ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar
Kokandy Productions Presents the Midwest Premiere of
ALICE BY HEART
July 18 – September 29, 2024 at The Chopin Theatre
Pictured (front to back) Joe Giovannetti and Caitlyn Cerza in a publicity image for
Kokandy Productions’ Midwest premiere of Alice by Heart. Photo by Collin Quinn Rice.
Book by Steven Sater and Jessie Nelson
Music by Duncan Sheik
Lyrics by Steven Sater
Directed by Derek Van Barham and Brittney Brown
Music Direction by Heidi Joosten
Choreography by Derek Van Barham
Kokandy Productions is pleased to present the Midwest premiere of Alice by Heart, a “magical, fantastical” musical inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland directed by Derek Van Barham and Brittney Brown, with music direction by Heidi Joosten and choreography by Derek Van Barham. Alice by Heart will play July 18 – September 29, 2024 at The Chopin Studio Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. in Chicago. Tickets are now on sale at kokandyproductions.com. We'll be out for the press opening August 2, so check back shortly after for our full review.
Caitlyn Cerza stars as Alice, the young girl who takes refuge in her beloved copy of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. She is joined by a whimsical cast of curious characters including Ezra Borrero (Nigel, Dormouse), Elliot Esquivel (Angus, Caterpillar, u/s Alfred), Niki-Charise Franco (Red Cross Nurse, Queen of Hearts), Joe Giovannetti (Alfred, White Rabbit), Darian Goulding (Dr. Butridge, Jabberwocky, King of Hearts), Will Lidke (Harold Pudding, Mad Hatter), Emily Ling Mei (Young Alice), Patrick O'Keefe (Dodgy, Duchess), Mizha Overn (Tabatha, Cheshire Cat), Alex Stetkevich (Clarissa, Mock Turtle) and Peter Stielstra (Young Alfred). Swings include Sophia Mae Brenner, Victor Lopez, Kevin Parra, Jack Saunders and Ava Stovall.
From the Tony and Grammy Award-winning creators of Spring Awakening, Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik, and co-written by Jessie Nelson (Waitress), Alice by Heart is a touching musical that invites audiences to go through the looking glass, seeking solace in a Wonderland unlike any they’ve seen.
In the rubble of the London Blitz of World War II, Alice Spencer’s budding teen life is turned upside down as she and her dear friend Alfred are forced to take shelter in an underground tube station. When the ailing Alfred is quarantined, Alice encourages him to escape with her into their cherished book and journey down the rabbit hole to Wonderland. As they travel through the tale, Alice by Heart explores the poignancy of first love, coming to terms with loss and finding the courage to move forward. This Midwest premiere encourages us all to celebrate the transformational power of the imagination, even in the harshest of times.
Kokandy Producing Artistic Director Derek Van Barham says, “Get ready to fall in love with Alice by Heart. We sure did. It’s a show that Scot, Brittney, Heidi and I have listened to for years, and we’re just delighted to be able to share it with Chicago. The Chopin basement will be transformed into Wonderland, the audience experiencing Alice’s beautiful journey up close and all around them. It’s dark, whimsical and witty—a curious twist on a story we think we know.”
The production team includes: G "Max" Maxin IV (Scenic Design and Lighting Design), Mike Patrick and Matt Reich (Sound Design), Rachel Sypniewski (Costume Design), Jakob Abderhalden (Properties Designer, Scenic Décor), Syd Genco (Makeup Design), Keith Ryan (Wig Design), Nicholas Reinhart (Production Manager), Shane Roberie (Casting Associate), David Moreland (Technical Director), Lynsy Folckomer (Sound Engineer) and Shelby Burgus (Stage Manager).
PRODUCTION DETAILS:
Location: The Chopin Studio Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago
Dates: Previews: Thursday, July 18 at 7 pm, Friday, July 19 at 7 pm, Saturday, July 20 at 7 pm, Sunday, July 21 at 5 pm, Thursday, July 25 at 7 pm, Friday, July 26 at 7 pm, Saturday, July 27 at 7 pm, Sunday, July 28 at 5 pm and Thursday, August 1 at 7 pm
Press performance: Friday, August 2, 2024 at 7 pm
Regular run: Saturday, August 3 – Sunday, September 29, 2024
Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7 pm; Sundays at 5 pm
Tickets: Previews $25 (with code PREVIEW). Regular run $45 general admission, $55 reserved seating. Students/Seniors $35. There will be a limited number of $15 tickets (with code ARTIST) available to artists for each performance. Tickets are on sale now at kokandyproductions.com.
About the Artists
Derek Van Barham (Co-Director and Choreographer, he/him) is the Producing Artistic Director of Kokandy Productions. Directing credits include Children of Eden in Concert (Broadway In Chicago), Sweeney Todd, American Psycho and Head Over Heels (Jeff Awards and Jeff nomination, Kokandy); The View Upstairs (Circle Theatre); Miracle by Dan Savage, Poseidon (Hell in a Handbag); Taylor Mac’s A Walk Across America for Mother Earth and Merrily We Roll Along (CCPA); Songs from an Unmade Bed (Jeff Award nomination) and PRISCILLA, Queen of the Desert (PrideArts). Choreography credits include Evil Dead (Jeff nom.), Coraline the Musical, Ghost Quartet, Shockheaded Peter and Coraline the Musical (Black Button Eyes). He was named one of Newcity Magazine's 50 Players 2024 and one of Windy City Times 30 Under 30, recognizing individuals from Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community. He holds an MFA in Acting from CCPA/Roosevelt University in Chicago. derekvanbarham.com | IG @dvbarham
Brittney Brown (Co-Director, she/her) is a Chicago-based actor and director. Some select Chicago acting credits include: Raven Theatre’s brother sister cyborg space, Blank Theatre’s Merrily We Roll Along, Theo Ubique’s Assassins, Hedwig & the Angry Inch and Sweeney Todd, Kokandy Productions’ Sweeney Todd and Bonnie & Clyde, Pride Arts’ All That He Was (Jeff Nomination—Best Performer in a Supporting Role), Factory Theater’s Kelly Girls (Jeff Nomination—Best Performer in a Principal Role), and Griffin Theatre’s Ragtime and Violet. Brittney was also the associate director for The Story Theatre’s Marie Antoinette and the Magical Negroes, Factory Theater’s May the Road Rise Up and Exit 63’s Wolves. She was a featured director in Broken Nose Theatre’s Bechdel Fest 7: Momentum and directed a staged reading of Paul Michael Thomson’s Artemis Books & the Well-Meaning Man for Avalanche Theatre, as well as the audio drama Primer for Broken Nose Theatre. She has also directed productions of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and Calvin Berger.
Heidi Joosten (Music Director, she/her) is a Jeff Award-winning music director (Assassins – Theo Ubique Cabaret), composer, lyricist, pianist, harpist, orchestrator, sound designer, vocal coach and conductor. After last fall’s sold out run of American Psycho, she is absolutely thrilled to be returning to Kokandy Productions for another Duncan Sheik Chicago premiere! Since 2014, Heidi has collaborated on over 100 new theatrical, comedic and concert productions in the Chicagoland area, including serving as the music director and conductor of Children of Eden – starring Destiny’s Child member Michelle Williams, gospel singer David Phelps and singer/songwriter Sam Tsui – performed live at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in October 2022 and available soon to stream. Notable theatrical writing collaborations include: Queer Eye: The Musical Parody, The Bone Harp, Saint Hildegard and Micro. In 2023, she orchestrated for Drury Lane Theater (Grease) as well as the Chicago Shakespeare Theater (Beauty and the Beast) and Theo Ubique Cabaret (add’l arrangements for Assassins), and she also served as the associate/sub conductor on the national tour of Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse with The Sinfonietta. This fall, she will hit the road as the associate conductor of the U.S. leg of the world concert tour of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Heidi’s award-winning original music has been performed across the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia. She is an adjunct professor at North Park University and also serves as the understudy music director for the Second City Mainstage revue. Heidi is a proud member of ASCAP and the Dramatists Guild. heidijoosten.com | IG @heidijoosten
About Kokandy Productions
Founded in 2010, Kokandy Productions seeks to leverage the heightened reality of musical theatre to tell complex and challenging stories, with a focus on contributing to the development of Chicago-based musical theatre artists, and raising the profile of Chicago's non-Equity musical theatre community.
The company's artistic staff is comprised of Derek Van Barham (Producing Artistic Director), Scot T. Kokandy (Executive Producer) and Adrian Abel Azevedo & Leda Hoffman (Artistic Associates). The Board of Directors includes Preston Cropp, Scot T. Kokandy, Danielle Sparklin and Katie Svaicer.
For additional information, visit kokandyproductions.com.
