Q: Do you remember or know what Alice experienced when she fell into the rabbit hole or went through the looking glass?
A: The best way to experience Alice’s adventures first hand is to attend one of the Bedford Junior Summer Stock performances of “Alice in Wonderland” on Thursday, August 11.
Curtain time for the matinee is 1 pm, and the evening performance begins at 7 pm.
You are also welcome to attend both performances!
By Linda White
“Alice in Wonderland” is a rousing musical treat filled with song and dance numbers performed by 32 campers entering grades four to nine who are participating in the four-week Bedford Summer Adventures Junior Summer Stock program.
This is Amy Budka’s 26th year directing the Summer Stock program. Asked why she continues in this role, she replied “Because after 26 years, I can still say I love it! Watching these young people come together and work so hard during four short weeks of half days to learn their lines, musical arrangements, dance numbers, technical aspects, and how to work collaboratively across a wide ranges of ages to put on a spectacular show is nothing short of amazing.”
Director Budka continued, “I encourage and hope the greater Bedford community comes out on August 11 to enjoy and experience “Alice” — in a fresh, new format. The JGMS auditorium is air conditioned and admission is free. Contributions are greatly appreciated and benefit the Bedford Recreation Department’s Bedford Summer Adventures Scholarship Fund.”
Budka, JGMS music teacher, has an experienced and talented group of Summer Stock veterans working with her including assistant director Deanna Lobo and counselors Maddy Siegal, Kate Winkler, and Noah Southard. Melanie Cordero provides energetic and fun choreography while Marko Deperalta and Sungyu Han handle the pit without missing a beat. Seda Korroch and Annie Fotis are in the tech booth taking care of the lighting and sound while the counselors keep things running smoothly backstage.
Cast Members:
Alice – Isabella Panagiotou; Matilda – Rosalind Lowen; White Rabbit – Julia Silvestrone; Cheshire Cat – Jillian Guetersloh; Mad Hatter – Sophia Mola; March Hare – Sarah Wirth; Dormouse – Adriana Panagiotou; Queens – Carly DeMello and Talitha Dantas; Knights – Ellie Mitchell and Sydney McElrath; Rook – Liam Buckley;
Caterpillar – Liam Buckley; Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee – Mary Couvee and Kiera Doyle; Humpty Dumpty – Izzy Hon-Anderson; Dodo – Bella Santiago; Flowers – Jillian Guetersloh, Julia Silvestrone, Rosalind Lowen, Izzy Hon-Anderson, Bella Santiago, Natalie Barney, Juliana Baer, Paris Stone, Eva Byrne, and Sophie Gitlin;
Cards – Ana Protazowicki, Rachel Gould, Erika Falco, Ava Derderian, Maddy Mola, Samantha Nappi, Francesca Pellegrino, Elena Protazowicki, Sophia Panagioutou, John Mitchell, and Violet Gould.
About “Alice”
If it has been many years since you read or saw “Alice in Wonderland” or “Alice Through the Looking Glass”, assistant director Lobo explained, “The play begins with Alice getting a history lesson from her sister Matilda. Alice begins daydreaming about a world with talking cats, rabbits, and flowers with a different adventure at every turn. Her dream world takes an exciting turn when a white rabbit leads her down his rabbit hole, and she starts a quest through Wonderland. She meets a variety of quirky characters: the Cheshire cat, the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, and the Dormouse. Two queens, their knights, and a rook teach her the rules of the game and Alice, as a pawn, makes it her mission to get to the eighth square so she can become a queen. Unfortunately, Alice has no clue how to navigate through Wonderland and must rely on more strange characters she meets along the way, including the Caterpillar and Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee. She gets some very good advice from Humpty Dumpty, and the Dodo. Alice also meets a group of sassy talking flowers and rose-painting cards.”
When, where, why
Grab your calendar and put Alice on it – Thursday, August 11 at 1pm or 7 pm in the air conditioned JGMS auditorium. The play is appropriate for all age groups, sure to have you singing along to some familiar and favorite tunes, and cheering for Alice as she moves from adventure to adventure.
P.S. The extended weather forecast for Thursday, August 11 is humid and 91 degrees. Did I mention the JGMS auditorium is air conditioned and parking is plentiful and free?
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