Pitt Rep presents the World Premiere of Alice, a Darkly Fanciful Take
on Lewis Carroll’s Long-Adored Tale
Pitt Rep, the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Theatre Arts’
mainstage company, presents the world premiere of Alice, a fun-loving
and slightly warped adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in
Wonderland that blends live music, theatre, and puppetry. Performances
will be held in the Studio Theatre March 24-April 3. This production is
recommended for ages 8 and up and tickets can be purchased by calling
412-624-PLAY.
While 2010 may arguably be “the year of Alice”—with the advent of Tim
Burton’s much-anticipated cinematic take on the story, as well as the
acclaimed Syfy mini-series and the best-selling new novel Alice Have I
Been (Melanie Benjamin)—Pitt Rep’s rendering stands out as not only a
unique take on the story, but one that features a distinctive
partnership among artists, resulting in a show that has been carefully
crafted from all angles. Master puppet builder Wavy Davy (Pee-Wee’s
Playhouse) and IBEX Puppets have donated their talents for the
production of the Alice puppet, and adapters Emilia Anderson and Tamara
Goldbogen have collaborated with local music celebrity Buddy Nutt
(“Pittsburgh’s Tiny Tim” –Rolling Stone Magazine) to create a quirky
visual and auditory delight for theatergoers.
Although Anderson and Goldbogen’s Alice plummets into a parallel
universe where rabbits drink tea, cats spout philosophy, and characters
depicted on cards try to chop off her head, Alice’s fantastical story
is, as Goldbogen states, “a pretty big departure from the novel.” Some
of the characters from the beloved book remain, but new ones pop up (a
Pirate, for example!). In fact, it is a group of ragtag circus
performers who introduce the story and bring it to life, using
breathtaking puppets, vivid imaginations, and physical dexterity. Much
like Carroll’s novel, Pitt Rep’s Alice is an expression of wonder, a
celebration of play, and an affirmation of the joy of exploring an
imaginary realm. Unlike Carroll’s original, however—which some literary
critics have argued has chosen not to have a moral lesson—this Alice’s
weird and wonderful caper through Wonderland tells a tale of overcoming
one’s fears.
Goldbogen describes Alice as “wildly entertaining,” due in no small
part to the musical genius of Buddy Nutt, who wrote more than 10
original musical pieces expressly for this production. With pieces
ranging from bouncy to bizarre, from haunting to hilarious, Nutt has
carefully crafted the music to reflect the tone of the show and to
perfectly complement and highlight the action taking place on stage.
“Buddy’s music is incredibly touching and evocative,” says co-director
Sam Turich, “and to have him and the cast playing his original score
live creates a unique, visceral experience that transports audiences
all the way to Wonderland.” Nutt’s “soundtrack” is executed by the
actors, who form an onstage band that includes traditional instruments
such as the trumpet, organ, and guitar as well as unusual ones like the
wine glasses, musical saw, autoharp, sousaphone, vibraslap, and
ukulele.
In addition to playing a zany array of instruments, actors also
manipulate an assortment of both large and small puppets that complete
the cast and add to Wonderland’s otherworldly feel. While most of the
puppets have been designed and produced on-site by artist Lisa
Leibering, the Alice puppet is currently being crafted by
internationally-known puppet designer Wavy Davy. Best-known for the
puppets featured in the 1980’s television series Pee Wee’s Playhouse,
Davy is currently a master puppet builder at Heather Henson’s IBEX
Pupperty. “We are fortunate and grateful to have someone with the kind
of talent and expertise Wavy Davy and IBEX have donating their time and
artistry to make our show a success,” declared Goldbogen.
While this certainly “ain’t your mother’s Alice in Wonderland,” she’s
sure to enjoy it nonetheless. Performances of Alice will be held in the
Studio Theatre, with shows Tuesday through Saturday beginning at 8 p.m.
and Saturday and Sunday matinees beginning at 2 p.m. As a special
offering for younger audience members, the cast of Alice will host a
post-performance Tea Party after each matinee (March 27 & 28, April
3). Children (and accompanying adults) holding a ticket to that day’s
performance will have the chance to meet Alice and the wacky Wonderland
characters while partaking in a zany Wonderland-style tea party.
Tickets for all shows range from $7-$22, and group rates are available.
Call 412-624-PLAY for tickets or more information.
Alice is directed by Sam Turich and Tamara Goldbogen, with set design
by Julie Ray and costume design by Sarah Conly. Puppets and humanettes
were created by Lisa Leibering. Tom Pacio supervised movement. The cast
features popular local musician Buddy Nutt, as well as Pitt students
Julianne Avolio, Erin Collopy, Jeremy Enz-Doerschner, Kristi Good, Cara
Kierzkowski, Martel Manning, Ethan Tyler Miller, David Peterson, Ruffin
M. Prentiss III, Jessica Reed, Ryan Daniel Very, and Nina Williams.
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For more information, please contact
Interim Marketing Coordinator Andie Markijohn at amarki@pitt.edu.
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The University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Theatre Arts (founded in
1982) offers the BA, MA, MFA and PhD degrees in Theatre Arts. All
faculty members are active in both teaching and artistic / research
activities. The department shares a philosophy of theatre education,
the chief feature of which is the firm conviction that theory and
practice, academic and creative work, and educational and professional
theatre must be integrated for a successful program of theatre
education. The University of Pittsburgh Repertory Theatre is the
department’s flagship theatre company with performance spaces in the
landmark Stephen Foster Memorial and the Cathedral of Learning.
www.play.pitt.edu.
Buddy Nutt is a songwriter and one-man band who plays a vast and
eclectic array of instruments ranging from the gut-bucket bass to the
singing saw to the ukulele. Born in Texas, Nutt learned to play the saw
from his mother while growing up in Nashville. Now based in Pittsburgh,
Nutt’s music blends elements of many styles including folk, bluegrass,
and jazz into his contemporary one-man performance. According to the
Pittsburgh City Paper, “Buddy Nutt's expanding bag of musical tricks is
going to entertain anyone with an informed sense of whimsy and the
nostalgia for a simpler life, away from cell phones and the Internet.”
IBEX Inc. is a small entertainment company dedicated to promoting the
fine art of puppetry in various mediums. Their work includes Handmade
Puppet Dreams, a touring series of puppet film shorts featuring artists
exploring their puppet craft; The Orlando Puppet Festival, a week-long
festival that features puppetry for both adult and family audiences;
and their latest endeavor, www.PuppetSlam.com , a networking website
for puppet cabarets, live puppet artists, and underground puppet
venues. IBEX Inc. founder Heather Henson, is a theater performing
artist whose work has been presented in a multitude of venues across
the country. She is also a board member of the Jim Henson Foundation,
The Jim Henson Legacy and The Jim Henson Company.