.png)
Alice By Heart
is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International. All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
Please read all the info below before registering.
Show Summary
In the rubble of the London Blitz of World War II, Alice Spencer’s budding teen life is turned upside down, and she and her dear friend Alfred are forced to take shelter in an underground tube station. When the ailing Alfred is quarantined, Alice encourages him to escape with her into their cherished book and journey down the rabbit hole to Wonderland.​
​
As they travel through the tale, Alice by Heart explores the poignancy of first love, coming to terms with loss, and finding the courage to move forward. This musical encourages us all to celebrate the transformational power of the imagination, even in the harshest of times.
The production, capped at 23 students, is about 2 hours in length and is rated PG13.
Cast Roles & Other Show Details Can Be Found Here
​
CONTENT NOTE: It is important to note that Alice by Heart is rated PG-13 for mature themes and simulated smoking. This coming-of-age story deals with first loves, body image, violence, depression, and death. There is a one-time use of profanity, references to drugs and drinking, and sexual innuendo. Actors and guardians who would like to know more about content can contact us for more details.
​​​​​
Artistic & Leadership Team
-
Director​ - Shelbi Wescott
-
Music Director - Linzee Hamilton
-
Choreographer - Jenna Wallace
-
Producer - Kim Wallace
​​
A Note From The Director
Someone recently asked me to describe Alice By Heart in three words, and I said: Imagination as survival. This is a story where fantasy becomes refuge; where white rabbits and Cheshire Cats waltz through the London Underground as bombs fall above them, where teenagers on the cusp of adulthood cling to Wonderland to slow time and the inevitability of loss.
“Isn’t it a trial, to try and stay a child?” the Queen of Hearts asks. The world is forcing these young people to grow up too quickly, so holding onto wonder and whimsy is an act of resistance.
This show will ask our actors to be fearless and vulnerable, and to move fluidly between the absurdity of Wonderland and the grim realities of war. It is vocally, physically, and emotionally complex, and its richness (and harmonies) endlessly rewarding! The artistic team is looking for young actors to take up the challenge. We are so excited to tell this story with you. See you in Wonderland!
Important Dates/Info​
-
Locations: Most rehearsals for Alice By Heart will be at the Oak Grove United Methodist Church, with a few rehearsals at Imagine's Studio space at Boring-Damascus Grange. Tech Week & Performances will be at the Boring-Damascus Grange.
-
Auditions:
-
March 20th, with audition times starting at 6pm. (At Oak Grove United Methodist Church)
-
-
Callbacks: March 21st, 9-2pm. (At Oak Grove United Methodist Church)
-
Rehearsals
-
Friday​s 6-9pm. Starting March 27th
-
Saturday 9-2pm. Starting March 28th
-
Tuesdays (March 31st, April 21st and 28th, May 19th), 6-8pm at the Boring-Damascus Grange.
-
-
Required Parent/Volunteer Meeting
- March 27th, 7:30-9:00pm. (7:00 for committee chairs.)
- May 8th, 8:15-9:00pm, New Families Only.
-
Move-In (Boring-Damascus Grange, Committees & Crew Required)
-
Saturday, May 23rd - Times TBD
-
-
Tech Week (Boring-Damascus Grange, All Cast & Crew Required)​
-
Friday, May 22nd, 6-9pm
-
Sunday, May 24th, 9am-2pm
-
Monday, May 25th (HOLIDAY, NO SCHOOL), 10am-4pm
-
Tuesday, May 26th, 6-9pm
-
Wednesday, May 27th, 6-9pm
-
Thursday, May 28th, 6-9pm (At OGUMC due to previously scheduled event at the Grange)(We are aware of several possible school conflicts happening this night. Permission to be excused from this rehearsal is at the discretion of the artistic team. Please reach out personally if this applies to you.)
-
-
Performances (All Cast & Crew Required)
-
May 29th, 7pm Show (Call Time 6pm)​​
-
May 20th, 2pm & 6pm shows (Call Time 1pm)
-
May 31st, 2pm & 6pm shows (Call time 1pm)
-
Questions? Email Production Coordinator Kim Wallace at kimw@imaginetheatre.org
Cast Participation Details
Age, Cost, Expectations, & More!
​Imagine's heart is to allow all students to experience the arts. The following requirements/expectations are in place to ensure a well-maintained community and efficient program. ​
Age: This production is open to youth ages 14-18. Those who are 18 must remain 18 during the length of the production.
​
Pre-Requisites: No prior drama/dance/music experience required. ​
​​
Community Commitment: Imagine's Student Expectation & Code of Conduct communicates the expectations of students who participate in Imagine Programming. This covers electronic/cell phone expectations, behavior expectations, and general safety considerations.
Students and families/guardians will be required to sign the Student Expectations document, affirming that they have read it and agree to uphold these standards. ​Read the document here.
​​​​​​​​​​
​
Production Cap: The production is capped at 23 students. Imagine's Class-Show promise does not apply to this production of Alice By Heart.
Parent/Adult Volunteer: Imagine Theatre cast members are expected to have one adult (typically a parent, relative, or guardian) participate in a Show Committee(s). The cast member may not be their own representative. Shows take lots of work and Show Committees are a fun way to meet other families and bond as a community!
More information about the show and committees will be discussed at the required committee meeting. Committee members will communicate their schedule and skills for committee placement consideration.
​Read about volunteer/parent/guardian involvement expectations here
Questions? Email Production Coordinator Kim Wallace at kimw@imaginetheatre.org
Costs
- ​Production Fee: $225 (payable in one or two installments) for cast members. No fee for crew members. This fee covers administrative costs and gets students a show sticker, digital link to photos, and 1 comp (free) ticket. (Max of 3 comp tickets per family unit) ​
-
​Optional Items For Purchase: When paying for the production fee, cast members are given the opportunity to purchase a show shirt (not required), and other additional items (Show Posters, digital recording, show button, etc.). Cost for these optional items listed here.
-
Other Costs: Students/families should be prepared to have/provide:
-
A simple base layer of clothing that will be under their costumes (Costumes are provide. Generic clothing items, like a t-shirt, may be requested from home.)
-
Generic socks. (Specialty socks provided.)
-
Appropriately sized basic Character & Jazz shoes. Tap shoes required if student is tapping in the production
-
Generic make-up if required (Specialty make-up and training provided if required)
-
Showbox: A storage container that holds their person items, makeup, street clothes, snacks, water, etc. during the show run.
-
*Please let us know if you do not have any of these items and we will happily work with you to find a solution.
-
-
​Scholarships: Scholarships are available for any Imagine Theatre program, including production fees. ​View our Scholarship Guidance document, and the required steps, here!​
-
​
Accepting Roles: Per Imagine policy it is assumed students will accept any role they are given. As an educational organization, we are focused on placing students in roles that will encourage growth. Imagine does not refund class/program costs due to casting drops post-cast list.
​
Attendance: Prior to the casting process, students/families will be given the opportunity to declare any date conflicts. These conflicts will be considered when casting and crafting the schedule. Conflict disclosed after the casting process will be considered on a case-by-case basis as last-minute conflicts place a huge strain on the whole schedule and cast. Students who have unapproved/undeclared absences (beyond being sick or having family emergencies) may be pulled from the numbers/scenes that are missed. Multiple unapproved absences may result in being cut from the cast with no refunds. ​
​
Health & Safety:
Crew Participation Details
Age, Cost, Expectations, & More...
We are looking to fill the following crew roles for this production of Newsies!
Cost: Free!​
​
Attendance: Crew must attend Move-In, ALL of tech week, and each performance dates/times as listed above. Other rehearsals (such as stumble throughs) may be added in coordination with the crew team's schedules.​​
Crew Role:
-
Stage Manager (ages 14+): The Stage Manager keeps track of cast members, attendance, blocking, set movement and miscellaneous details during rehearsals and production of a stage performance. They also attend all rehearsals and shows as well as move in day at the theater. The Stage Manager will need to arrive 20 minutes before all call times. APPLICATION for this role DUE March 13th
-
Assistant Stage Manager (ages 14+): The Assistant Stage Manager is responsible for assisting the Stage Manager in helping keep track of cast members, blocking, set movement and miscellaneous details during rehearsals and production of a stage performance. They also attend all rehearsals and shows as well as move in day at the theater. The Assistant Stage Manager fills the role of Crew Chief during the show run. The Assistant Stage Manager will need to arrive 15 minutes before all call times. APPLICATION for this role DUE March 20th
-
Sound Board Operator (ages 14+) The Sound Board operator is responsible for operating the sound board (playing music cues) during all performances and tech rehearsals. DUE March 20th
-
Light Board Operator (ages 14+): The Light Board Operator is responsible for operating the light board during all performances. Performs daily light checks at the beginning of all technical rehearsals and performance call times to ensure that all lighting equipment is working properly. APPLICATION for this role DUE March 20th
-
​Stage Crew (ages 14+): Crew members assist with props, moving set pieces, charging glow tape, cleaning, etc. APPLICATION for this roleDUE March 20th
-
Other roles as determined. See the Crew Form.
​
Health & Safety:
Read our Communicable Disease Management Plan Here.
​
Community Commitment: Imagine's Student Expectation & Code of Conduct communicates the expectations of students who participate in Imagine Programming. This covers electronic/cell phone expectations, behavior expectations, and general safety considerations.
Students and families/guardians will be required to sign the Student Expectations document, affirming that they have read it and agree to uphold these standards. ​Read the document here.​
Questions? Email Production Coordinator Kim Wallace at kimw@imaginetheatre.org
Audition, Callbacks, & Casting
(How to Sign Up & What to Expect)
How to Audition:
-
Sign up for an audition slot - Here. ​(Each 20-minute audition time will have space for 8 auditioners. Please come 15 minutes early to ensure you are checked in and have proper paperwork completed. You may bring someone with you into your audition time as a support person.) Audition slots and sign-ups close 24 hours prior to the audition date.
-
Prepare A Song with Music: Please come prepared to sing 1 minute of a musical-theatre-show song with a backing track. Bring your own accompaniment (instrumental/karaoke, no vocals) on a phone or tablet, and we will play it for your turn. If you are using a phone, please have the appropriate dongle to connect to a speaker.
-
On vacation or can't make auditions in person? On a case-by-case basis, the Artistic Team may allow some video auditions &/or callbacks. The determination to allow a video audition may be made based on how many total auditioners are already signed up and how many video audition slots have already been granted. A video audition/callback does not immediately mean a student will not be cast, but videos will limit what roles the student may be considered for since they are not in person to assess reading dynamics/ability to blend and harmonize, etc. To request a video audition/callback, please email our Producer Kim - kimw@imaginetheatre.org
What Are Auditions & Callbacks Like?
​The audition process is a fun and integral part of the production! We understand that auditions can feel stressful, but everyone you see is your biggest cheerleader! When you thrive, we thrive.
-
ARRIVING: When you arrive for auditions, you will check in and make sure all your information is in order. You will have your headshot taken and receive any additional information. One adult may accompany each student into the audition room as moral support.
-
AUDITIONING: You and seven other auditioners, along with their support people, will go into the audition room as a group. When it is your turn to perform your song, you will be called up. Hand your accompaniment device to the audio person cued up to the spot you want to begin singing. Stand in front of the artistic team and they will let you know when you may begin. When prompted, “slate”, which means introduce yourself by name and age, then tell us which song selection you have chosen. Then you will indicate for the audio person to begin your song and you can sing. When you have completed, say, “Thank you.” You will get to watch five other students audition, so please show encouragement by staying engaged and applauding when appropriate.
-
CALLBACKS: Callbacks will be requested at the discretion of the Artistic Team. If you are called back, you will receive notice before 11pm on Friday. Callbacks will be held on Saturday, from 9am-1pm at Oak Grove UMC. You will be notified if you are to attend the entire time, or just a portion thereof. If you are NOT called back, that does not mean you are not getting considered for a part. Being “called back” simply means the directors would like to see you read/perform something specific. For this production, callbacks will consist of a dance, music, and cold readings from the script.
​
Casting
-
The Cast List will be sent out via email & posted in the shared Google Classroom on the Sunday after auditions at 3pm. As an educational opportunity we assume all students accept their role. The cast list will also be shared on social media that evening.
-
The cast size of this show is capped at 23 due to space at the performance facility.
-
Casting is determined by a variety of factors: vocal skills/quality compared to the demand of the show, acting skills, dancing skills compared to the demand of the show/role, previous experience/roles, past behavior in rehearsals, audition/callbacks, number of conflicts during the rehearsal process, educational journey, height, age, etc. One factor is not necessarily more important than another; rather, all factors are considered together to determine the makeup of the cast. Being cast in one role over another does not necessarily mean that a youth would not be good in that role; it simply means the artistic team considered all of the factors and decided to fit the "puzzle" together a certain way.
​
Imagine Theatre values diversity on our stage and in our theater. In casting, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, body diversity, or national/ethnic origin. We aim to cast respectfully and appropriately to all cultures and identities.​​
Questions? Email Production Coordinator Kim Wallace at kimw@imaginetheatre.org