Great Bend High School’s Theater Department will present “Alice in Wonderland” at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, March 5, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, at the GBHS Auditorium, 2027 Morton St.
Tickets are $5 at the door, but may be purchased in advance from cast members for $3.
Fans of the show young and old are encouraged to come in costume if they choose.
The play is based on the novel by Lewis Carroll and adapted for the stage by Jeanette Jaquish.
Drama instructor Dan Heath said the play is appropriate for all ages. Cast members visited Great Bend’s grade schools and offered a coloring contest to get youngsters excited about the show.
The character Alice is played with charm and poise by three different-sized actresses. She will go down the rabbit hole where she will encounter talking animals, ridiculous royalty and a cast of zany characters who prove without a doubt the they are “all mad here!”
There’s also a bit of audio/visual magic that allows the Cheshire Cat to appear, float and disappear on stage. Actor Aaron Clark will perform his part live backstage in front of a video camera and a green screen. The play’s technical crew will manipulate the image on a projection screen for the desired special effects.
“Combining the technologies we use in A/V classes with the live theater is a very exciting way to cross-apply skills my students are learning in both areas,” Heath said.
This faithful stage adaptation of the children’s classic brings to life the characters we have loved for more than 150 years, Heath said. Children of all ages and adults who are still brave enough to dream will love this inventive and visually stunning show. Puppets, magic, comedy, nonsense, audience participation and clever staging bring all the colorful craziness to life.
The cast includes: Makinna Dykes, Ashtin Heath, Dominique Burrow, Aaron Miller, Karlie Stanley, Katelyn Scherer, Brook Jones, Zach Dougherty, Geoffry Pafford, Donovan Paden, Peytan Dykes, Garrett Dykes, Mundo Guzman, McKayla Williams, Aaron Clark, Gentry Schneider, Matt Castle, Malia Clark, Jadon Ward, Mollie Banks, Cheyenne Black, Emilyn Wetingel, Sheridan Johnson, Quinton Heath, Andrew Curtright, Isaiah Davis and Jaydence Schroeder.
Adapted from a story by Jennifer Schartz, Great Bend USD 428
