Alice! An Original Musical

YARMOUTH, Maine, March 21, 2019.  Coming on May 9 to the Yarmouth Performing Arts Center, joyfully presented by the Royal River Community Players, is "Alice! In Concert." Based on their January production of "Alice! An Original Musical," the concert version will feature all of the songs and dances, and one outstanding poem, by most of the forty-three original performers.

 

"We are so pleased to be able to present this show in the YPAC space," comments Director Jesica Garrou. "There was no availability in town when we did the show in early winter. We found space in Freeport where we performed five sold-out shows at the end of January.  Now, we have an opportunity to appear for one night right here in our town. "

 

Garrou went on to explain the obstacles they had to overcome to mount a spring show.  “A few cast members already have other obligations for May 9," she expressed. “With limited rehearsal time, the Players decided to focus on the music and perform just the songs and dances, in full costume. The costumes are incredible. They were conceived and created by Kelly John, the mother of young Alice and a seahorse), and the bread and butterfly ballerina." In her life by day, John is the Director of Human Resources at the Maine Judicial Branch.

 

The musical score was written by Rudy Gabrielson and Henry Garrou, with lyrics by the duo and local playwright Kathleen Connelly.  Gabrielson on keyboard and Garrou on guitar, with drummer Chuck Prinn and bassist Wendy Cody, make up the live stage band. With vocalist Kelly Walton and Andrew Gabrielson on guitar and harmonica, the stage band becomes Onward, a six-piece band that plays classic rock, folk, Americana, and blues in the Yarmouth-Greater Portland area. Walton plays the Red Queen in Alice! and Gabrielson plays several roles leading the casts’ youngest performers as the caterpillar, seaweed, and a butterfly.

 

"Alice! In Concert" will be on stage at the Yarmouth Performing Arts Center at Yarmouth High School, Thursday, May 9, at 7 p.m.  Tickets are $8 and are available now through the Players website.  Tickets will also be sold at the door.

 

The Royal River Community Players is a non-profit organization formed in 2017 to bring inter-generational performance opportunities to Yarmouth and surrounding communities. Its productions have included "Jungle Book"; The Golden Age of Radio double feature with "Little Orphan Annie" and Orson Welles’ "Dracula"; Stroll Haunted Yarmouth; and the Show Tunes Sing-along at Clam Fest. The group also hosts an annual Coffee House and Open Mic in June. New members are always welcome.