Travel to Wonderland with UK Theatre
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 15, 2016) — University of Kentucky Department of Theatre and Dance is transporting audiences down the rabbit hole to Wonderland in an interactive and immersive production of Lewis Carroll's “Alice in Wonderland.” Be part of this mad show running through April 24, at Guignol Theatre.
One hundred fifty years after Carroll released his classic children's novel, UK Theatre is giving audiences a chance to travel to Wonderland, where nothing is quite as it seems. Alice’s whimsical adventure through this mad world finds her in mind-bending debates with an enigmatic Cheshire Cat, a dubious caterpillar and tea party companion, the March Hare. The cards are stacked against her when Alice finds herself face-to-face with the maleficent Queen of Hearts, a royal with a taste for beheading.
"Only getting into this production, do I realize now how maniacal and fanatic people are about the books and about their literal worship of Lewis Carroll. It's really fun to kind of take that ride with these fans of Lewis Carroll at this moment in time," said Nancy Jones, director of the UK Theatre production and chair of the department.
But who are you? That’s the puzzle. UK Theatre's production offers a new twist by seating its audience in a circus-like tent where the action is taking place all around them. The smaller, intimate and mad production, created by scenic designer and UK theatre alumnus Tom Burch, aims for viewers to feel like they, too, are part of this timeless adventure.
"Nobody has seen anything like this in the Guignol before," Jones said. "I think it is going to be really, really wild and surprising.
From the stage to even the lobby, where audience members can play games before the show, Burch has found several new ways to make the classic literary work interactive and pertinent to today's society.
"We're taking what we already know about the story and sort of stripping it away," Burch said. "We're leaving the stuff that we know that we love — the croquet game, the mad tea party — and then finding contemporary and new ways to think about not only the story, but also to let the students bring their abilities and physicalities to the play."
Burch, whose work has been seen on stages in Louisville, Chicago, New York City and even Edinburgh, Scotland, is excited to bring his talents back to his alma mater. "It's been awesome to come home. My very first show I ever designed was in the Briggs (Theatre). The following year, I did a show in this space (Guignol), and the year before I actually met my wife right here (on Guignol' stage)."
And, the scenic designer is emjoying what he sees at UK. "It's awesome to see how much the department has evolved and that they are willing and excited to do different and exciting things. To see how not only the bar has been raised at such a great level by the people that came in after my group, but also the students are incredibly engaged."
Helping Burch and Jones bring "Alice in Wonderland" to life is a tremendous cast of students and local children. Students featured in this production and their roles are: Isaiah Archie, Cook; Treyton Blackburn, King of Hearts and Humpty Dumpty; Shaofei Chen, White Rabbit; Navji Dixon, Caterpillar 3; Tamia Fair, the Cheshire Cat; Kenny Hamilton, Tweedledum; Curtis Lipsey, Tweedledee; Taha Mandviwala, Mad Hatter; Beau McGhee, March Hare; Katie Noble, Red Queen; Joshua Randal Price, Duchess; Kelsey Reese, Dormouse; Colson Rich, Lewis Carroll; Casey Shuler, Caterpillar 1; Alexis Slocum, Alice; and Myranda Thomas, Caterpillar 2 and White Queen. Four local girls help guide the production, they are Maddi Rose Carter, Mackenzie Miller, Kya Paley and Abigayle Stokes. The show's ensemble also includes Nicolas Acosta, Macreena Groody and Ethan Maguet.
This production of "Alice in Wonderland" is a dark look through the rabbit hole, and may not be suitable for all audiences. It is recommended that children interested in attending be ages 8 and up.
Tickets for “Alice in Wonderland” are going fast with the first weekend of performances already sold out. Seats are currently still available for showings beginning 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, April 21-23, and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 24. Tickets are $15 for the general public and $10 for UK students with a valid ID through the Singletary Center box office. A processing fee will be added upon completion of transaction. To purchase tickets, contact the box office at 859-257-4929, visit online at www.scfatickets.com or purchase in person during operating hours.
The UK Department of Theatre and Dance at UK College of Fine Arts has played an active role in the performance scene in Central Kentucky for more than 100 years. Students in the program get hands-on training and one-on-one mentorship from the renowned professional theatre faculty. The liberal arts focus of their bachelor's degree program is coupled with ongoing career counseling to ensure a successful transition from campus to professional life.
UK is the University for Kentucky. At UK, we are educating more students, treating more patients with complex illnesses and conducting more research and service than at any time in our 150-year history. To read more about the UK story and how you can support continued investment in your university and the Commonwealth, go to: uky.edu/uk4ky. #uk4ky #seeblue
MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, 859-257-8716; whitney.hale@uky.edu