Aloha Performing Arts Company

Aloha Performing Arts Company's production of Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” has been cast and rehearsals are underway in preparation for the June 19 opening. This musical production is based on the 1951 Disney film “Alice in Wonderland” and the novels “The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking Glass” by Lewis Carroll. APAC's production features a cast of 35 volunteer performers ages 7-18 under the direction of Sue Boyum along with choreographer Tiffany Kutsunai.

In this adaptation the Cheshire Cat acts as narrator and is played by three different actors: Kalena Makanui, Delaney Ross and Nicole Aragon. Alice is played by Amanda Madigan along with Kyndra Nakamoto as Small Alice and Hannah Twigg-Smith as Tall Alice. Amanda Nelson will play the role of Alice’s sister, Mathilda. The familiar mad-cap characters of The Mad Hatter and the March Hare are played by Isaac Dwyer and Joseph Rouse joined by Elliott Jacobson playing the energetic and worrisome White Rabbit. The part sensei, part diva Catepillar is played by Jordan Amstutz, Jonathan Kutsunai, Bowen Ressler and Levi Aguilera. The goofball brothers Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum are played by real-life brothers Loi & August Chang-Stroman. Alika Tolzmann plays the part of the Dodo Bird and commands his troop of Rock Lobsters played by Avery Amstutz, Allie Amstutz, Kristiana Van Pernis, Mia Kriebl-Bruno and Sarah Rouse. The big mean bully of the story, the Queen of Hearts is played by Eden Hershberger with Simon Ellis as her husband, the King of Hearts. Other Wonderland characters include the snooty flowers played by Chamika Fujioka, Zoe Muehleip, BriAnna Johnson, Erin Zagorodney, Jaquelynn Collier and Raisa Klyne. Royal Cardsmen are played by Tyler Savarese, Pierce Marr, Tanner Riley, Luke Van der Spoel and Alexander Miyashiro.

The production crew includes Gerald Lucenea, costume and set designer, April Mai , sound and light design, and Whitney Aguilera, hair and makeup design. Joel Michaelson is stage manager, Caitlynne Johnson-Underwood is assistant director and Jerry Tracy and Jill Collier are co-producers.
Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” will show for 6 performances only at the Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu Jue 19-28, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 and $12, and are available by phone Monday through Thursday at 322-1648, online at www.apachawaii.org, or at the box office beginning one hour prior to curtain time. On Fridays, all seats are $10. The Aloha Theatre Cafe will be open on performance nights, and dinner reservations can be made at 322-3383. For more information, call 322-9924.

June 8, 2009