'Wonderland' ready to put new spin on classic characters

"Wonderland: Alice's New Musical Adventure," celebrating its world premiere Saturday at the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts, is a new spin on Lewis Carroll's classic Victorian fantasy novels.

The new Alice is a grown-up, modern-day Manhattan author struggling with her career, her marriage and a strained relationship with her daughter.

Alice is on the verge of a nervous breakdown at a gala party in her honor when she slips into a strange world. There she encounters the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter, the Queen, the Caterpillar and other fabled characters while on a musical journey of self-discovery.

With more than a dozen songs, the music by Frank Wildhorn and lyrics by Jack Murphy tap into numerous pop styles. The $3.5 million production is the first to be created and produced by the Straz Center, formerly called the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, with the goal of going to Broadway.

Meet the key players in "Wonderland":

Alice Cornwinkle

Actor: Janet Dacal, from Los Angeles and Miami, is a young red-haired singer/actress of Cuban heritage who has been on the New York stage since 2005. Broadway credits include "In the Heights" and "Good Vibrations."

Character: Alice is a descendant of Alice Liddell, who inspired Lewis Carroll. A harried working mom with writer's block, she must survive Wonderland to restore her faith in love and the magic of everyday life.

Theo/Caterpillar

Actor: Tommar Wilson has appeared on Broadway in "Hair," "Hairspray," "Lestat," "Never Gonna Dance," "The Music Man," "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and national tours of "Mamma Mia" and "Ragtime."

Character: As party-goer Theo, he is the coolest guy in the room. In "Wonderland" he becomes a swinging caterpillar who sings to a jazzy beat.

Chloe

Actor: Julie Brooks most recently was Bielke and Grandma Tzeitel in the tour of "Fiddler on the Roof," starring Topol. She is a recent graduate of the Maggie Flanigan Studio in New York City

Character: Alice's daughter Chloe is alienated from her mother because of a strained marriage and Alice's demanding schedule.

Hector/El Gato

Actor: Jose Llana appeared on Broadway as the original Chip in "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" (Drama Desk Award - Best Ensemble). He also was in "Flower Drum Song, "Rent," "Streetcorner Symphony" and the 1996 revival of "The King and I." He also appeared on the HBO series "Sex and the City" and in the film "Hitch."

Character: Alice has a brief encounter with party guest Hector who becomes a Latino version of the Cheshire Cat - El Gato - in her Wonderland.

Chef/Jabberwock

Actor: Tad Wilson appeared on and off Broadway in "Rock of Ages." His regional theater credits include "Les Miserables," "The Full Monty," "For the Glory" and "The Civil War."

Character: Seen cooking at Alice's Manhattan party, he becomes the more sinister Jabberwock who she encounters in Wonderland.

Jack/The White Knight

Actor: Darren Ritchie, 32, who grew up in Sarasota, has appeared in numerous Broadway and touring productions as well as TV series such as "Law & Order." Theater credits include "Dracula," "Little Shop of Horrors," "Thoroughly Modern Millie," "Bells Are Ringing" and "Les Miserables."

Character: Alice's husband is still in love with her but they are headed toward a divorce anyway. In Wonderland he becomes a "hero" with bravado: a White Knight and leader of a boy band.

Madeline/The Mad Hatter

Actor: Nikki Snelson originated the role of exercise queen Brooke Wyndam in "Legally Blonde: The Musical." Other stage credits include "Annie Get Your Gun," "Sweet Charity, "A Chorus Line," "How to Save the World," "Have a Nice Life," "Show Boat" and "Hello, Dolly!"

Character: Madeline is Alice's conniving, back-stabbing assistant who becomes the Mad Hatter in Wonderland. A power-hungry baddie "with crazy eyes," she wants to be Queen.

Mrs. Everheart/Queen of Hearts

Actor: Karen Mason has appeared on Broadway in "Hairspray," "Mamma Mia" (2002 Drama Desk nomination as Best Actress)," Sunset Boulevard," "Jerome Robbins' Broadway," and "Torch Song Trilogy." Off-Broadway, she received a Drama Desk nomination for Best Supporting Actress in "Carnival." A cabaret singer, she has six solo discs including her most recent "Right Here/Right Now."

Character: Arts patron Mrs. Everheart is throwing the party in honor of Alice. In Wonderland she is a self-absorbed Queen oblivious to what is happening around her.

Richard/White Rabbit

Actor: Edward Staudenmayer recently starred in "Spamalot" in Las Vegas and on Broadway in "Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me." He has a 15-year association with the Tony Award-winning "Forbidden Broadway." Other theater credits include "Beauty and the Beast," "Cats," "The Scarlet Pimpernel," "Noises Off," "The Producers," "Little Shop of Horrors'" and voices for MTV's "Celebrity Deathmatch."

Character: As Alice's agent Richard, he is a nervous chap who is always late. The same holds true when he becomes the White Rabbit that Alice chases into Wonderland.

ON STAGE

'Wonderland: Alice's New Musical Adventure'

WHEN: Through Jan. 3

WHERE: David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa

HOW MUCH: $39.50 to $72.50; call (813) 229-7827 or visit www.tbpac.org