“Disney’s Alice in Wonderland jr.” — Gettysburg Community Theatre’s 2025 Penguin Project show — lit its stage with sentiment as bright as the Gettysburg Christmas Festival happening a block away in Lincoln Square this weekend.
Directed by Chad-Alan Carr assisted by Kevin Foster, a troupe of special needs actors (some as young as 10) and their peer mentors from Adams, York and Franklin Counties presented the culmination of months of preparation with their own brand of joy and goodwill.
As one of the first theatres in the country to become a chapter of The Penguin Project Foundation, GCT has embraced empowering special needs children and adults while enriching the lives of their peer mentors through the theatre arts since 2014. In his preshow curtain talk on Opening Weekend, Carr (paraphrasing a quote by the Penguin Project Foundation founder) said that although penguins (meaning folks with special needs) may not be able to fly (in a conventional sense), here they can soar.
And soar they do.
“Alice in Wonderland jr.” is full of heart from the first performance of almost two dozen sweet musical numbers by a cast of more than 30 glowing young thespians to its finale. Many have appeared in previous GCT productions, some have attended the theatre’s summer camps, all love to sing and dance.
The key characters — played by Katie Myers as Alice; Alysanna Lovell as Mathilda; Kalgin Kuhns as the White Rabbit; Ella Scott as the Caterpillar; Imma Rinnaldi/Johna Hoxie/Nyelle Steinour as Chesire Cats 1, 2 and 3; Stevie Cotto as the Dodo Bird; Dustin Miller as Tweedle Dee; Rachel Beard as Tweedle Dum; Samuel Albert as the Mad Hatter; Leah Watson as the Queen of Hearts and Matthew Shoap as the King of Hearts — are surrounded by a myriad of fantastical characters too numerous to list as Alice journeys her way through Wonderland.
Almost everyone knows and loves the tale of “Alice in Wonderland,” a story emphasizing self-discovery and the value of imagination that beckons to children and grownups alike. The music numbers performed here, such as “In a World of My Own,” “The Golden Afternoon,” “The Unbirthday Song,” “Painting the Roses Red,” and “Simon Says,” among others, are well-loved.
And the themes and message that relate to growing up — such as physical changes, embracing one’s identity, making logic out of chaos, and standing up for oneself — fit this production in this theatre beautifully.
The lights designed by Kai Dittrich rise on a set that serves as a visual symbol of Alice’s imagination; lovely locales are projected against the upstage wall within a large screen area framed by a collage of colorful tissue paper flowers and clockfaces. The costumes (assisted by Kristy Petruzzelli and Annette Perkins) are as colorful and fairy-tale charming as one would expect. And Michael Connelly’s tech direction and sound design are, as usual, spot on.
The song and dance performances with vocal music direction by Carrie Conklin and choreography by Kyle Meisner are well coordinated and continuously entertaining. Many shine.
Myers as Alice sings and acts beautifully —she has perfected a giddy stance and facial expressions in appropriate moments to emphasize Alice’s vertigo. As the evil Queen of Hearts, standout Leah Watson’s vocals are exceptional.
Kuhns as the White Rabbit, Scott as the Caterpillar and Albert’s lively tempo as the Mad Hatter keep the story rolling. Miller and Beard as the somewhat confused Tweedles are comical, and Abigail Carter as Tall Alice is a riot. Every single cast member brings their own unique energy and sense of delight to the mix, and the feeling of community is strong.
The real beauty here is not in perfect performances or a flawless pace across the board, but in the love of storytelling when it comes from the heart. GCT’s cast members are adorable, each and every one; basking in their light through this relaxed, purely fun show is an honor.
The joy reflected on everyone’s faces onstage and off at curtain call tells it all.
“Alice in Wonderland jr.” continues Fridays at 7 p.m. on Dec. 12 and 19, and 2 p.m. on Dec. 13, 14, 20 and 21. Tickets are $20 ($22.95 w/fees for online ticket purchase). The box office and bar, serving wine, beer, cocktails, sodas, coffee and snacks opens an hour prior to each performance. If seats are open, tickets can be purchased at the box office the day/night of performances.
Other credits: Vanessa Rice (Props); Maria Wolf, Madison Melton, Jenna Ploski, Audrey Trax, Tessa Trax, and Sara Policicchio (Production Assistance).
Photo courtesy of Marc Faubel.
GCT’s mission statement reads that it aspires to “inspire creativity and confidence, provide cultural enrichment, and instill a love of arts in people of ALL ages and abilities through quality education and performance.”
“Alice in Wonderland jr.” is presented by special arrangement with Music Theatre International.
