstage productions, including Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband, Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap and Amadeus. As the Walnut’s Assistant Director of Education, Kerns, along with Director of Education Thomas Quinn, has been instrumental in reaching over 156,000 students in the tri-state area with a variety of programs established to keep arts in education. Eric Thompson (Seussical Jr.) will join Kerns as Music and Vocal Director, along with Samuel Antonio Reyes (Pinkalicious; Alexander; A Christmas Carol) as Choreographer for this production.
The creative team setting the stage for a land full of imagination, with rabbit holes, crazy tea parties and zany characters, is led by Scenic Designer Natalie Di Nunzio. Di Nunzio is making her Walnut debut with the production. Joining her are Sound Designer Nicholas Gackenbach (I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change), Lighting Designer J. Dominic Chacon (The Rise and Fall of Little Voice) and Costume Designer Katie Yamaguchi (Pinkalicious).
The cast of colorful characters is all from the tri-state area and all are students of the Walnut Street Theatre School. Alice will be played by three actresses including Emily Gallagher (Regular Alice) of Warrington, PA; Alexis Gwynn (Small Alice) of West Chester, PA; and Gabriela Barrett (Large Alice/Rock Lobster) of Wynnewood, PA. The tale is narrated by the Cheshire Cat played by Keelin Reilly of Wilmington, DE. Samuel Elder (White Rabbit), Skylar Raye Noyes (Violet), and Kelly White (March Hare/Rock Lobster/Cardsmen) join the cast from Moorestown, NJ. The Mad Hatter will be played by Richard Kirby of Cherry Hill, NJ. The playful duo Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum will be played by Ally Duvak of Media, PA and Joseph Tully of Haddonfield, NJ. Also from Haddonfield, NJ, Joanna Moles joins the cast as the Caterpillar. Morgan Snowden of Lumberton, NJ plays the Queen of Hearts, alongside the King of Hearts/Mock Turtle played by Roman Daniel of Riverton, NJ. The cast continues with Tess Ansbro (Mathilda/Rock Lobster/Cardsmen) of Blue Bell, PA; Julia Faupel (Doorknob/Rock Lobster/Cardsmen) of Collingswood, NJ; Christina Pullen (Dodo Bird/Cardsmen) of New Egypt, NJ; Samantha Riley (Dormouse/Cardsmen) of Cinnaminson, NJ; Alexa Liss (Rose) of Sewell, NJ; Maggie McPherson (Petunia) of Downingtown, PA; and Madi Resnic (Lily) and Dominique Swift (Daisy) of Philadelphia, PA.
Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Jr. is an ideal outing for the kid inside of everyone with weekend matinee performances September 20 through September 28, 2014. The media sponsor is Courier Post. Tickets are only $14-$16 with group discounts available for groups of ten or more. For tickets and information, please call 215-574-3550 or 800-982-2787. Tickets can also be purchased online at Ticketmaster or by visiting the Walnut’s website at www.WalnutStreetTheatre.org.