Loyola University Presents “Alice by Heart,” Continuing March 26-29 in the Lower Depths Experimental Theater
NEW ORLEANS – The Department of Theatre Arts and Dance at Loyola University is proud to present “Alice by Heart,” a musical inspired by Lewis Carroll’s novel “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” which continues March 26-29 in the Lower Depths Experimental Theater.
Originally presented by London’s Royal National Theatre in 2012, “Alice by Heart” centers on the story of teenager Alice Spencer and her dear friend Alfred, who are forced to take shelter in an underground tube station during the London Blitz of World War II.
When the ailing Alfred is quarantined with tuberculosis, Alice encourages him to escape with her into their cherished book and journey down the rabbit hole to Wonderland. As they travel through the tale, “Alice by Heart” explores the poignancy of first love, coming to terms with loss and finding the courage to move forward.
Salvatore Mannino, the musical’s director, said he chose this show for the department’s spring production because the characters must overcome great obstacles, as do the students in performing those characters.
“’Alice by Heart’ centers around a group of young individuals facing immense challenges during challenging times,” said Mannino, Loyola’s artistic director and a professor of practice in theatre. “This play not only presents a demanding educational experience for our students but also fosters teamwork and community-building, in a unique and meaningful way. These are the qualities we consistently seek in productions that showcase our student-artists’ talents.”
The musical, with an ensemble of 17 actors, runs for 90 minutes with no intermission. Flo E. Presti is the Vocal and Music Director, and Keith Pinkston is the Choreographer. Steven Sater and Jessie Nelson wrote the book for “Alice by Heart,” with music by Duncan Sheik and lyrics by Sater.
Tickets are $20 for adults; $15 for senior citizens, and Loyola faculty and staff with an ID; and, $8 for students. You can purchase tickets at Loyola Presents: https://cmm.loyno.edu/loyola-presents/buy-tickets