Director’s Note

from Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit Alice and the New Wonderful Playbill

Greetings,

It takes so many people to make a play. It takes excellent people to make a play great. As I write this I marvel at how silly it is for this director to get a page to pontificate about art and stuff. From the playwright to the creative team of technicians, to the understudies, I am so indebted to the talented people that surround and supported this process. So before you read any further go to the page in the program that displays the amazing cast and crew I had the pleasure to work with on this show. Those names are the true geniuses behind this whole project. I am grateful to them.

Go look now... I’ll wait...

...Welcome back! Did you Google any of them? They are pretty cool.

Okay... so ... director’s notes...

What shall I say about this play, Alice and The New Wonderful?

When people asked what I’m working on, I’d say a sequel to Alice in Wonderland where Alice is a teenager and a Detroit-ish City is (finally) Wonderland!

What I’m really working on though is impacting the lives of these incredible Young Artists you get to see on stage today. Their energy and ideas brought the psychological horror and magic of being a teen in this brave new world where social media and bent reality go hand in hand. That’s what I think this production explores, perceived reality and how it affects one’s identity. I think it is so very appropriate that the source material that inspired this play gave us the term “rabbit hole” that many of us find ourselves falling down into the great network of ideas, images, and insanity that is the internet. Pay attention to this show and you’ll find the essence of that descent into digital madness throughout this piece. But, hopefully, you will also find that we can crawl out of that hole by climbing into the arms of the people in our community.

A very special thank you Amelia and Ariel. This could not have happened without your grit, and willingness to supply whatever the situation demanded. This show and the growth of our beloved Young Artists happened because you came ready to work. I am so lucky to have shared this process with you both!

To the amazing creative team, I simply stand in awe of your skill and imagination. Thank you for diving into this process with me and truly making this a collaborative effort.

Finally, thank you. Yes, you. The Beautiful Human reading this message. We appreciate your support of the arts and of these incredible Young Artists. You are Champions!!!