Though COVID is forcing the cast of February’s Children’s Theater production of Alice in Wonderland to adapt, the cast and directors think the musical will have promising results.

With the constant setbacks COVID has caused, such as having to quarantine, social distance, and being forced to rehearse with masks on, the show’s directors and actors alike have been overcoming and working around covid restrictions.

“It’s always a challenge to put on a good performance, and there’s a lot of moving parts to it,” Marcel Graham, technical director and director of the performance, said. “Between the actors, actresses, the technicians, the set pieces, and all of the stage crew, there’s a lot of moving parts when it comes to putting on a production. You really have to plan it from the beginning to the end in your head before you even get to the audition part of the show, so that you understand what part fits perfectly.”

One way Graham says the team has overcome  COVID setbacks was to utilize understudies.

“The one thing that we did because of COVID was put understudies in place. Normally, we wouldn’t put understudies in place but we felt that it was important to have them learn the songs in case somebody gets quarantined or somebody gets sick. We felt that it was a way to be able to keep moving forward. Even if there is a problem somewhere,” Graham said. 

Students working on the production credit Graham’s decision to have understudies for eliminating a lot of the stress for cast and crew. 

“I’d say having  understudies is a big asset to us because COVID brings the possibility that an actor could be contacted during the week of the show, or could become sick and then not be able to perform, so having understudies gives us a built-in backup plan so that the show will still go on if those people are not able to perform,” Ryan Bohn, senior and one of the two student directors, said.  

Knowing the show has a back up plan gives the cast, crew, and even directors the ability to gain confidence in the success of the show, Bohn said, but Graham says he believes the student production team is creating a spectacular show, regardless of how COVID changes have affected them.

“The actors and actresses are doing an extraordinarily good job. They’re working hard to learn their parts, and I think it’s going to be a very fun production,” Graham said.

According to the cast and crew, the production atmosphere has changed with the directors being able to adapt with the COVID setbacks giving the production an advantage to stay with their schedule. 

Sean Washburn, senior, who plays Tweedle Dum, says he has complete faith the student directors will be successful in creating an entirely student-led show. He also congratulates the team in making an environment that gives the cast and crew the ability to grow as a community and make friendships.

“I’ve developed friendships because they were in these shows since freshman year and so I know them very well. So it’s nice to just work with them in a new setting, of course, you know, with COVID and all that but we’re doing a new show.We’re all exploring it for the first time. And so I’d say that’s the most fun trying to just work with your friends and explore together rather than by yourself,” Washburn said.

According to the cast and crew, having friends in the production makes preparing easier with friends giving them the ability to grow as performers and getting them more comfortable growing into their set roles. 

Ashley McWhorter, senior, who plays Alice, believes her friends give her the ability to become more comfortable with performing since this is her first time being a part of the musical. The cast and crew being comfortable and having to adapt to the constant COVID setbacks gives the cast and crew the ability to make this winter musical a wonderful production.

The cast and crew hope to stay flexible with changing guidelines and are looking forward to putting on a great show.

“Restrictions start to get lifted and we can get more people into the theater or vaccinated people could go without masks, or anything along those lines. We hope [for] that but you can’t plan on it.” Graham said. “So you have to plan on it being under the rules that you’re at the moment and hope things don’t get worse and at least stay the same. [However,] I feel we will be able to overcome these episodes and put on a great performance.”