2008 Woodie Awards
'Alice in Wonderland' cast writes own scripts
Jessica Bakeman
Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: FUSE
Originally published: 9/27/07 at 9:53 PM EST
Last update: 9/27/07 at 9:59 PM EST
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A group of Plattsburgh State actors and technicians are coming together to bring a little bit of imagination and wonder to campus.
This year's fall play, Alice In Wonderland, will be the product of a unique workshop and rehearsal process.
The theatre students and their director, John Shout, have studied Lewis Carroll's novels, picked them apart, conceptualized and written their own version of this timeless story.
Shout sat down with a couple of students in the spring semester to discuss ideas for the mainstage production.
Of the plays they studied, the thought of putting on Alice really stuck in their minds.
"We were enamored with the idea," Stage Manager Margaret Dimock said. "But we hated all the scripts."
One of these scripts was "very sweet and gooey," Shout said.
He hated this interpretation because it loses the biting wit and satire of Alice.
After reading several versions of Alice, Shout decided to launch a workshop project - basically, one person would shape the script based on ideas from everyone involved.
Organizing such a challenging theatrical endeavor appeared to be a daunting task.
"Over the summer, I would sometimes wake up in the middle of the night and say, 'what am I trying to do?'" Shout said.
Eighty-four people auditioned for the show, which is the largest number the theatre department has ever seen, Shout said.
Seventeen actors were invited to join the project, and the company began working on Sept. 6.
The show is already ahead of schedule. After a week of creativity and discussion, Shout finished writing the script, the show was cast and rehearsals began.
Act one of the show is based on Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and the second on Through the Looking Glass.
Accordingly, there will be two people portraying the role of Alice - junior Nikki Plyem and sophomore Bridget Dunigan, respectively.
"Alice would be an overwhelming role for one person," Shout said. He also thought it would be an interesting statement to the audience about Alice's progression and change throughout the novels.
This year's fall play, Alice In Wonderland, will be the product of a unique workshop and rehearsal process.
The theatre students and their director, John Shout, have studied Lewis Carroll's novels, picked them apart, conceptualized and written their own version of this timeless story.
Shout sat down with a couple of students in the spring semester to discuss ideas for the mainstage production.
Of the plays they studied, the thought of putting on Alice really stuck in their minds.
"We were enamored with the idea," Stage Manager Margaret Dimock said. "But we hated all the scripts."
One of these scripts was "very sweet and gooey," Shout said.
He hated this interpretation because it loses the biting wit and satire of Alice.
After reading several versions of Alice, Shout decided to launch a workshop project - basically, one person would shape the script based on ideas from everyone involved.
Organizing such a challenging theatrical endeavor appeared to be a daunting task.
"Over the summer, I would sometimes wake up in the middle of the night and say, 'what am I trying to do?'" Shout said.
Eighty-four people auditioned for the show, which is the largest number the theatre department has ever seen, Shout said.
Seventeen actors were invited to join the project, and the company began working on Sept. 6.
The show is already ahead of schedule. After a week of creativity and discussion, Shout finished writing the script, the show was cast and rehearsals began.
Act one of the show is based on Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and the second on Through the Looking Glass.
Accordingly, there will be two people portraying the role of Alice - junior Nikki Plyem and sophomore Bridget Dunigan, respectively.
"Alice would be an overwhelming role for one person," Shout said. He also thought it would be an interesting statement to the audience about Alice's progression and change throughout the novels.
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