Alice in Wonderland
Conceived and Composed by Ezra Weiss
Book adapted by Nick Fenster
Based on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Directed by Sarah Jane Hardy
Commissioned by Northwest Children’s Theater and School.
Script originally adapted from Lewis Caroll by Sarah Jane Hardy as part of the 2008-09 Season of Plays.
Run time: Approx. 65 minutes with no intermission
Thank you to our sponsors!
Kafoury McDougal: Lawyers for the People
Oregon Arts Commission
Oregon Cultural Trust
NWCT’s Donor Families
Media Sponsors:
PDX Parent
NW Kids
Cast
THE QUEEN OF HEARTS / DORMOUSE:
Marilyn T. Keller
ALICE: Asher Smith*
CHESHIRE CAT: Joellen Sweeney
DUCHESS: Elijah Sims
CATERPILLAR / KING OF HEARTS: Kevin-Michael Moore
MAD HATTER:
John Ellingson
MARCH HARE: Leona SK
WHITE RABBIT: Maxine Nuesa*
MOUSE: Daphne Bray*
TWO OF HEARTS: Sophia Plath*
FIVE OF HEARTS: Stella MacKay*
Band
PIANO: Charlie Brown III
BASS: Patrick Goličnik
DRUMS: Tyson Stubelek
SAXOPHONE: Mary-Sue Tobin
Creative Team
DIRECTOR/PLAYWRIGHT:
Sarah Jane Hardy
MUSIC DIRECTOR/COMPOSER:
Ezra Weiss
PLAYWRIGHT: Nick Fenster
CHOREOGRAPHER:
Rachael Brown
SET/PROPERTIES/COSTUME DESIGNER:
John Ellingson
LIGHTING DESIGNER: Paul Brown
SOUND DESIGNER: Henry Martin
STAGE MANAGER: Roger Monroe
PERFORMANCE ASM:
Maggie Graepel*
Production & Support
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR:
Sarah Jane Hardy
ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: John Ellingson
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR:
Steve Hambrick
MASTER CARPENTER:
Paul Brown
BOARD OPERATOR: Henry Martin
FOLLOWSPOTS: Beowulf Laughlin-Koch*, Emma Sanders*
STITCHER: Nancy Christy
PHOTOGRAPHY: David Kinder
GRAPHIC DESIGN: Lea Zawada, SUCHa Production
*Members of Catalyst: NWCT’s Youth Company.
Click here to learn more about the Catalyst program and how to audition!
Musical Numbers
Overture: Instrumental
Look at the Time (in the style of Charlie Parker): White Rabbit, Alice
A Long and Sad Tail (in the style of Duke Ellington): Mouse, Alice
Who Are You? (in the style of Miles Davis): Caterpillar
An Invitation to Play Croquet (in the style of John Coltrane): Card Two, Card Five
The Duchess’ Blues (in the style of B.B. King): The Duchess
The Craziest Cat in Town (in the style of Dizzy Gillespie): Cheshire Cat, Ensemble
The Time Song (in the style of Thelonious Monk): Mad Hatter, March Hare, Dormouse, Alice
It’s Always Time for Tea (in the style of Ornette Coleman): Mad Hatter, March Hare, Dormouse, Alice
Three Little Sisters (in the style of Shirley Horn): Dormouse
A Game of Croquet (in the style of Sidney Bechet): Instrumental
Off With His Head (in the style of Bessie Smith): Queen, Ensemble
The Knave’s Letter (in the style of Sonny Rollins): Ensemble
Finale (in the style of Charles Mingus): Queen of Hearts, Alice, Ensemble
Meet the Cast
Marilyn Keller (The Queen of Hearts / Dormouse), a 2016 Jazz Society of Oregon Hall of Fame Inductee, is a 45-year veteran of music and stage performance in Jazz, Gospel, R&B, Pop, Blues, and Musical Theatre, nationally and internationally. Her musical roots are diverse. Marilyn has built a career that has taken her as a feature artist to Denmark, Sweden, Norway, The Netherlands, Spain, Australia, Russia and the UK for concerts, festivals, nightclubs and recording work. Her voice can be heard on multiple recordings, movie sound tracks, commercials and documentaries.
Marilyn portrayed the Dormouse & Queen of Hearts in the 2009 AND 2016 productions of Alice, and she is ecstatic to reprise the roles!
Marilyn says that she loves “the Crazy Coolness of Wonderland!”
When it comes to jazz, Marilyn says, “Jazz is all about ‘Living on the Edge Of Creation!’ You will- or should not- hear a Jazz tune performed the same way each time it is played. Improvisation is Life!
Marilyn’s fun hobby? “I write original music too! I only want to be better than I was yesterday, today and tomorrow!”
Asher Smith (Alice) is excited to be back at NWCT for her third Mainstage show! You may have seen Asher as Olive in Pete The Cat or Yellow Dog in Go Dog. Go! Asher has also been seen in Bonnie and Clyde at Bridgetown Conservatory, A Christmas Story at Lakewood, Orlofskys Party with Renegade Opera, and Slash with the Reformers. Thank you to Sarah Jane and Ez for helping her discover Alice. She is so excited to bring you all along to wonderland with her!
“The nostalgia makes this story so special to me. I loved the movie as a kid and was obsessed with the Spinning Teacup ride at Disneyland. After riding it at least three times, I remember running down Mainstreet trying to follow Alice so I could tell her my name.”
Asher also shares, “The day of my audition I bought a blind box at the mall and when I opened it I got the 1/16 that was Alice in Wonderland themed. Must have been a sign!”
Joellen Sweeney (Cheshire Cat) is thrilled to be back on the NWCT Mainstage for Alice in Wonderland! Joellen grew up taking classes at NWCT, and participated in her first Mainstage production, Bugsy Malone, in 2006.
Since then, she’s performed with Shaking the Tree Theatre, Artists Rep, Corrib Theatre, Seattle Shakes, Seattle Public Theatre, Bedrock Theatre, with whom she is a company member, and others.
She earned her MFA in Acting from University of Washington, and proudly dedicates this performance to her two beloved (and mischievous) cats, Frida and Poppy.
Elijah Sims (Duchess) has been performing on stage since he was 7 years old (Ragtime, Broadway Tour). You may have seen him in Black When I’m Singing Blue When I Ain’t (Third Rail Repertory Theater) or The Sounds Of Afrolitical Movement (Portland Playhouse) or as Agwe in Once On This Island (World Stage Theatre) or most recently as The Baker in Into The Woods (World Stage Theatre).
Elijah has been performing for over 2 decades now, and most recently was a part of the 20th anniversary ensemble of Who I Am; Celebrating Me (World Stage Theatre). The stage makes him feel as though the world is his oyster, and he loves to explore his creativity with others in the community. Elijah is excited to make his NWCT Mainstage debut!
When it comes to jazz, Elijah shares “I love the smoothness of Jazz, and I used to play the trumpet in my Middle School Jazz Band.”
Kevin-Michael Moore (Caterpillar / The King of Hearts) has been creating for theater for over forty years. He has preformed in hundreds of plays regionally, and spent 17 years writing, performing
and touring nationally with the sketch comedy troupe the 3rd Floor. Some acting highlights include, Don’t Hug Me for Broadway Rose, Assassins at A.R.T., Sometimes a Great Notion with Portland Center Stage, Talk Radio with Stark Raving Theater and Matilda with the Northwest
Children’s Theater, where he was nominated for a Drammy Award for best actor for his performance of Miss Trunchbull, and winning a best supporting actor Drammy
for his performance of Sharktooth in How I Became a Pirate, also with NWCT.
Kevin teaches classes in improv, sketch comedy, and writing for stage. Kevin can be seen in film and television. Performing in
the films, Wild, First Cow, Timmy Failure, Pig, and Showing Up. On the small screen, Kevin can be seen in Grimm, Portlandia, and was the weekly late night host of Saturday Night Dead for KGW.
If you’ve ever been in one of Kevin’s classes, you may know him as Professor Momo!
John Ellingson (Mad Hatter & Set/Properties/Costume Designer) is Northwest Children’s Theater’s Associate Artistic Director.
John has delighted audiences in numerous NWCT shows. Memorable roles include MC Dog in Go, Dog. Go!, Mr. Wormwood in Matilda, Bert in the 2014 production of Mary Poppins (Drammy Award for best actor), Prince Bobby in Cinderella, Cat in the Hat in Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat, Captain Hook in Peter Pan, Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland, Willy Wonka, Pigeon in Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, MC Dog in Go Dog Go, and Pooh Bear in The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
Leona SK (March Hare) is a multi-cultural multi-media artist.
At NWCT, Leona can usually be found Music Directing for the Catalyst program.
Out in the world, Leona is a multi-instrumentalist, lo-fi recording engineer, plays in bands, tours, works for all-ages and queer art spaces, and is a member of the Yelling Choir. As a sound engineer, Leona teaches, focusing on making the technical arts accessible to youth with marginalized identities (reach out if you’re looking to learn!)
Leona would like to thank Dustin for being a partner in creativity, and for always being brave enough to do the magical thing.
To the elders and ancestors- thank you for your work, this is only possible because of you, and for you we will be louder, prouder and unabashedly ourselves.
To the students- Please stick around. Keep making your art, despite it all. The world needs you. I can’t wait to work for you one day.
What does Leona love about Alice in Wonderland? “I love the social commentary hidden in absurdism and nonsense.”
And when it comes to jazz, Leona shares, “I remember my first live jazz moment, watching someone take a solo, and the way that everyone on stage lit up when it really hit! I decided that was the energy I wanted to bring to my music and my life.”
Maxine Nuesa (White Rabbit) is honored to be in Alice In Wonderland and has enjoyed exploring the world of jazz! She is an 18-year-old student attending Portland Community College, and is hoping to pursue a career in speech-language pathology.
Previous credits with NWCT include the titular role in Rudolph: The Red-Nosed Reindeer, the Queen of Halloween in The Halloween Ball, and Maggie Winslow in A Chorus Line: Teen Edition.
In her free time, Maxine likes making Spotify playlists and drinking a lot of coffee. Many thanks to Sarah Jane, Ezra Weiss, and her friends in the cast for all their love and support.
Maxine shares, “I love that jazz hooks in an audience by keeping things fresh. It can be upbeat or moody, but it’s always interesting to listen to!” And she adds, “The White Rabbit did not steal the tarts, but Maxine would! She likes egg tarts and custard fruit tarts.”
Daphne Bray (Mouse) is excited to be making her Mainstage debut with NWCT.
You may have seen her in Cinderella, Annie, Newsies, and A Chorus Line with Catalyst at The Judy.
She would like to give a special thanks to her Mom, Dad, Mimi, and the lovely cast and crew of Alice in Wonderland!
Sophia Plath (Two of Hearts) is thrilled to be performing in her first Mainstage production at NWCT. She is currently taking classes at PCC through the early college program.
Some of her favorite roles have been Katherine Howard in Six! (Stages), The Queen of Hearts/Red Cross Nurse in Alice by Heart (ACMA) and Mushnik in Little Shop of Horrors (ACMA).
She would like to thank NWCT for the opportunity and her friends and family for always supporting her. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Sophia shares, “I love Alice in Wonderland and its cultural significance nowadays. There’s lots of amazing character and wonder to the world of the story, and all the media that it has inspired!”
She also adds, “I think jazz is a very important part of our culture. It makes big choices and runs with it. I think there’s a very important lesson to be learned from it. It also sounds good and it’s fun!”
Stella MacKay (Five of Hearts) is so excited to be back on the Northwest Children’s Theater Mainstage, especially with this incredibly talented cast. She was most recently seen as Cady Heron with Catalyst, NWCT’s youth training program. Her favorite past roles include Michael in Elf (Lakewood Center for the Arts), Snail in Frog and Toad, and Sam the Snowman in Rudolph (NWCT).
When Stella is not at the theater, she enjoys baking and writing. She would like to thank Ezra and Sarah Jane for their work on this beautiful show, and her family for their constant support.
Stella loves that Jazz is a kind of music anyone can relate to.
Stella adds, “My sister performed in this show in 2009 and 2016, and I feel lucky that I get to be in this production before I graduate.”
Meet the Band
Charlie Brown III (Piano) is a Portland native, musical director, producer, and keyboardist whose work has gained international renown in recent years.
Brown has gained wider exposure when producing for mainstream rap artist, Aminé, and has spent ample time as a fixture in the tight-knit live unit supporting Memphis-based bass guitar prodigy, MonoNeon.
Pushing the boundaries of jazz and new music, Brown does so with a unique knack for both composition and improvisation both on stage, and in the studio. He currently splits time producing and performing with his group Greaterkind in Portland, as well as hitting the international touring circuit with a variety of acts.
Brown is co-director of the Brown Branch Big Band, along with music of his own he curates and records.
Patrick Goličnik (Bass) is a jazz bassist and composer who currently resides in Portland, OR. Despite his young age, Patrick has already had the opportunity to work with many local and international musical luminaries, including Charles McPherson, Randy Porter, Alan Jones, George Colligan, Chuck Redd, Andrew Renfroe, Rob Scheps, Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, Andrew Rathbun, and many others.
He is a steady member of the Randy Porter Trio and can be found performing in and around Portland, OR regularly with many other groups.
He studied music performance on scholarship at Portland State University.
Tyson Stubelek (Drums) is a drummer and educator with a multi-decade career ranging across a broad number of genres. His adaptability and passion for music have led to collaborations with a remarkable array of artists including Grammy Award winners Danilo Perez, Esperanza Spaulding, Chuck Isreals, Lili Haydn, Brian Lynch, Todd Sickafoose, and Alex Brown. Additionally, Tyson has shared the stage with many other notable figures including rock legend Paul Gilbert, Julian Lage, Joe Locke, Don Byron, Clay Jenkins, David Friesen, The Coasters, The Platters, Glen Moore, George Colligan, Darrell Grant, and many more.
Tyson holds a Master’s Degree from the New England Conservatory of Music and is currently faculty at University of Portland.
When asked what he loves about jazz, Tyson says “Everything!” Tyson shares, “I’m looking forward to participating in this very creative twist on a timeless classic!”
Tyson’s funny side hobbie? “Speed Solving the Rubik’s Cube. (Personal best time 9.95 seconds!)”
Mary-Sue Tobin (Saxophone) is a Portland-based saxophonist, composer, and educator with a dynamic presence in the local and international music scene. She has performed with the Oregon Symphony Pops alongside artists such as the Pointer Sisters and Johnny Mathis, and has shared the stage with Dave Douglas, Esperanza Spalding, The Temptations, and James Moody. Her work appears on film soundtracks including The Holdovers.
An in-demand performer, she plays with ensembles including The Quadraphonnes, PJCE, and Paul Brainard Horns, and leads her own projects. She has toured internationally and recorded across a wide range of genres.
Mary-Sue holds degrees in Jazz Studies and Classical Saxophone Performance from Portland State University. A dedicated educator and arts advocate, she is active in festival programming and was inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame in 2025.
When asked what she loves about Alice in Wonderland, Mary-Sue says, “The creativity and characters!” And when it comes to what she loves about jazz, Mary-Sue says, “The individual means to express your own artistry while being a part of a legacy of groundbreaking musicians and composers who have brought joy to so many.”
Little known fact: Mary-Sue was part of the first Pit Orchestra at Portland Center Stage!
Meet the Creative Team
Sarah Jane Hardy (Director / Playwright) is the Artistic Director of NWCT. Some of her favorite NWCT directing experiences include Pete the Cat, Matilda the Musical, Rudolph, Chitra, the Girl Prince in partnership with Anita Menon, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, adapted for the stage by local composer Ezra Weiss, and Mary Poppins (twice!).
Sarah Jane shares, “Bringing together Alice in Wonderland and jazz feels like a natural pairing. Both are rooted in strong foundational forms of language and music, yet thrive on improvisation and boundless creativity. We’ve had so much fun creating this delightfully nonsensical musical world for you, and we hope you and your family enjoy every moment.”
Ezra Weiss (Music Director / Composer) began working in theatre when he was 10 years old, and he’s been music directing NWCT shows for over twenty years. Favorites include Crazy for You, Seussical, and Matilda the Musical.
Ezra has written Alice in Wonderland, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, and Cinderella for NWCT, and he is currently composing the music to The Golem’s Gift.
Ezra has also been active as a jazz musician, leading bands at festivals and clubs around the U.S., including numerous week-long engagements at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club. He has released eight albums as a bandleader, has been listed in DownBeat Critics polls, and has received the ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award three times.
Nick Fenster (Playwright) is the Managing Director of NWCT. He has been involved with the Children’s Theater since it opened back in 1993 (he was 7), and began working for NWCT as a teacher in 2009.
Nick is also a performer, writer, and director, working with local theater companies such as Action/Adventure, The Working Theatre Collective, and the annual Pedalpalooza bike-ride-turned-performance-art “Bike Play.”
This is Nick’s first time writing for the NWCT Mainstage and he is delighted to work alongside Sarah Jane and Ez to bring this beautiful bit of nonsense to life.
Rachael Brown (Choreographer) is a director, choreographer, dancer, and teaching artist whose work is rooted in storytelling through movement. She’s always been on the move, starting dance at age three in Pittsburgh, PA, and earning a degree in theater, marketing, and education with a minor in dance from American University in Washington, DC.
As co-founder of PDX Dance Collective, she helped shape a decade of sold-out contemporary performance in Portland and now serves as Artistic Director of the Skylark Tappers.
Recent creative team credits include True West (Mt. Hood Rep), American Girl (Fuse), Bad World (Crave Theatre), and Red (Crave Theatre). She is thrilled to be back at her happy place: NW Children’s Theater!
What does Rachael love about jazz? “Jazz holds a sweet place in my heart because it’s where I truly developed my musicality and improvisation as a tap dancer. I’ve been tapping since I was three years old, but mostly to recorded music. It wasn’t until I moved to Portland and began working with incredibly talented jazz musicians that everything shifted. I started building a real relationship between rhythm tap and live jazz — listening differently, responding in the moment, and treating my feet as part of the band.”
Paul Brown (Lighting Designer) has been with the company for over 25 years.
Previous shows he has designed include Rudolph the red Nosed Reindeer, Frog and Toad, Jungle Book, Elephant and Piggie, as well as many shows for Catalyst, like Newsies and Hamlet. Paul is a graduate of PSU.
What does Paul love about this version of Alice in Wonderland? “Ezra Weiss’ brilliant music.”
And what does Paul love about jazz? “It’s creativity.”
Henry Martin (Sound Designer & Board Operator) is delighted to be part of Alice in Wonderland! He’s been part of NWCT since he was 10, and it’s been like a second home ever since.
Most recently, he played White Rabbit in Mad Hatter’s Tea Party and Pete in Pete the Cat. Some of his other favorite roles include Cow Patty Boy in The Stinky Cheese Man (NWCT Alumni Show), Bunny in Goodnight Moon and Huckle Cat in Busytown.
Roger Monroe (Stage Manager) has been with NWCT for more than 25 years! His favorite part of working with the company is seeing youth performers come back as adults.
At The Judy, Roger has stage managed for Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Blue Marigold, Frog and Toad and Pete the Cat.
Maggie Graepel (Performance ASM) started taking classes with NWCT at age 7, and she never stopped!
At NWCT, she is a Resident Artist and a member of Catalyst. You may have recently seen Maggie in the ensemble of NWCT’s production of The Wizard of Oz, as well as behind the scenes stage managing Into the Woods at Mountainside High School.
Outside of the theater, Maggie is also involved in band and choir.
Maggie shares, “The 2016 production of Alice in Wonderland was the show that made me want to do theater, so to be involved in this show in this capacity working alongside many of the actors I saw in that production has been such a special way to end my senior year.”
