Join the White Rabbit, Cheshire Cat, the Caterpillar, Mad Hatter, and the certifiably crazy Queen of Hearts when Alice and Barter audiences go down the rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland beginning Feb. 4. Those attending the show on or before Feb. 14, will receive a special gift: an Alice in Wonderland poster.

The fun story of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland inspired Richard Rose to adapt the timeless classic for Barter’s Main Stage because it has intrigued and captivated audiences of all ages. “This show is perfect for adults and children alike,” Rose said. “Barter’s production will feature some tremendous stagecraft and special effects that will make the audience a part of the adventure. Cheri Prough DeVol, Resident Set Designer and set designer for this show, is also working on special items to be placed in the lobby so as soon as audiences walk in, they feel transported to another place.”

“This production will pay tribute to the improvisational origins of Carroll’s story,” Rose said. Carroll first told the story of Alice to three little girls on a boat trip for an afternoon picnic. It was invented on the spot when the girls begged for a story; it was really never told with the idea of writing it down.

Alice in Wonderland provided ample opportunities for the costume shop and properties department to demonstrate their creativity and skills. To bring the diverse and exciting world of Alice to life, puppets (of all shapes and sizes) will be used extensively. A team of two designers, Krista Guffey Poisson and Ryan Fisher, and three collaborators, Kelly Jenkins, Chase Molden, and Adrienne Webber, came together to make the 22 puppets in the production.

Throughout the story, Alice’s size changes considerably—from 3” in height to taller than a tree. In order to represent this on stage, whenever Alice grows or shrinks, a larger or smaller puppet version of Alice is introduced. Some other unique and imaginative puppets include the Dodo, the Cheshire Cat, the Dormouse, the Lory, and perhaps the most interesting: the Caterpillar.

Kelly Jenkins, puppet collaborator said, “The caterpillar has been the most fun for me. At nine feet tall, the challenging part of this puppet has been the mechanical movement of the arms. Because the actor is expected to walk, kneel, and crawl on all fours, the controls had to be adjusted to fight gravity in multiple directions.”

“This was some of the most imaginative work I have done,” Poisson said. “For the crab, we took a frying pan to make the body shape. One never knows what might come in useful.” Jenkins comments, “Elements like the rigging and harnesses, along with control rods, are not hidden. The director wanted to feature these things instead. Woven into this concept is the audience’s ability to see the actors work with the puppets.”

Barter’s Resident Acting Company will be featured in this production. Rebecca Reinhardt returns to Barter to play Alice, and company members Tricia Matthews, Dan Folino, Sean Campos, Ezra Colón, Ben Mackel, David McCall, Danny Vaccaro, and Rick McVey all play multiple characters in the crazy world of Wonderland. Newcomer Kelly Klein makes her Barter debut as the Dormouse.

Youth discounts are available for children 17 and under, and discounts are available for groups of 15 or more. Ask the Box Office if there is a discount for you. PassBooks are also available through April 1.

For a complete schedule, more information or to reserve your tickets, visit www.bartertheatre.com or call 276.628.3991.