“When I used to read fairy tales, I fancied that kind of thing never happened, and now here I am in the middle of one!” - Alice 

The Y Arts Community Players will bring the fantastical world created by Lewis Carroll, "Alice In Wonderland," to audiences March 27-29  at the Opera House at Boothbay Harbor. Director-Choreographer-Costumer Emily Mirabile chose an adaption of the tale by Janet Yates Voight and Mark Friedman. "Alice" features a cast of 66, yes, 66 actors. 

I asked Emily how she landed on “Alice” for the spring show. “For the community musicals, I try to find fun musicals that have lots of different characters. And that's actually a hard thing to find. We searched and searched and finally landed on this adaptation. It's a great story for everyone. And being that it has so many zany characters throughout the story, many different people can play. Literally. Play. I think that's important, especially in the world we're living in right now,” she said. “We all need to just let loose and have a good time.”

“Alice In Wonderland” is, as I have probably mentioned more than a few times in my columns, my all-time favorite story. You can read it two, four (or more) times throughout your life, and each time interpret and experience it in different ways. Growing up, identity, the complexities of personality, living (in general), and how we interpret our inner and outer worlds. It's a lot, no matter your age. Carroll’s imagination, the vivid and unusual characters, it is adventure and fantasy at its classic best. In fact, I’m feeling another re-read coming on before opening night.

Emily and I talked about her audition process. Having performed with community theater groups, I remember auditioning for specific roles, although some directors, like Griff Braley for example, will ask actors to also read for other parts should they see the individual in a completely different role. Likewise, Emily tries not to have people audition for a specific role.

                             "This is my dream. I'll decide where it goes from here." - Alice

"I think it's important for everybody to keep an open mind with what they're capable of, it's more about  being a part of it, as opposed to coming to play a specific character. That's what I try to go for."

And the players are: Alice: Sophia Mansfield, Mother: Teagan O’Toole, Loreena: Kaia Curtis, Small Alice: Violet Young,  White Rabbit: Craig Urwin, Mock Turtle: Andy Luke, Tweedle Dee: Christina Kurtz, Tweedle Dum: Nick Ullo, Caterpillar: Alan Baldwin, Cheshire Cat: Imij Armstead, Queen of Hearts: Krystal Blackman, King: Rick Navarrete, 2 of Hearts: Roosevelt Bishop, 5 of Hearts: Soren Barker, 7 of Hearts: Scout Martin, Mad Hatter: Nick Mirabile, Doormouse: Sloan Nelson, March Hare: Natalie Flagg, Knave of Hearts: Medea Harris, Dodo Bird: Brianne Martin.

And now for the ensemble cast: Caucus Racers/Parrot Head Dancers: Julie Browne, Eden Climo, Kjisten Flores, Tracey Hall, Teagan O’Toole, Christine Urwin, Brittany Warren, Joy Weiss, Valerie Young, Ophelia Hibl, Brianne Martin; Flamingos/Tweedles Dancers: Lillian Albaum, Phelan Browne, Griffin Climo, Jonah Kurtz, Arbor Paschall, Violet Young; Flowers/Tweedles Dancers: Mary Kate Brady, Presley Crommett, Vivian Flagg, Lucia Flores, Cecelia Teel, Anouk Romanoff-Borthwick, Josie Roy, Isla Sullivan, Maria del Rio, Luke Barker; Door Dancers/Flowers: Lily Billings, Kaia Curtis, Agatha Harris, Evelyn Michaud, Penny Navarrete, Wren Romanoff-Borthwick, Harper Westhaver, Cora Wissman, Kinsley Weiss; Door Dancers/Flowers/Cards: Gannon Inman, Oscar Mirabile, Kingsley Teel, Gilles Urwin; Cheshire Dancers/Cards: Jonathan Bernier, Collin Cantillo, Violet Baldwin, Fiona Bishop, Samantha Colby, Aubrey Holmes, Adeline Inman, Evie Roy, Jessie Ullo and Frida Kirchauser.

"Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle." - Caterpillar

When Emily was casting this year's spring musical, Emily chose Boothbay Region High School junior Sophia (Mansfield), who is older than Carroll's Alice. 

"I wanted to give the character a more mature feel. I think it's important for the older kids to realize they need to hold on to imagination because we move kids along so quickly these days," Emily said. "It is so important to keep your imagination all your life."

Other character adaptions include a Cheshire Cat that's more like a magician; there will not be a hookah-smoking Caterpillar. In this show, he sips on a soda and has a throng of parrot/flowers with a Jimmy Buffet vibe.

Yes, set design can prove challenging depending on the production and the performance space. And, more so for a magical, fantastical show like this one. Fortunately, Alan "the Caterpillar" Baldwin's got skills, and built a staircase, a primary element of the set, with a large middle platform, all set on wheels.

“Kudos to his design skills to be able to make it become more than one piece ... Because, you figure a staircase is just a staircase, right?”

Emily also noted the rich experience gained when youth and adults are actors together. And in some cases, they are family members. Talk about making memories to last a lifetime!

“The kids just love watching the adults be silly and enjoying themselves. I think it also encourages the kids to step out of their box,” Emily said. "It's such a fun show. And, it's weird. (pause) It's a very weird show if you really think about it."

Performance deets: Friday, March 27 at 6 p.m; Saturday, March 28 at 2 and 6 p.m. and Sunday, March 29 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance through the box office at 86 Townsend Ave. in person Wednesday – Friday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. or call 633-5159.  They're $15 at the door, if any are left! Hey, we’re talking Wonderland, here. It’s a ticket or take your chances finding that right rabbit hole!

"I’m trying to free your mind. But I can only show you the door. You’re the one that has to walk through it." - Alice

 The Opera House at Boothbay Harbor is located at 86 Townsend Ave.