The Downriver Youth Performing Arts Center presents Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” Sept. 27 to 29 at the Trenton Village Theater, with David Davis (left) as the White Rabbit, Georgia Boyd as Cheshire Cat 1, Lexi Pitock as Alice, Charlie Taylor as Cheshire Cat 2, Talia Drumgo as Cheshire Cat 3, Millie Sorenson as the Queen of Hearts and Beckett Dettore as the King of Hearts. For tickets and more information, go to dypac.com.
From young thespians honing their craft to Broadway tours, opportunities abound to bask in a good show, whether it’s the Downriver Youth Performing Arts Center’s production of Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland Jr.,” or the Tony Award-winning musical “Some Like it Hot” at the Fisher Theater.
DYPAC PRESENTS DISNEY’S ‘ALICE IN WONDERLAND JR.’
The Downriver Youth Performing Arts Center presents the Disney musical “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” the last weekend in September at the Trenton Village Theater.
Director Nathan Vasquez said “Alice in Wonderland” is one of his favorite Disney animated films, and when he learned that Music Theater International had updated its stage musical with new songs while keeping some of the movie favorites, he was eager to direct it.
“I jumped at the chance to put my own spin on this classic tale,” he said. “With a large cast of 45 young performers, this particular production has many fun and zany characters that allows everyone in the cast to show off their talents.”
Vasquez said the show’s musical numbers provide many opportunities for him to create fun dances for the cast to perform.
“The musical numbers are non-stop and require many different styles of dancing,” he said. “This is perfect for keeping the actors’ energy up at each performance to entertain even the smallest of audience members.”
Vasquez said the technical team is as talented as the onstage talent.
“The props are wonderfully wacky, the set is fantastically fun and the colorful costume parade would make a professional theater company jealous,” he said. “The show is a visual treat to the eyes and ears of everyone who comes out to see it.”
Charlie Taylor, 13, of Riverview, who plays a Cheshire Cat, said they love the story and were a big fan of the movie since they were little.
“‘Alice in Wonderland’ is a classic story,” they said. “It’s fun, it’s bold and it has good music.”
Taylor hopes audiences will enjoy the show’s humor.
“The original story is more serious, but the junior version is more upbeat,” they said. “I’m not quite used to the more kid-friendly version, and controlling the attitude and finding a perfect middle for the sarcasm has been a little hard.”
Georgia Boyd, 11, of Brownstown Township, who also plays a Cheshire Cat, said she loves learning the show’s dances, and said the show has a talented cast.
“There are great actors that can just express their emotion and make the show feel real,” she said.
Talia Drumgo, 10, of Southgate, who also plays a Cheshire Cat, said she loves her costume and her dialogue.
“I love everything about my character,” she said. “Everything is a little difficult, but it’s all fun.”
David Davis, 10, of Wyandotte, who plays the White Rabbit, said he has fun singing the song, “I’m Late.”
He said his biggest challenge has been learning accents and delivering lines softly and deliberately when his character is mad.
“It’s an awesome show,” he said. “It’s so fun.”
Millie Sorenson, 10, of Dundee, who plays the Queen of Hearts, said her biggest challenge while developing her character was gaining the confidence to be mean.
“The most fun was costuming, learning my songs and getting confidence,” she said.
Sorenson said she hopes they have a full house.
“We have put so much work into it, and its’s a great show for all ages,” she said.
Others in the cast include: Stella Quiroga, Penelope Vu and Anna Whalen of Allen Park; Nicholas Bond, Sofia Castrillon-Ibarra, Beckett Dettore, Josie Floetke, Khloe Kurpenski, and Allison and Evan Langlet of Brownstown Township; Lexi Pitock of Carleton; Della Henderson, Ellie Knapp, Annika Kung, Aurora Mitchell, Leo Safko and Rory Wallace of Grosse Ile Township; Andie Evans of Flat Rock; and Alicia Harris, Ciana Litten, Brandon and Maggie Lozowski, and Eliana and Emeline Searles of Riverview.
Others in the cast are: Elliott Corbin of Southgate; Addison, Gracie and Peyton Powers of Taylor; Sloane Cannon, Pearl Hale Delcamp, Norah Rennie, Lucia Roberts, Karsyn Smith and Aurora Zmijewski of Trenton; Ava Casson, Stella Franklin, Raven Harten and Brady Pippin of Woodhaven; and Max and Will Pratt of Wyandotte.
Show times are 7 p.m. Sept. 27 and 28 and 2 p.m. Sept. 29 at the theater, 2447 W. Jefferson Avenue in Trenton.
Premium tickets (closer to the stage) are $14, with other seats $12 for general admission and $10 for students and seniors.
To order tickets online or for more information, go to dypac.com.
Broadway in Detroit brings the Tony Award-winning musical “Some Like it Hot” to Detroit Oct. 1 to 13 at the Fisher Theater. For tickets and more information, go to BroadwayInDetroit.com.
‘SOME LIKE IT HOT’ IS SET TO SIZZLE AT THE FISHER
The Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical “Some Like it Hot” will heat up the stage at the Fisher Theater Oct. 1 to 13 with spectacular music and high-kicking choreography.
Set in Chicago during the Prohibition era, musicians Joe and Jerry accidentally witness a mob murder, then flee for their lives disguised as women in an all-girl band headed to California by train.
With laughter, song and dance, the show won numerous awards and wowed audiences with its tap-dancing and razzle-dazzle charm.
The stage musical is based on the classical MGM film by the same name, which the American Film Institute has named the “funniest American movie of all time.”
Tickets start at $35 and are available at BroadwayInDetroit.com.
Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Oct. 1 to 5 and 8 to 12, 2 p.m. Oct. 5 and 12, and 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Oct. 6 and 13 at the Fisher Theater, 3011 W. Grand Boulevard in Detroit.