Lyric Academy to Head Down the Rabbit Hole with ALICE IN WONDERLAND JR.

Lyric Theatre's ThElma Gaylord Academy has announced plans for three spring productions, including a beloved story about a young girl traveling down a magical rabbit hole and a colorful rock concert featuring a classic album from the late 1970s.

Students have been rehearsing this semester to present Disney's Alice in Wonderland Jr., a premiere of Some Assembly Required and a concert highlighting Pink Floyd's album, "The Wall."

All performances will be at Lyric at the Plaza, 1725 NW 16 St. Performances of Alice in Wonderland Jr. will be 7 p.m. Friday, May 5, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, May 6.

"Some of my favorite shows for youth are stories based on classic children's literature," said Rozz Grigsby, the Academy's director of primary education. "Audiences delight in seeing a familiar story brought to life with new energy; and, the young actors benefit by exploring quality literature while getting hands-on experience in the play production process."

Students from grades 2-5 will star in the production, which centers on the classic story of Alice and her madcap adventures as she chases the White Rabbit down the rabbit hole and meets magical characters, including Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, a bubble-blowing Caterpillar and three Cheshire Cats.

The season continues with the premiere of Some Assembly Required, a production devised, written and directed by students from the Academy. Performances are 7 p.m. Friday, May 12, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, May 13. The original concept musical combines the cast's favorite solo and ensemble numbers with an original script.

"Students auditioned with pieces they felt would make a great addition to the show and then collaboratively decided on the circumstances around the music," said Nicholas Bartell, director of secondary education for the Academy. "By allowing students to take ownership of so many aspects of the show, we get to instill exciting new values of theatre and creation in our cast, giving them the reigns to create something they can be proud of and claim uniquely as their own."

Musical numbers were selected from more than a dozen theatrical productions, including Newsies, Wicked, Something Rotten, Beauty and the Beast, Bring It On and Cinderella. Students participating in Some Assembly Required range from sixth-graders through high school seniors.

The Academy's spring production calendar concludes with a rock concert highlighting Pink Floyd's album, "The Wall." Performances are 7 p.m. Saturday, May 20, and 7 p.m. Sunday, May 21, under the direction of RoKademY's Matthew Alvin Brown.

The album will be performed live in its entirety by RoKademY students - Lyric's school of rock - with a spectacle of a stage show. "The Wall" was the 11th studio album released by the English rock band in late 1979. Considered one of the most famous concept albums by any artist, it features the band's only single to top various charts, "Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)." This performance is recommended for mature audiences ages 13 and up.

All productions are open to the public. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by phone: (405) 524-9312 and online at www.LyricTheatreOKC.com.

The Academy is also proud to announce its new Summer Theatre Camp program. Each week features a new theme and includes a production of Madagascar Jr. scheduled for late July. Camps range from three days to two weeks and now open to registration for children ages 3 through 15. Before and after care is available. For additional information, visit www.ThelmaGaylordAcademy.com or call (405) 524-9310.

Founded in 1963, Lyric is Oklahoma's leading professional theatre company. For more than 50 years, Lyric has produced classic and contemporary musicals and plays featuring both nationally known Broadway stars and local favorites. Lyric produces large-scale, fully orchestrated musicals at the Civic Center Music Hall each summer, as well as full-scale productions at the Plaza Theatre during the spring, fall and winter. Lyric's ThElma Gaylord Academy is a professional training ground for students ages 5-18, offering classes in all aspects of musical theatre. Academy students have the opportunity to perform in two full-scale productions each year on the Plaza Theatre stage. Lyric is a member agency of Allied Arts. Lyric Theatre is a 501 (C)(3) non-profit organization. For more information, visit www.LyricTheatreOKC.com.

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