Chicago Children's Theatre WONDERLAND, ALICE'S ROCK & ROLL ADVENTURE Sets Cast, Creative Team

Wonderland, Alice's Rock & Roll Adventure, a new family musical created by top Chicago director Rachel Rockwell and music director Michael Mahler, is Chicago Children's Theatre's big 10th anniversary season finale.

Performances start April 22 at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. Press opening is Friday, April 24 at 7 p.m. Performances continue through May 24. Tickets are $10-$38. For tickets and information, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org or call (872) 222-9555.

Chicago's theater scene promises to get curiouser and curiouser when the powerhouse duo of Rockwell and Mahler, both making their CCT debut, boldly reimagine Lewis Carroll's books Alice in Wonderland and Through the Lookingglass.

And wow! Chicago Children's Theatre has tapped a team of A-list Chicago theater artists, all sought after by the city's top stages, to help create Wonderland: Kevin Depinet (set); Greg Hofmann (lights); Mike Tutaj (projections); Mara Blumenfeld (costumes); Lindsay Jones (sound) and Meredith Miller (props).

Who's playing the title role? Actually, two of Chicago's most dynamic young actors, Isabelle Roberts and Ariana Burks, will alternate performances as Alice.

The cast also boasts familiar faces from Chicago's top stages including Molly Callinan, Lillian Castillo, Matt Deitchman, Jed Feder, Regina Leslie, Jake Mahler, Adam Michaels, Andrew Mueller and Matthew Yee.

How can you march to the beat of your own drummer when you're still writing the song? Everyone's search for one's authentic self is at the heart of Wonderland - book by Rachel Rockwell and Lewis Carroll, music by Michael Mahler, lyrics by Michael Mahler and Rachel Rockwell, directed by Rachel Rockwell.

Carroll's beloved, poetic tale of self-actualization is brought to life by a cast of actor/musicians who create an eclectic, live rock soundtrack as 7-1/2 year-old Alice searches for her own inner musical voice. Along the way, Alice faces challenges and fears, but meets the ultimate test in the form of the Jabberwocky, an insidious monster made of up of the dark thoughts and self-doubt that lurks inside of us all. In learning to believe in the impossible, Alice learns to believe in herself. Throughout her journey, the actors surround Alice in a live musical tapestry ranging from classic rock to punk to ska and even a little bit of Bollywood.

"In our version of the Alice story, Alice is much more of an active protagonist. We're talking girl power here, empowering girls, in particular, to boldly discover their true selves," said Rockwell. "Plus, Michael's score is just awesome. He is borrowing from all sorts of classic rock styles, everything from hints of Heart, Joan Jett, Oingo Boingo and Tenacious D, to Queen and the Beatles. Rock concert meets live theater as Alice reflects the vulnerabilities of all kids, and then confidently finds her own inner voice."

Rachel Rockwell (co-creator, director) was the Chicago Tribune's 2012 "Chicagoan of the Year in Theatre" and Chicago Magazine's "Best Director" in 2010. Select credits include Brigadoon at the Goodman, Mary Poppins, Annie and In the Heights at the Paramount, West Side Story, Ragtime and The Sound of Music at Drury Lane Oakbrook, and Shrek The Musical, Beauty and the Beast, The Emperor's New Clothes and The Adventures of Pinocchio at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

Michael Mahler (co-creator, music director) is the Jeff Award-winning composer/lyricist of Hero, How Can You Run with a Shell on Your Back?, Knute Rockne: All-American, The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey, Painted Alice, The 9/11 Report, The Main Street Kids Club and others.

Ariana Burks (Alice) is a 15-year-old, Emmy nominated actress/singer with many credits including The Black and White Ball with the FWD Theatre Project and performing with Felicia Fields in Courting the Blues at Court Theatre. Other credits include Seussical at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, A Christmas Carol at the Goodman, Hairspray at Drury Lane Oakbrook (Jeff Nominated), Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at Broadway Playhouse, The Nutcracker at Jedlicka Performing Arts Center, Aunt Nancy and the Doggie Tales at The Cornservatory and Laika's Coffin with Redmoon Theater. Her film and TV credits include Chicago Fire on NBC, Prank Stars on the Disney Channel and The Jr. Cuisine Cooking Show (Emmy Nominated) on PBS. She is a member of the youth ensemble at Lookingglass Theatre.

Isabelle Roberts (Alice), a 12-year-old Glencoe seventh grader, has been seen as Brigitta in The Sound of Music at Lyric Opera, Young Fiona in Shrek the Musical at Northwestern University, Clarice in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at Broadway Playhouse, Mary Claire Daugherty in The Christmas Schooner at Mercury Theater and Theo in Pippin at The Music Theater Company. She performed at the 2013 Chicago Thanksgiving Day parade and the 2012 Equity Jeff Awards. At New Trier High School she was in Beauty and the Beast and

Photo Credit: Joe Mazza, Brave Lux

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