For those of you who were unable to attend the Alice conference at Mons University in Belgium, and were following our live tweeting on the edge of your seats, here is the promised video of Hayley Rushing’s presentation on “Speaking Illustrations: Performing Scriptocentrism in Le Gallienne’s Alice in Wonderland.” The Q/A session is particularly good. Enjoy!
So apparently there is a sports thing going on here in the US right now, something called Basketball? Anyway, during the Game 5 half-time show of the NBA Finals on June 13, a dance troupe with the Carroll-inspired name Jabbawockeez performed a very entertaining routine in a hip-hop/dubstep style that I find quite mesmerizing. I hope you enjoy it too!
As the article says: “David Del Tredici’s ambitious ‘Child Alice’ reveals a complicated vision.”
More importantly, the performance was recorded, to be released in 2017. What I like about this article is its stance on the establishment’s take on difference – even when that establishment is nontraditional. The atonal powers-that-be dismissed this out of hand, and we all know that (especially in the world of Carroll) most everything is nontraditional. There are no boundaries, and every adaptation, homage, new work, or revival should be evaluated not only as a derivative of Carroll, but also on its own merits, regardless of the context or even preceding work of the artist. Well done, Allan Kozinn.
For those of you in the Midwest this January 9th, you have the opportunity to see the Ball State musical Mad World as it is being staged as part of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, Region III, in Milwaukee, WI. One performance only, but they are submitting it to the National Alliance of Musical Theatre’s Festival in New York City. If enough interest is generated, perhaps it will be chosen to compete with 7 other new pieces next October. So warm up those pipes, and shuffle off to …. Milwaukee to see this new musical, and tell us how you liked it!
The Alice150 conference may be over, but the Alice events continue! Symphony Space in New York City is hosting an evening of readings from and inspired by Alice! Readers include Joyce Carol Oates, Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey), Ari Graynor (Whip It), Linda Lavin, and BD Wong. Don’t be late!
Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space
Wed, Nov 18, 2015 7:30pm
Carrollians Ellie Schaefer-Salins, Matt Crandall, and Wendy Lane Crandall will be on a panel at this weekend’s DC comic book convention, Awesome-Con. The panel is Friday, May 29th (that’s today) at 6PM. From the convention schedule:
Why is a Raven like an IPad? The 150-Year Transmedia Evolution of Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland. Friday, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM, room 145 B. 2015 is the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alice has gone down the rabbit hole in films, TV shows, comic books, and even video games. This panel examines the impact of Alice on media, art, and modern culture.
Well, I guess it had to happen sooner or later, a Las Vegas Alice show. Performed infrequently, check the show’s page on the official Hard Rock website for details. Next performance appears to be May 20.
Alice: A Steampunk Rock Opera at Vinyl in the Hard Rock Hotel, and the eight-member cast all have their Strip show duties first before the 11 p.m. explosion of bizarre makeup, outrageous costumes, fierce dancing and even fiercer music. “Alice” is the map-cap, zany creation of current “Jubilee” at Bally’s lead vocalist Anne Martinez.
I saw the production based on … Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” a month ago and was bowled over by the energy of the frenetic, sexy performers in their original and elaborate Steampunk costumes. The artistic tour de force really has dramatic singing and dancing.
These are original arrangements of favorite pop/rock songs by Lady Gaga, Amy Winehouse andThe Rolling Stones with a nine-piece live band led by trumpet titan Dave Perrico. The Cheshire Cat and The White Rabbit are part of the theatrical experience choreographed by Ryan Kelsey (“Pin Up”at the Stratosphere) and Claudia Mitria, who perform in the show.
Don’t be frightened or surprised when the cast leaves the stage to perform routines in the audience with flashlights to spotlight them. Don’t miss this offbeat, rowdy and raucous revelry. The only question remaining for tonight is who will be the guest star to play The Red Queen to scream, “Off with their heads!”
On April 24th the Pontine Theatre will premiere its new Victorian-style toy theatre production of The Hunting of the Snark and Other Nonsense. Shows run through May 20th. The production is performed by Co-Artistic Directors, Greg Gathers and Marguerite Mathews. The figures, set, projected images and costumes are designed and created by Mr. Gathers, examples of which are below. Looks like fun, wish New Hampshire was slightly closer for us.
The Landing – Image Credit: Greg Gathers
The Baker’s Tale – Image Credit: Greg Gathers
The Beaver’s Lesson – Image Credit: Greg Gathers
The Barrister’s Dream – Image Credit: Greg Gathers
Guess this is theater week on the Carroll blog, but lots of good stuff happening. Next month the Drama Desk Award winning TADA Youth Theater is performing a new musical called The Trials of Alice in Wonderland. From their site:
Book by William Brooke Music by Eric Rockwell Lyrics by Joanne Bogart
Based on the classic books by Lewis Carrol, this original musical follows Alice and all the usual suspects in the topsy-turvy world of Wonderland, where Alice is on trial for growing and changing.
April 25- May 17, 2015
Saturdays and Sundays 2pm and 4pm
Everyone is jumping on the Alice bandwagon this year, and DC’s Synetic Theater is no exception. They will be mounting their own adaptation of “Alice in Wonderland” this fall as part of DC’s Women’s Voices Festival. From Broadway World:
The whimsical Alice tumbles down the rabbit hole soon finding herself in the mysterious world of Wonderland. Synetic’s darker take on Lewis Carroll’s tale will bring to life classic characters such as the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, and the murderous Queen of Hearts with Synetic’s signature style. Directed by Paata Tsikurishvili, chorographed by Irina Tsikurishvili and adapted by Lloyd Rose for the Women’s Voices Theatre Festival of Washington, D.C., this production will have dialogue.
For those of you in the Midwest this January 9th, you have the opportunity to see the Ball State musical Mad World as it is being staged as part of the 
The Alice150 conference may be over, but the Alice events continue! Symphony Space in New York City is hosting an 
Everyone is jumping on the Alice bandwagon this year, and DC’s