High School North is producing a unique version of “Alice in Wonderland.” Center Stage Press, the copyright holders, wanted to have a big rollout for its version of the show — with plans to have it staged throughout the country at the same time. The shows are Friday, May 11, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 12, at 2 and 7:30 p.m.
“They wanted to create a network of communication among theater teachers and theater students across the country,” says Deborah Goodkin, a teacher of language art, speech, and drama at North. “The rollout started last school year, when CSP put out feelers to schools for potential participants. I am not sure what the selection criteria were, but I believe there is a representation of urban, suburban, rural, large, medium, and small schools.” More than 400 schools applied, and 50 were chosen — including North. The directors are Goodkin and Robert Corriveau, a science teacher at North.
“Center Stage began putting us all in touch with each other through our individual websites, through Skype conferencing between schools, through a Center Stage TV channel, and through teacher and student chat forums,” says Goodkin. “Whoever is in charge of this project over at Center Stage is really earning his/her salary. There is communication from them several times a week.” North’s “sister” school is in Texas.
“What I especially like about our work on `Alice’ is the involvement of students in so many roles,” says Goodkin. The student directors are Molly Karlin and Lauren McGinley. The WW-P “Alice” website is also in the hands of a student, Ashley Schnurr.
The cast includes Alice, Julianna Haase; Cheshire Cat, Maria DiCindio; White Rabbit, Lauren Leahy; Caterpillars, Annie Gawroniak, Hannah Sternbach, and Claire Towell; Frog Footman, Jocee Modica; Cook, Anna Mehrabyan; Duchess, Alora Eisen; Mad Hatter, Adam Kercheval; March Hare, Kerri Devlin; Dormouse, Matt Duffy; Queen of Hearts, Erica Harris; King of Hearts, Scott Kenkelen; Knave of Hearts, Ryan Wilityer; Tweedledee, Brian Blonder; Tweedledum, Caity Gardner; White Roses, Marian Farrell, Kiera Beatty, Jocee Modica, Claire Towell, and Annie Gawroniak; Heart Lady 1, Maya Hariharan; Heart Lady 2, Naomi Niggemann; Two of Hearts, Shreya Sunderram; Five of Hearts, Jennie Rothschild; and Seven of Hearts, Prashasthi Ramesh.
Stage crew personnel include Manal Arma, Chloe Brown, Samantha Circus, Lucy Davis, Sophie Davis, Annie Gawroniak, Naveen Raghuraman, Mel Wherry, Luke Weinmann, Dan Brooks, Julian Chan, Joseph Naglak, Austin McGinley, Veerin Sirihorachai, and Luna Zhang. Dee Dunn and Bob Corriveau are crew directors. Lighting designers are Randy Katz and Corriveau. Molly Karlin, a senior, is the choreographer. Vocal director if Lauren McGinley.
The musical, an adaptation of Lewis Carrol’s tale, features 10 musical numbers. The production, presented in one act, is not just for kids.
Alice, High School North, 90 Grovers Mill Road, Plainsboro. Friday and Saturday, May 11 and 12. One act musical based on Lewis Carroll’s story. $10. 609-716-5100.
