Cincinnati Ballet presents the return of the wildly popular ALICE (in wonderland) this Valentine’s Day weekend, February 13-15 at the Aronoff Center for the Arts. Audiences have five opportunities to see this bold, spectacular take on Lewis Carroll’s classic stories with live instrumentation by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
From the revolutionary vision of The Washington Ballet’s Septime Webre, ALICE (in wonderland) is refreshingly original, having premiered regionally in 2012, and showcases modern production elements such as elaborate, eye-popping scenery and characters who take flight. The production features gorgeous costumes by Liz Vandal and a commissioned score by Matthew Pierce. Cincinnati audiences may be familiar with Webre as the choreographer of Cincinnati Ballet’s praised production of Peter Pan, performed earlier this season. Liz Vandal is a celebrated costume designer whose unique, elaborate designs have graced the stage of Cirque du Soleil.
The original score was created for an ensemble orchestra, but Cincinnati audiences will experience a version that is expanded to utilize the breadth of the magnificent Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Webre worked closely with composer, Pierce, throughout the creative process to give each character its own unique musical sound effects, bringing each of the favorite characters to life on stage. The vibrant cast is comprised of a combination of Cincinnati Ballet dancers, children from the Otto M. Budig Academy and even some larger than life puppets. When paired with Pierce’s unique score, they are sure to pull the audience right down the rabbit hole with Alice.
Webre, with his typical flair for storytelling, draws inspiration from Lewis Carroll’s classic tales Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There. A polite and well-mannered child, Alice finds herself in a fantastical but irreverent world where the rules of social etiquette don’t matter and time is irrelevant. She learns how to adapt to this new world and eventually becomes the heroine that brings down the Queen of Hearts and her house of cards.
Webre’s unique take results in an unusual twist. As Alice chases the White Rabbit into Wonderland, the wacky characters she discovers are oddly familiar. Although she can’t quite make the connection, the audience discovers that Alice’s overbearing mother has become the Queen of Hearts, her sisters have become Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, and Lewis Carroll has become the Mad Hatter.
Visually stunning and filled with wonder, Webre’s vibrant new take on Lewis Carroll’s masterpiece is the hottest ticket in town this Valentine's Day weekend!