Whiting resident Scot Kokandy, a 1998 Bishop Noll graduate, has “fallen down the rabbit hole” again.
Last fall, he brought a concert staging of the musical “Sweeney Todd” to the Theatre at the Center stage for a weekend of performances in November 2023.
Now, his rabbit ears are directed at a new stage production inspired by the Lewis Carroll classic “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” titled “Alice by Heart,” opening as a Midwest premiere on Friday, Aug. 2 at The Chopin Studio Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. in Chicago and playing through Sept. 29.
Scot and his Kokandy Productions are the umbrella for this musical introduced to new audiences, with book dreamed up by Steven Sater and Jessie Nelson paired with music by Duncan Sheik and lyrics by Sater. Nelson is the mind and talent who wrote, directed and produced “I Am Sam” in 2002 starring Sean Penn. She also co-wrote “Stepmom” in 1998, “The Story of Us” in 1999, before her foray into Broadway writing and adapting the stage musical version of the film “Waitress.”
The duo of Sater and pop singer Duncan Sheik, the latter who found fame in 1996 with his debut single “Barely Breathing,” are the Tony and Grammy award-winning creators of the dark and brooding Broadway hit “Spring Awakening.”
This new run of “Alice by Heart” is directed by Derek Van Barham and Brittney Brown with music direction by Heidi Joosten and choreography by Van Barham.
The earliest incarnation of “Alice by Heart” was in 2012, unveiled by the Royal National Theatre in London. Later U.S. workshops of the production in 2014 and 2015 included actor Ben Platt in the role of the White Rabbit, Andrew Mueller as the Mad Hatter and David Patrick Kelly as the King of Hearts. The Off-Broadway World Premiere of “Alice by Heart” was at the Newman Mills Theatre in February 2018.
Set in 1941, in the rubble of the London Blitz of World War II, this telling focuses on Alice Spencer discovering her teen world turned upside down as she and her friend Alfred take shelter in an underground station. After ailing Alfred is quarantined, Alice encourages him to escape with her into their cherished storybook for their own journey “down the rabbit hole” to visit Wonderland in what becomes an adventure in first love, dealing with loss and the courage to look to the future.
Caitlyn Cerza stars as Alice with Ezra Borrero as Dormouse, Elliot Esquivel as Caterpillar, Niki-Charise Franco as the Queen of Hearts, Joe Giovannetti as Alfred and the White Rabbit, Darian Goulding as King of Hearts, Will Lidke as the Mad Hatter, Emily Ling Mei as Young Alice, Patrick O’Keefe as The Duchess, Mizha Overn as Cheshire Cat, Alex Stetkevich as Mock Turtle and Peter Stielstra as Young Alfred.
“We fell in love with ‘Alice by Heart’ and the characters,” said director Van Barham, who also directed last year’s “Sweeney Todd in Concert” at Theatre at the Center.
“This is a show with songs that Scot, Brittney, Heidi and I have listened to for years, and we’re just delighted to be able to share it with audiences. The Chopin basement will be transformed into Wonderland to experience Alice’s beautiful journey up close and all around for the audience to be immersed. It’s dark, whimsical and witty—a curious twist on a story we think we know.”
More Top Picks Hemiplegic Migraine Warning Signs To Know
Tickets are $45 general admission, $55 reserved seating, and $35 for students/seniors at kokandyproductions.com
Philip Potempa is a journalist, published author and the director of marketing at Theatre at the Center. He can be reached at [email protected].