The nonsense of Alice's adventures has been a favorite of many - young and old. So, with this in mind, I set out to musicalize the story in a way that will send audiences singing out the doors. My adventures began "a few years back" when I was asked by the former producers of the GAM Theater in Garden Grove to set a few of the "Alice" stores to song. In doing so, I was able to compose a few singable, "feel good" melodies which became my inspiration to tackle a full-length production. From its inception, the first song written for this show, "In my Mind" exemplified the approach in which the music was to take form. Several of the lyrics in this song rang true and have become mission statements for the entire project - "I will search for the sights within my head" It's yourself that you should trust," and "My Mind is The Key" have become the driving force which kept this project moving forward.
The first trial run of what was to become the "full length" musical was mounted with the Musical Young Artist Repertory Theater in Long Beach, California during the summer of 1997 as a musicalized story. The enormous success and thoroughly positive response of this "trial run" confirmed that this was indeed a much sought after and enjoyable piece of children's theater, and it was immediately booked for a main stage production with MYART IN 1999. Several more scenes and songs were required, so I set out to enhance more material from "Through the Looking Glass," and "Adventures in Wonderland." Five more scenes and three more songs were added, and I thought the show was a wrap!
But, as the years went on, and other production companies were requesting to produce this show, I was inspired to continue layering the story and the music, so like all theatrical pieces, cuts, replacements, and additions were incorporated. Songs were recorded, orchestrations were written, and now this popular "Alice in Wonderland" has been produced all around the country and internationally. (Currently, productions are being staged in England and Canada!)
I have had the pleasure of sharing it with many incredible Southern California youth theatre organizations as well including, MYART, OCCT, MTA, ESCAPE, The Attic, The Rose Kids, and Sowers Middle School!
I am very proud of all the music that ended up in the show and so thrilled to be presenting this "final" version with the wonderfully talented cast and incredible young voices you are about to hear. I hope you too will relish in the nonsense, sing yourself silly, and always remember - "yes, your mind is the key!"
All the Best, Tim Nelson, Creator
