This spring, the theater department is diving headfirst into the whimsical world of “Alice in Wonderland” where imagination takes center stage. Behind the fantasy and fun, however, lies a production driven by long hours, creative risks, and a group of students who pour everything they have into making this story come alive.
Junior Elliot Roney, who plays Alice, steps into the shoes of the curious and iconic main character. For Roney, this production has been a magical and challenging experience. Roney shared what it’s like to bring the enchantments of Wonderland to life onstage, especially in moments where the magic exists entirely in her acting abilities.
“There’s a scene where I’m looking around and the audience doesn’t see what I’m seeing, but I [have to] pretend that all these magical things are happening,” said Roney. “It definitely makes me feel happy, just pretending to look at all these amazing things.”
Roney hopes to pass along that same whimsical magic to everyone in the audience. “Alice in Wonderland” is a story about imagination, and the cast is working hard to ensure that the audience can step into that dream alongside Alice.
“I want [the audience] to feel like a little kid again, because [this play] is all happening in [Alice’s] imagination, so I just want [the audience] to have fun,” said Roney.
But fun doesn’t come without behind the scenes effort. Like any other production, the cast and crew have faced logistical challenges, especially when it comes to coordinating rehearsals. This play includes performers who aren’t all part of the school’s theater class, making it tough to get everyone on the same page.
“Not all of the members of the cast are in the class,” said Roney. “Some of them are outside of school, so it’s hard to learn certain songs or scenes [because] we don’t have the time to rehearse with them as much.”
While Roney brings Alice to life onstage, senior and co-director Max Hunter is helping behind the scenes to bring the production together. From the first day of learning dances to the final week of full run-throughs, Hunter has been present in every part of the production. One of Hunter’s favorite moments in the show takes place at the infamous tea party involving the Mad Hatter.
“I really like the Mad Hatter scene,” Hunter said. “I feel like everyone picked up the choreography for it really quickly. Miley Boswell plays the Mad Hatter, and she goes all out.”
But not every part of the production is so whimsical and surreal. Some scenes require physical stunts or lifts, which come with safety protocols and an immense amount of trust.
“[Stunts] are very hard because, obviously, we have to be very safe. You have to have a spotter and a good, strong team that knows what they’re doing. If one person is not fully [committed], then it’s not going to work,” said Hunter. “You have to be very careful about it and go through all the procedures.”
Beyond the stunts and logistics, Hunter is especially proud of the set, which feels faithful to the original “Alice in Wonderland” world while being distinctly original.
“I love our set because there’s such distinct aspects to it. It’s very classic ‘Alice in Wonderland’, but also has its own spin,” said Hunter.
As the show nears its debut on May 3, rehearsals have become more intense. The slow build of early months has given way to a fierce race toward curtain time.
“It starts off really slow, and it’s slow up until the last month of rehearsals. Now that the last month has hit, it’s cram time. We’re having rehearsals every single day after school, doing full run-throughs trying to piece everything together, and finally seeing it all come to life,” Hunter said.
For both Roney and Hunter—and the rest of the cast and crew— “Alice in Wonderland” is more than a high school play. It’s a journey, a challenge, and a celebration of creativity. And when the curtain rises, they’re hoping the audience will be ready to fall down the rabbit hole with them.
