UPDATED: The Forum Players Present: Alice in Wonderland by Brainerd Duffield

Performances will now be held on May 6 and May 7 at 7:30 pm and May 8 at 2 pm

Batavia, NY (04/20/2022) — The Forum Players will be presenting Alice In Wonderland by Brainerd Duffield, an adaption of the classic tale written by Lewis Carroll. Original performances for April 22, 23 and 24 have been cancelled. Performances will now be held on May 6 and May 7 at 7:30 p.m. and May 8 at 2:00 p.m. in the Stuart Steiner Theatre at Genesee Community College.

After a chance meeting with the White Rabbit, Alice finds herself tumbling down a seemingly endless rabbit hole. Once she reaches the bottom, she finds her world has been turned upside-down. She meets the tempestuous Queen of Hearts who invites her to play a game of croquet. Things only get more peculiar from there. From dangerous encounters with vengeful queens, to new companions who may not have Alice's best interests in mind, Wonderland soon loses its luster. If Alice has any hope of getting home to her cat Dinah, she must traverse through Wonderland to the border of Looking-Glass Land. From there she'll have to travel square by square on a giant chessboard. Only once she reaches the eighth row and becomes a Queen herself can she be free to go home.

Brainerd Duffield's adaption of Lewis Carroll's classic tale takes on a much darker tone. Alice and her adventures through Wonderland become an allegory for a child facing the nightmare of growing up. It's a coming of age story where the dream becomes a nightmare. Take an expedition into Wonderland and see a fresh look at the horror of the journey to adulthood.

This show features themes of abuse, bullying, drug addiction, alcoholism, narcissism, peer pressure and selfishness. It is not suitable for young children. There are some scenes that may be too intense for children under 16. This is not a children's theatre production. No child will be permitted without an adult.

Alice in Wonderland by Brainerd Duffield features an international cast of GCC students. Audiences will enjoy the many talents of the following Forum Players:

Jillian Curtis, LeRoy NY as Alice
Gyandro Marselia, Willemstad, Curacao as The White Rabbit
Mya Thomas, Akron NY as the Queen of Hearts
Rob Reiss, Elba NY as the Mad Hatter, The Executioner
Haylea-Ann Self, Brocton NY as the Caterpillar, The March Hare
James Barcomb, Batavia, NY as the Duchess, Cheshire Cat, Gryphon
Francesca Pieter, Willemstad, Antilles, Netherlands as the Red/White Queens
Reina Fujikawa, Sakaide, Kagawa as the Mouse, Dormouse
Jessie Pierce, Batavia, NY as the Mock Turtle
Raylynn Ryan, Fillmore NY as Tweedledee, Knave of Hearts
Celeste T. Dzielski, Rochester NY as Tweedledum, Humpty Dumpty, King of Hearts
Crimson Allis, Gasport, NY as the Fish Footman
Cheri Pekurny, Binghamton NY as the Frog Footman
Cheri Pekurny, Crimson Allis, Belancia Joseph (Jamaica, NY) as the Cards
Ayaka Nakamura (Osaka, Japan), Tiffanie Drum, Tiffany Smith (Arkport NY) as the Flowers
Ayaka Nakamura, Tiffanie Drum (Cohocton, NY), Tiffany Smith, Cheri Pekurny, Crimson Allis as the Dance Ensemble
Rob Reiss Special Sequences

Director, Maryanne Arena shares, "This beloved tale is the what nightmares are made of, and being a teenager is a nightmare! We are not telling this tale to play to children, using fun, one dimensional characters. Rather, we are exploring the expectations and circumstances or growing up in a world where you feel you don't belong. A world of monsters, bullies, and questions with no answers. Alice In Wonderland by Brainerd Duffield, can be told with a variety of themes in mind. We wanted to explore the pains of middle years of growth and not knowing where one belongs. Not a child, yet, not an adult; Alice fights for survival and the strength to overcome the many nightmares of youth. Please enjoy this interesting tale of youth. Maybe you can find yourself and the monsters that pursued you in your youth."

Production Staff

Directed and Staged by: Maryanne Arena

Production Designer: Brodie McPherson

Musical Director: Lauren Picarro-Hoerbelt

Choreographer : Tara Freitag

Assistant Director: Rob Reiss

Stage Manager : Haileyjo Denaro

Audio Engineer: Chris Stawiasz

Light Board Operator: Yuina Otsuka

Run Crew: Trever Clark, Kaine D'eredita, Lindsey Windham

Costume Run Crew: Julianna Turoldo

Costume Designer: Beth Ohman

Wardrobe Supervisor: Loy Gross

Posters : GCC Digital Arts and Pam Swarts

PR, Photos: GCC Marketing Communications

Arts Center Assistant/Box Office Attendant: Jessica Skehan

Promotional Materials: GCC Marketing Communications & Jessica Skehan

You may contact the Stuart Steiner Theatre box office for more information and ticket sales. They can be reached by phone at (585) 343-0055 x6490, or by sending an email to jeskehan@genesee.edu. Seating is limited and advance reservations are strongly advised. The show is designed for mature audiences only.

Ticketing information can be found on the GCC website. Go to: https://prod5.agileticketing.net/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=197538~4d3e9e27-d57b-4e83-be53-f9d3be0276ac&

For more information contact Vice President, Development and External Affairs Justin Johnston at (585) 345-6809, or via email: jmjohnston@genesee.edu.

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Jessica

Skehan