Staff Reports | Happenings & Events
This June, East Valley Children’s Theatre invites audiences down the rabbit hole to beat the summer heat with a world of wonder, mystery and imagination. Running June 12–22 at the Mesa Arts Center, Alice in Wonderland marks the culminating production of EVCT’s 2024–25 season.
Adapted by Anne Coulter Martens from Lewis Carroll’s beloved novel, this production leans into the shadows and strangeness of Wonderland, drawing visual and thematic inspiration from Japanese animation, the fantastical puppetry of Jim Henson’s Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal, and a postmodern blend of styles across eras.
“This isn’t the pastel dreamland audiences might expect,” said Bry Blanco, artistic director of EVCT and director of the production. “It’s Wonderland through a Miyazaki lens. It’s mysterious, beautiful, and a little eerie. Our goal is to immerse families in a visual and emotional world that lingers long after the curtain falls.”
Featuring a cast of 39 local youth performers, the show blends traditional acting with stylized movement, puppetry, and eye-popping stagecraft, according to a press release.
For Valley families looking to escape triple-digit temperatures, EVCT’s Alice in Wonderland offers a full-sensory escape into a world led by a courageous young heroine. It’s a fresh, compelling take on a familiar tale, with something to spark wonder in audience members of all ages.
