Planet Xtreme Teen Center to Perform "Alice in Wonderland"

Community members are encouraged to visit the teen center for an unforgetable night full of laughter, food and friends.
Photo Courtesy of Planet Xtreme Teen Center

Planet Xtreme in Princeton, more commonly known as the teen center, is putting on Alice in Wonderland for its fall dinner theatre show.

For the past few years, the teen center has put on productions of popular stories to bring both young people and community members together. Some previous performances include “The Jungle Book,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “It's a Wonderful Life,” and “Beauty and the Beast.” Not only will the audience receive a night of entertainment, a dinner is served right before the viewing.

This fall's production of “Alice in Wonderland” will take place on Nov. 16, 17 and 18. Many actors taking part in the show are members of the community and a few are students from Concord.

Emily Hendricks, a junior at Concord, is playing the Queen of Hearts. Hendricks has taken part in numerous plays at the teen center before and is anticipating her new role as the Queen. She says, “This is a very comedic play, and there are certain actors that really knock it out of the ball park with their characters. I can't wait for the performance!”

Kayli Mann, playing the role of Alice, is also very excited for the show. She explains how the auditioning process was different for her from past auditions. She states, “We didn't have to memorize any lines. Our director [Tim Smith] and his assistants gave us a script to coldread, and asked us questions about our experience.”

She goes on to explain how she was surprised to find out she had received the role of Alice. She states, “I didn't even know he was considering me for Alice. He approached me a few days after our auditions and asked if I felt prepared enough for the role. I said 'yes.'”

To prepare for the performance, the cast has 2 -hour rehearsals three days a week. Not only do they work on lines and blocking during this time, they use rehearsals as a bonding and connecting experience. Because they spend so much time together during the preparation period, the cast becomes like a family.

Hendricks says the bonding is one of her favorite aspects of putting on these performances. She explains, “Hanging out with the cast and becoming more of a family is always my favorite part of the productions. Getting to watch my friends show off their talents and standing beside them as they do it is always incredibly rewarding.”

Mann also comments on the family-style relationship with the cast by saying, “I love having all of my friends beside me as we delve into our characters together. Everyone brings something unique to the table and I love being able to see them!”

As for what the audience will get from this performance, many laughs should be expected. Hendricks says, “I want the audience to have a night of pure laughter. That would be awesome. It`s a very confusing play; it really isn't even supposed to make sense, which is what I find humorous about it. There [aren't any] heavy life lessons or emotional moments, just fun times with fun people.”

Mann explains how she hopes the audience finds the play as funny as the actors do. “I hope they leave thinking that being serious all the time gets you nowhere. Sometimes the mind of a child sees things from the right perspective.”

She continues, “Alice learns to find confidence in everything, yet to not look down on others. I don't expect them [the audience] to know what jabberwocky means, but they, like Alice, should understand when to have confidence.”

For a night full of laughter, friends, and food, members of the community are encouraged to come out to the teen center to promote the local arts. The show will take place at the teen center next to Cornerstone Family Church in Princeton. For more information about the show and the teen center, visit pxtc.net. Tickets for the show can also be purchased on the website.