Sean C. Morgan
Sweet Home High School drama students will present “Alice in Wonderland” at 7 p.m. on May 14-16.
“Students came up with and threw out some ideas,” said Director Alain Brown. He looked at some more contemporary plays, such as “Picnic at Hanging Rock,” but settled on an old favorite because people seem to be more interested in them.
Brown didn’t realize that the Junior High students performed this play last year at the time he made the final selection, he said. He read many “Alice in Wonderland” scripts, finally settling on a longer one that includes more scenes and a larger cast.
This play runs about 90 minutes, Brown said.
He had about 35 students audition for parts, Brown said, and senior Jarid Adams volunteered to be assistant director, a position previously held by 2013 graduate Shelby Wymetalek.
“I don’t think he’s been in many plays,” Brown said, but he has done a really good job. “He came up early and asked me to be assistant director. I was a little skeptical, but he’s been very helpful. He definitely has good input.”
Brown worried that the actors might not take direction from an assistant director who hasn’t been an actor, he said, but Adams has been running practices well while Brown sees to other details.
Props are tricky for this play, Brown said. He had hoped to use a projected backdrop, but there was no good way to project it without problems with shadows and lighting. And the stage doesn’t have enough room for rear projection.
So, Brown is gathering physical set pieces, he said.
Parent Heather Swanson is making costumes again this year, he said.
The actors have “been really good in terms of learning their lines,” he said, and they should be ready to go by showtime. They’ve been preparing since April 1.
Alice will be played by two actresses. Tierra Redick will play her two nights, while Megan Oberg is double cast as an understudy and will perform one night.
“It’s going good,” Adams said. When Brown was casting the play, Adams said he wasn’t sure about some choices, but they’re working out perfectly.
Directing isn’t completely new to Adams, he said. “I remember in junior high we made a video, directed. I just thought it’d be interesting to try it out.”
The cast includes Zack Wicker, Tierra Redick, Megan Oberg, Isabelle Stratman, Kat Kinker, Ashley Caudwell, Kiesha Goble, Kira Doeding, Eddy McCartin, Sierrah Owen, Julie Morgan, Amy Frentz, Haley Swanson, Jacob Webb, Brendan Matthews, Hunter Olheiser, Sarcon Majors, Bailey Wicker, Brie Davis, Sophia Brown, Anna Rhoads, Katie LeBret, Alexis Johnson, Randi Reynolds, Amber Shuell, Linh Vu, Erika Driver, Carolann Ross, Liz Crawford, Nick Thompson, Corbitt Sanders and David McCalister.