CHICAGO: The mad world of Wonderland is about to be shaken up by Chicago Children’s Theatre’s new spin on Lewis Carroll’s classic tale. Wonderland, Alice’s Rock & Roll Adventure opens on April 22 and runs through May 24.
The show was conceived by Rachel Rockwell and Michael Mahler, who serve as director and music director, respectively. Mahler and Rockwell took their inspiration from artists like Heart, Joan Jett, Oingo Boingo, Queen and the Beatles, setting the Wonderland adventures to a score of rock, punk and ska.
Rockwell describes the show as “a rock concert meets live theatre, as Alice reflects the vulnerabilities of all kids, and then confidently finds her own inner voice.” This may be a new take on Carroll, but Alice still walks to a beat all her own. “In our version of the Alice story, she is much more of an active protagonist,” Rockwell adds. “We’re talking empowering girls to boldly discover their true selves.”
