The Penn Yan Academy Drama Club will bring the musical “Alice by Heart” to the stage this week, inviting audiences to follow a reimagined version of the classic Alice in Wonderland story set during World War II.
The production takes place in London during the 1941 Blitz, as bombs fall across the city. In the story, Alice Spencer, played by senior Ella Kinsey, takes shelter in an abandoned subway station that has become an air raid shelter. She is joined by her longtime friend Alfred, portrayed by sophomore Porter Reynolds, along with a group of other characters also seeking safety underground.
As Alfred’s health begins to decline, Alice copes with the frightening reality around her by retreating into the familiar world of “Alice in Wonderland.” As the story unfolds, the people in the shelter begin to transform into the characters from the classic tale, blurring the lines between imagination and reality while Alice confronts the challenges of growing up and the grief she faces.
The cast also includes Juliet Chaffee, Eve Harvey, Lila Hansen, Natalia Dunning, Kat Green, Zoee Comstock, Campbell McCroskey, and Owen Droney, along with Cady Brady, Austin Christie, Ivana Giron, Ben Green, Alli Hansen, Charlotte Kinsey, Fiona Marino, Shoay Miller, Meggie Pratt, Nina Reid, Claire Mackenzie Ross, Abbie Sabins, and Raynne Sebring.
The musical features a score by Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik, the songwriting team behind Spring Awakening, and a book by Jessie Nelson, who also wrote the Broadway musical Waitress. The Penn Yan Academy production is directed by PYA Choir and Theatre teacher Jessica Kinsey.
Performances are scheduled for Friday, and Saturday at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Penn Yan Academy auditorium, 305 Court Street.
Tickets are available online at www.cur8.com/projects/alicepy. Admission is $9 for children 10 and younger, $14 for students and seniors, and $15 for adults. A livestream option is available for $20, and tickets purchased at the door will include an additional $1 fee.
