recreation DIANA BLOWERS
First-time patrons of Beavercreek Community Theatre’s Youth Theatre are often surprised by the level of professionalism director Teresa Connair draws out of the young people.
Weeks of rehearsals, set construction and costume design go into productions like “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” being presented April 8-17.
Young thespians, ages 8 to 18, will present the show at 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. on Sundays at Beavercreek Community Theatre, 3868 Dayton-Xenia Road.
“This adaptation is actually an overlap of ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ and some of ‘Through the Looking-Glass’ by Lewis Carroll,” said Connair
“It is not the Disney version, which is lacking many of the characters from the book... I always prefer to do a youth production that is based on an actual literary work with the hope that it will encourage our youth to read the classics.”
The show includes talking animals, comic royalty, races that go in circles, the Mad Hatter’s frantic tea party, the watch-carrying white rabbit, a sneezing duchess, a baby that turns into a pig and a trial where Alice is the accused.
Makenna Tracy and Kendra Moran, both of Beavercreek, share the role of Alice while Keith Walbridge of Dayton is the White Rabbit.
The cast also includes Emma Bergeron of Springboro, Katie Goralski of Miamisburg, Lauren Counts and Madison Boyer of Kettering, Emmeline Millhouse of Centerville and Sarah Conrad of Fairborn along with Dayton residents Michaela Frank, Max Santucci, Leo Santucci, Corrine Engber, Jessie Deaton and Delainie Sims.
Beavercreek residents in the show are Charis Jacobson, Samantha Stanley, Joseph Sellers, Brock Hoskins, Ian Stevens, Maria Schlegel, Janae Thomson, Anna Schlegel, Sarah Sellers, Tiffany Stevens, Gabriella Stauffer, Allison Minnick, Heather Brodman, Katherine Toronto, Jacob Anderson, Sachi Wilson, Joshua Anderson, Kathleen Anderson, Alexa Stevens and Caroline Delaney.
The technical crew includes Serenity McKenzie of Dayton and Matthew Sellers of Beavercreek.
The adult crew includes Kettering resident Katie Storost as assistant director and stage manager and Linda Sellers of Beavercreek as costumer. The producers are Mary Mathieu and William Quinn, both of Beavercreek.
Tickets are $13 for adults, $11 for students, seniors and BCT members and $8 for those in eighth grade and younger. There also will be mat seating in front of the stage for children age 10 and younger for $5. Tickets can be reserved by calling BCT at (937) 429-4737 and leaving a message or by emailing boxoffice@bctheatre.org. Tickets also can be ordered online, using a credit card, at www.bctheatre.org.
Contact this columnist at dsb@donet.com.