This past Friday I checked out Alice By Heart directed by Lynna Czajka at the CENTER for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck. From the soft flashing light bulbs and smoky haze of The Underground in the minutes before the show all the way to the curtain call, I was completely intertwined in the story.

The entire show was engaging, colorful, and incredibly thought-provoking. If you are in the area and are free this coming weekend, I highly recommend seeing Alice By Heart.

Set in an underground bunker during World War II in London, 1941, Alice By Heart follows two childhood best friends, Alice Spencer and Alfred Hallam, as they make their way into Lewis Carrol’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland to navigate love, loss, and discover what it means to grow up. Alongside an assorted cast of characters between the real and fantasy worlds (such as the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts, etc.), the musical presents a well-rounded discussion on what it means to be alive, how we take our childhood into adulthood, and what we must ultimately leave behind.

The talented cast includes Sarah Griffin as Alice Spencer, Lexi Beaumont as Cheshire Cat, Max Leipham as Caterpillar, Haley Polidore as the Queen of Hearts, and many more, including some of our very own: Emmanuel Jeffreys as Alfred Hallam, Riona Hack as Mock Mock Mock Mock Turtle, and Zoe Ulrich as a member of the ensemble. The cast, crew, and musicians have been giving it their all since the auditions in November of last year, and it really showed.

Tickets are available for $19 on the CENTER’s website for this Friday and Saturday at 8:00 PM and for the matinee Sunday at 3:00 PM. The show includes loud noises, flashing lights, and references to war, so if you are triggered by the aforementioned topics you should be aware. If that doesn’t apply to you, then don’t run out of time to see this incredible show!