Follow the brightest star straight to ‘Alice in Wonderland Jr.’

Somers Middle School Theater presents “Alice in Wonderland Jr.,” a tale of self-discovery and imagination. 

Alice (Rose Ford) creates imaginary worlds but is interrupted by Matilda (Emma Feeney) and her snooty friends (Elissiah Barnes, Hollis Tufly and Kelsey Scott), who tell her to stop pretending and to be herself. Disheartened, Alice sits alone and wishes she could live in one of her make-believe worlds.  

As she drifts to sleep, the Cheshire Cat (Eirelyn McClure, Ellie Barrett and Courtlynn Lehman) guide Alice and narrate the story. As the chronically tardy White Rabbit (Londyn Hutcherson) runs past Alice and into her hole, Alice jumps up and follows her. At the bottom of the hole, Alice meets the Doorknob (Holden Dunlap) and, after eating a magic cookie, she cries an ocean of tears and is washed into Wonderland.  

There, Small Alice (Hayley Feeney) comes across the Dodo Bird (Kaden Rivera) and his crew of mighty lobsters (Adeline McGuffie, Brinlee Dworak, Emily Laisuthruklai and Lina Erickson) who help her dry off by holding a Caucus Race. Afterwards, Tweedle Dum (Zoey Hanson) and Tweedle Dee (Kenzie Kilduff) introduce themselves to Alice, getting their arms tangled up in the process.  

Alice continues following the White Rabbit and finds herself in the garden, where a flower clique (Kenzie Kilduff, Zoey Hanson, Elissiah Barnes, Emma Feeney and Ava Ruonavaara) snottily exclude her from their exclusive club. Disappointed, Alice walks away and runs into the upbeat Caterpillar (Jade Marr) and her squiggly legs (Corrina Ledahl and Evalyn Murray).  

Caterpillar gives Alice courage and inspiration to continue her adventure, during which she meets the Mad Hatter (Gus Carey-Louden), the March Hare (Viola Carey-Louden), and the party guests (Ava Ruonavaara, Emma Feeney, Hollis Tufly and Keeley McClish). In the royal courtyard, Alice meets the royal cards (Kenzie Kilduff, Zoey Hanson, Landon Gilman, Corrina Ledahl and Nemiah Hay), and the Queen of Hearts (Aubrielle Hanson) challenges Alice to a game of Simon Says. When Alice wins, the King of Hearts (Kaden Rivera) calls for a trial, bringing the story to a climax as Alice realizes she doesn’t want to be any of the characters in Wonderland, and she wakes up with a new understanding of herself.  

Behind-the-scenes is Juliet Franklin and Olivia Stednitz on the tech crew. The directing crew is led by Katie Carey and Sydney Loudermilk, with assistance from Zach Duval, Anna Fox and Erin Kilduff. 

Seventh-grade cast members spoke about the experience of putting the show together. 

“I love how we can all work together to create something amazing,” Carey-Louden said. 

And just as Alice discovers she is quite capable of achieving big things, so too did Aubrielle Hanson. 

“One thing that I have learned while participating in Alice in Wonderland Jr. is that I am much more capable of things than I thought I was,” she said. 

Performances will be held at 6:30 p.m. May 16 and 17. A 2 p.m. matinee will also be held May 17. To purchase tickets, call the middle school at 857-3661. 

    Somers Middle School Theater will give May 17 and 18 performances of "Alice in Wonderland Jr." (Courtesy photo)