Drama of Works's "curiouser and curiouser"

curiouser & curiouser was written and adapted using text from Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass,
Dodgson’s diary entries and Alice Liddell’s memoirs. The piece surrounds Lewis Carroll, Dodgson’s alter ego, who investigates
what could have possibly gone so wrong between Alice and Dodgson to destroy the very friendship that created him.
The Alice puppet plays chess with tables in outrageous hats, is scolded by white rabbits made from handkerchiefs and takes
boat rides with playing cards. Alice Liddell is represented by a sweet and disjointed doll-style puppet made from doll parts.
All other characters come to life through toys, objects and furniture, and the occasional piece of cheese.
Drama of Works uses puppetry, original music and songs, object theatre and physical theatre to create
the landscape of curiouser & curiouser.

“Gretchen Van Lente’s curiouser and curiouser is a wonderful deconstruction of the Alice in Wonderland story,
illuminating the complex and mysterious relationship of its author Lewis Carroll/Reverend Charles Dodgson and
his muse Alice Hargreaves. With actors and puppets Gretchen has created a theatrical production that is extremely engaging,
insightful and ultimately very entertaining!” —Richard Termine, former artistic director, The O’Neill Puppetry Conference

*There will be a special Q&A after opening night (9/19) with Gretchen,
cast and the Lewis Carroll Society of North America's president Andrew Sellon.

Stranger Theatre's "And what Alice found there"

On September 22nd and 23rd Stranger Theatre, all the way from Toronto, bring their version of Alice to HERE.
"And What Alice Found There" brings to life Lewis Carroll's writing of Alice in Wonderland, the real Alice, and the world
in which they lived. Using a mixture of sources from Carroll's two famous novels, letters and other writings, we begin with a
sunny day on the river and travel to far darker places. The story examines childhood, love, and the nature of creation.
Alice Liddell's journey through Victorian times mirrors Alice in Wonderland's journey through the hallucinatory
landscape of her author's imagination, where nothing is as it seems.

Stranger Theatre's new work is a collaboration between an all-female group of performers, puppeteers and video artists,
reworking a classic text to create a multi-media theatrical adventure using physical theater, puppetry, slide images, video,
stop-motion animation, and a little tap dancing. Bizarre, visually stunning, funny and absurd, this is an enticing look
at the troubled friendship that gave birth to a masterpiece.

Plus much, much more...

A talk with Maria Bodmann, Alice in the Shadows

Maria Bodmann of Bali & Beyond is coming all the way from the west coast to show a video, give a puppet
demonstration and answer questions about their infamous "Alice in the Shadows."
This show has been around for years and has dazzled hundreds of people.
Images of Alice hauntingly appear. Colors blend and the screen pulses in a kaleidoscope of patterns.
The band chants, "Goo Goo Goo Joob" as tales begin of a long lost summer day...
Alice in the Shadows features over sixty intricately hand carved and colorfully translucent characters living
and breathing behind a pulsing oil flame. Projections of light and color, pyrotechnics and enhanced flame effects
create another dimension of surreality. Maria will be giving a special talk, showing off some of the puppets, showing a
video and taking questions. This event is free but we welcome donations at the door!

KAMIKAZE PUPPET ALICE

The last performance of the festival will be a hoot! Crazy puppet artists from all over the city will come together to
put up the most insane production of Alice ever staged. Each artist has been assigned a chapter from the book
and can do with that chapter whatever they want. They have no idea what the rest are doing and they shouldn't care.
Then, we perform the pieces back to back in order of the story and see what happens!
Artists on board already include The Josh & Tamra Show, Howie Leifer, David Michael Friend,
Evan Laurence, the Puppet State Players and Claire Beaudreault, with many more to come...

* Free movie screenings and other talks

Each week we will screen a movie for free - come see an old favorite or get exposed to a new one!
The Lewis Carroll Society of North America will send some of their Alice experts to us throughout the festival:
Check back for an exact schedule of talk-backs, Q&As and discussions!

Down the rabbit hole...the Alice puppet exhibit

The Alice puppet exhibit will be something to see... It begins before you even get to the exhibit hallway.
When you first enter the building, you will be enticed "down the rabbit hole" and into a world of Alice-inspired puppets,
including works from such artists as Tony Sarg, Lake Simons, Lyon Forest Hill, Flexitoon puppets and many more!

And yes, there will be a tea party following each show. Sponsored in part by Alice's Tea Cup!!!