Production Vision
Wonderland Grows From the Classroom Itself
Dual Roles for all principal actors and ensemble
Who Are They Becoming?
All cast members, principal and ensemble, live in two worlds…as Oxford scholars and professors, then as Wonderland characters. This serves several purposes.
First, the main theme is “Who are you Becoming” and it makes sense for everyone to have an absurd alter ego to make that point.
Second, the audience will first see the actors as normal Oxford scholars acting badly, and when the same actors appear as absurd Wonderland characters, the comic effect will be very energetic, and will keep the audience engaged wondering who they will recognize next.
Third, it keeps the cast number manageable since you won’t have to cast different actors for different roles
Music That Scales With Your Production
Reduce Development Time
The songs and instrumentals already exist in recorded form:
✓ Musical development is complete
✓ Songs can be evaluated immediately
✓ Workshops can begin sooner
✓ Rehearsals can start with finished music
✓ Productions can scale from modest budgets to full orchestral presentations
Whether performed with production-ready accompaniment tracks or a live orchestra, the score of The Hatter is designed to adapt to the needs of the producing theatre.
The music is ready. The choice is yours.
Digital Projection Backdrops
Quick Scene Changes
If your stage is so equipped, digital backdrops are a colorful convenience. They provide high graphic appeal, are quick to program, and provide a rich virtual environment for the actors. They provide for quick scene changes during performances, and free up the stage crew to focus on movable props.
The “Desk”
It’s Much More than a Prop
The desk plays such a large role in the musical, you’ll be tempted to include it in your program as a cast member. It’s on stage for most scenes, beginning in the Oxford classroom.
It serves as Dodgson’s initial security blanket, becomes the portal into Wonderland, gives the Queen of Hearts her power over others, is the object of a high-stakes heist with a Cheshire cat laying on it, becomes the focus of a man’s moment of self doubt, attracts a mysterious raven, becomes the stage for an absurd tea party, and returns to the classroom—but can it solve the riddle?
Opportunity to Showcase High-Quality Dancing
Casting Flexibility May Offer the Audience a Rare Delight
It’s true that casts often have talented dancers amongst them. The Raven is cast solo, with no other dual-character roles for this performer. Male or female, you might find that person during casting call, or you might offer the role to a local modern dancer from a dance school or higher education institution.
The instrumental soundtrack for this scene runs 4 minutes, giving the dancer the time and ability for advanced choreography. A digital backdrop has been designed especially for this scene. The raven is one of mysterious creativity, and dancing solo on stage will carry that emotion into the hearts of the audience. Will Alice and the Hatter catch the raven?