‘Alice by Heart’ to be performed at Imagine NEPA

DALTON – Imagine NEPA Performing Arts Center has been having many plays that give young children an opportunity to perform. But during the weekend of April 4 to the 7, the young adults will take the stage in its first teen production.

The play is “Alice by Heart.” Set in the London Blitz during World War II, it is a story within the classic book by Lewis Carroll, “Alice in Wonderland.”

When the play’s main character Alice Spencer, played by Nina Collarini, learns that her best friend Alfred has become stricken with tuberculosis, she brings him on one last adventure as they escape into Wonderland.

“It’s a really beautiful show,” said Nina. “It’s been exciting to explore Alice herself, her character, and her characters around her.”

As Alice goes through the five stages of grief, Alfred, with whom Alice shares an underground tube station, teaches Alice how to continue after he’s gone, according to Alfred’s actor Brock Marion.

“His (Alfred) story is basically accepting his own death and helping Alice accept it as well,” said Brock. “And for her to learn how to deal with her grief and how to live on without him there.”

Nina and Brock have been acting in plays together at Valley View High School. They were both in their school’s productions of “Tuck Everlasting,” “Bright Star” and “Big Fish.” They performed separately as well. Nina was in “Twelfth Night” and “Lightning Thief” at the Scranton Shakespeare Festival. Brock was in Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” at the Phoenix Performing Arts Center.

“I love this show,” Brock said about “Alice by Heart.” “The creator of the show is amazing. The music of the show is gorgeous. It’s beautiful. The story is told through movement, music, and acting. It’s so complex and complicated, but at the same time, it’s easy for people to understand. The story is so moving.”

Blaise Shepherd plays The Mad Hatter. In this version, he is a World War II soldier who goes through PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) after his friend was hit by a bomb. Blaise enjoys being in this play.

“The people here are very supportive especially the directors,” he said. “They really try to push us to be our best, and that’s something I enjoy.”

Blaise performed for Imagine NEPA as well. He played the baker in “Into the Woods.” He also performed in a homeschooling program at St. Athanasius Academy in plays such as “Treasure Island,” “Tom Sawyer,” “A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream,” “Robin Hood,” “Newsies,” “Mary Poppins,” “The Lion King” and “Footloose.”

Imagine NEPA actress Marina Baca enjoys being in the ensemble of “Alice by Heart.”

“I love working with everyone,” she said. “Everyone, who is directing, is so knowledgeable.”

For Imagine NEPA, Marina played Old King Cole in “A Fairy Tale Christmas Carol,” Amadeus Pig in “The Trial of the Big,” Bad Wolf, Principal C.A. Daver in “Zombies” and Granny Smith in “A Great, Big Holiday Cook-off.”

“Alice by Heart” has been directed by Mandy Bruno Bogue, who has taken the role of Imagine NEPA’s artistic director this past fall. She coaches students privately and teaches classes and master classes for all ages. She has spent the last two decades directing, coaching, and educating artists for several companies across the country. Alice by Heart will be her third production with Imagine NEPA and her 47th production altogether.

“Our focus is on providing a pre-professional program that prioritizes education,” she said. “We aim to challenge young artists to grow while teaching them about industry standards and treating them as theater professionals. We are thrilled to announce that in our first year with this program, we have numerous students training in personal coaching sessions, in acting classes and in our theater productions, with several of our students having been accepted into the countries top ten colleges to pursue a career in acting!”

When she works with young adults, Mandy discovers stories, in which she believes they can connect on a personal level.

“Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about loss,” she said. “While we teach kids subjects like math, language, science, and history, where do they learn about mourning? About healing? About facing difficult truths, like healing often starts with a tough choice - the choice to begin anew. To embrace a fresh start.”

The community has been showing its support by donating props and costumes for this production.

“We are so lucky and thankful to have such a wonderful village behind us!,” said Mandy.