By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
It’s a flurry of makeup adjustments and wardrobe tests. several versions of the same character are standing or seated around the Del Rio Civic Center’s Red Oak Ballroom.
A little girl dressed as a flower runs back and forth doing her best to occupy her time before she must take her place on stage
Lines are practiced, parts of songs are sung, and adjustments are made to microphones and hearing devices. It all looks like a typical rehearsal for a stage production of Alice in Wonderland except most of these actors and actresses aren’t even old enough to drive themselves to the show.
Welcome to Alice in Wonderland Jr.
The Upstagers production makes its way to the civic center this weekend with a pair of shows Friday and Saturday. Showtime is set for 7:30 p.m. each night. This is a ticketed event with prices set at $10 for adults and $5 for students.
Director Molly Harman, a veteran of directing youth productions like Alice, said auditions for the show were held at the Firehouse. Potential cast members attended a class that helped them learn songs and dances from the show. After that, they auditioned and were chosen for the show’s cast.
About 38 youths, ages 7 to 18, have been working on the show since May 1. Everyone who auditioned got a part even if that meant multiple versions of Alice, the Cheshire Cat, the March Hare and others.
“I’ve worked on productions like this before. The advantages of working with young performers who may be first timers include they’re eager to learn, they’re full of energy and most of them are excited to be here,” Harman said. “Several of them have been in musicals that we’ve been doing for years now.”
Wednesday was one of the last rehearsals before the show this weekend. The cast worked on its lines, songs and blocking. There was an aura of professionalism among much of the youthful group as they took directions from Harman and sometimes suggested their own ideas for how a scene could flow.
Harman said the casting of the group was done mainly by what the script said in terms of how many characters were needed and how the actors and actresses performed at the audition.
“Of all the characters, Alice was probably the most popular,” Harman said.
While many of the girls wanted to be Alice, the tough casting choice wasn’t even a major obstacle in path for the show’s path to the stage. Harman said it was often just getting the cast together.
“One of the toughest parts is not having everybody at rehearsal and trying to work through a song when not everybody is there. It wasn’t just summer vacation. During the school year, there are activities and ballgames and UIL that they are involved with as well,” Harman said.
The cast of characters range from the titular Alice to the famous March Hare, the Cheshire Cat as well as the Mad Hatter, the caterpillar, singing flowers called the Golden Afternoon Club, the King and Queen of Hearts, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, various playing cards and even lobsters. There may be something for everyone in this musical.
“The kids have worked really hard and they are doing a very good job. I’d like for people to support the kids, and I think they’d enjoy (the show),” Harman said.
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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
