DERRY, NH – The NH Theatre Factory continues the success of its Stage Setters Youth Program with the upcoming world-premiere musical, Lost in Wonderland, written and directed by NHTF’s own Artistic Director Joel Mercier.
“With so many of the same shows being produced over and over again by a lot of the youth companies in New Hampshire, we wondered if our young actors might enjoy something different,”Mercier said. “So we decided to expose them to a new work that could be tailored around their needs, but also let their imaginations run wild.”
And Lost in Wonderland has done just that. The world’s most famous characters come together in this mysterious and exciting retelling of the classic “Wonderland” books. While trying to escape the trials and tribulations of growing up, young Alice finds herself following a peculiar white rabbit into a world beyond wonder. In a place where up means down and right means wrong, Alice tries to make her way back home and escape the clutches of Wonderland’s two worst inhabitants, the arrogant Queen of Hearts and the frightening Jabberwocky!
Lost in Wonderland features a cast of 28 young performers, ages 8-17, representing Manchester, Derry, Merrimack, Hooksett, Hudson, Amherst, Concord, Boscawen, Allentown, Bow, Weare, Barrington, Exeter, and even parts of Massachusetts.
“Our cast includes both beginner and experienced actors who have come together to learn a craft and then apply it to the project at hand,” Mercier said. “Our program is not just a rehearsal process and performance. We bring in industry professionals to teach master classes, we work extensively on character development and acting.”
NH Theater Factory’s philosophy is that craft comes first. For Lost in Wonderland the actors have already worked with guest dialect coach Alex Jacobs originally from Aylesbury, England, who has perfected the young actors’ British accents, as well as Faye Dupras, from the Boston area, who taught a master class on puppetry, which is being utilized in the creation of the Cheshire Cat. Stunning costumes by Lorraine Louie, extensive lighting and special effects by NHTF’s Producing Director Wallace J. Pineault, and a set design by Joel Mercier and Chris Fair professionally round out the technical side of the production.
NH Theatre Factory urges audience members to join the “other white rabbit” this Easter Weekend with Lost in Wonderland on Friday, March 25 at 7:30 p.m, and Saturday, March 26 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. at the Derry Opera House in Derry, NH.
Tickets can be purchased at the door or online by visiting www.nhtheatrefactory.org. Best seats available by purchasing in advance, as all seating is reserved. This is a 90-minute family production suitable for all ages! For more information, please visit the NH Theatre Factory’s website at www.nhtheatrefactory.org.
