Alice by Heart

2012 musical

Alice by Heart

Music| Duncan Sheik
Lyrics| Steven Sater
Book| Steven Sater
Jessie Nelson
Basis| Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Productions| 2019 Off-Broadway

Alice by Heart is a musical with music by Duncan Sheik, lyrics by Steven Sater, and a book by Sater with Jessie Nelson. The musical is inspired by Lewis Carroll's 1865 novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and was originally presented by London's Royal National Theatre in 2012.[1]

## Plot overview

[edit]

The musical takes place in 1941, in the debris after the London Blitz of World War II. The life of teen Alice Spencer is disrupted, as she and her best friend Alfred are forced to take shelter in a London Underground tube station. However, Alfred, suffering from tuberculosis, is quarantined ("West of Words"). Alice urges him to escape with her into their cherished book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and travel down the rabbit hole to Wonderland. Nurse Cross, who is in charge of keeping everyone safe, rips Alice's book as a punishment for visiting Alfred despite his quarantine. Alice becomes very defiant and declares she knows it "by heart" and will read to him anyway.

The people hiding in the shelter slowly change into some of the book's characters, and Alfred himself changes into the White Rabbit[2][3] ("Down the Hole"). During her time in Wonderland, Alice changes parts of the story, such as spending too much time with the White Rabbit and forgetting Chapter 3 ("Still"). She gets teased by not one, but two, Caterpillars who encourage her to smoke with them ("Chillin' the Regrets"). Alice convinces Alfred to join her, and they both become high ("The Key Is"). She then receives advice from the Cheshire Cat; dances the Lobster Quadrille with the White Rabbit ("Those Long Eyes"); is berated for growing up too fast by the Duchess; plays croquet with the Queen of Hearts ("Manage Your Flamingo") and other slight twists on scenes from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

Alfred is tired of being the White Rabbit and wants to finish his life as himself, in the bunker with Alice, so he attempts to get her to finish the story early and to help her move on by taunting her as the much less friendly March Hare. She tells him she hates him for getting sick; however, before she can apologize he gets taken to Ward D ("Sick to Death of Alice-ness"). Alice attempts to go to him but is halted by the Jabberwock. The Jabberwock taunts her with claims of insanity and grief. Alice defeats him with thoughts of Alfred. ("Brillig, Braelig").

The Cheshire Cat urges Alice to let Alfred go and face her grief ("Some Things Fall Away"). Alice soon meets Mock Turtles who encourage her to not move on and to live wholly in her grief ("Your Shell of Grief").

Alfred returns, wishing to finish the story with Alice, but Alice, taking the Mock Turtles' advice, pleads with him not to move on. Alfred asks how Alice will grieve him, both of them lamenting what could have been ("Another Room In Your Head"). She tries to kiss him, hoping to contract tuberculosis and die with him. He refuses, resuming the story as the hateful March Hare despite her protests.

During the trial ("Isn't It a Trial"/"Do You Think We Think You're Alice?"), Alice stands up for herself, and finally, Alfred joins her. With the help of Tabatha as the Cheshire Cat, they break out of Wonderland and back into the bunker ("I've Shrunk Enough"). Alfred and Alice realize it's time to say goodbye and close the book ("Still (Reprise)"). They then admit their feelings for each other before Alfred dies ("Afternoon"). The show ends with Alice finally accepting Alfred's death, and trying to be optimistic about life with everyone else in the bunker ("Winter Blooms").

## Background

[edit]

Alice by Heart was originally commissioned by London's Royal National Theatre in 2012, and was performed by youth companies around the U.K.[1] The musical was developed as a workshop by Theatre Aspen (Aspen, Colorado) in July 2014.[4] The musical received an additional workshop by MCC Theater in December 2015.[5] New York Stage and Film & Vassar at the Powerhouse Theater presented a workshop production in July 2018. Director Jessie Nelson noted: “We’re attempting to explore the power of a book and what the story has meant to this girl…”[6]

The musical made its Off-Broadway premiere at the Newman Mills Theatre at the Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space in January 2019, with an official opening on February 26, for a limited run until April 7, 2019.[7]

## Productions

[edit]

The world premiere production of Alice by Heart was announced on March 21, 2018, as part of MCC's inaugural season in its new permanent two-venue off-Broadway home.[8][7] Casting was announced on October 23. The production opened Off-Broadway on February 26, 2019, at the MCC Theater, following previews from January 30, with the closing set for April 7. The closing date was extended from March 31.[9] It is directed by Jessie Nelson with choreography by Rick and Jeff Kuperman, set design by Edward Pierce, costumes by Paloma Young and lighting by Bradley King.[2]

A new production was held in Argentina, directed by Julio Panno in August 2024. It was the first Spanish version of Alice By Heart.

After that, the musical had its first brazilian adaptation in July 2025. The production opened in Teatro Estúdio, São Paulo, directed by Gustavo Barchilon and starring Gabi Camisotti as Alice Spencer and Diego Montez as Alfred.[10][11]

## Musical numbers

[edit]

### Off-Broadway

[edit]

* "West of Words" – Alice, Alfred, Tabatha & Company
* "Down the Hole" – Alice, Alfred, Company
* "Still" – Alice & White Rabbit
* "Chillin' the Regrets" – Caterpillars, Alice & Company
* "The Key Is" – Alice, White Rabbit, Caterpillars & Company
* "So" – Magpie, Eaglet, Duck, Canary, Dodo & Pigeon°°
* "Those Long Eyes" – Cheshire Cat, Alice & White Rabbit
* "Manage Your Flamingo" – Duchess & Company
* "Sick to Death of Alice-ness" – Mad Hatter, March Hare, Dormouse & Alice
* "Brillig Braelig" – Jabberwock, Alice & Company
* "Some Things Fall Away" – Cheshire Cat
* "Your Shell of Grief" – Mock Turtles & Alice
* "Another Room in Your Head" – Alfred, Alice & Company
* "Isn't It a Trial?" – Queen of Hearts, Caterpillar, & Company
* "Do You Think We Think You're Alice?" – Company
* "I've Shrunk Enough" – Alice, White Rabbit, Queen of Hearts, & Company
* "Still (Reprise)" – Alfred & Alice°
* "Afternoon" – Alice, Alfred & Company
* "Winter Blooms" – Alice, Cheshire Cat & Company
* "Down the Hole (Reprise)" – Company°°

°Not included in the Original Cast Recording

°°Not included in the Original Cast Recording or the current licensed version of the show

## Characters and original cast

[edit]

Character  | Theatre Aspen Workshop
(2014)[12][13] | Workshop
(2015)[14] | Vassar Workshop
(2018)[15] | Off Broadway
(2019)[16] | Buenos Aires
(2024)[17]

|
|
|
|
|

Alice Spencer/Alice | Molly Gordon | Agostina Becco
White Rabbit/Alfred Hallam/March Hare | Mike Faist | Ben Platt | J. Quinton Johnson  | Colton Ryan | Valentin Zannelli
Cheshire Cat/Tabatha/Caterpillar 2  | Phillipa Soo | Emmy Raver-Lampman | Gizel Jimenez | Nkeki Obi-Melekwe*  | Sofia Val
Queen of Hearts/Red Cross Nurse  | Nathaly Lopez  | Mary Testa | Lesli Margherita | Grace McLean | Micaela Romano
Magpie  | Sydney Shepherd[18] | Ro Noziglia
King of Hearts/Dr Butridge/Jabberwock/Duck/Mock Turtle | Marrick Smith  | David Patrick Kelly | Don Stephenson | Andrew Kober | Hernan Castelli
Mad Hatter/Harold Pudding/Mock Turtle/Pigeon/Knave of Spades  | Andrew Mueller  | Alex Brightman | Wesley Taylor | Walter Canella
Caterpillar/Angus/Knave of Hearts | Rodney Ingram  | Anthony Ramos | Heath Saunders  | Julian Rubino/Matias Marastoni
Dodgy/Duchess/Dodo/Mock Turtle | Noah Galvin | Angel Hernandez
Dormouse/Nigel/Eaglet/Knave of Clubs  | Riley Costello  | Z Infante  | Nicolas Martinez
Clarissa/Canary/Queen of Diamonds/Mock Turtle | Stephanie Hsu | Ashley Park | Megan Masako Haley  | Catherine Ricafort | Barbara Willis

## Reception

[edit]

The Off-Broadway production received mixed reviews. While some praised the visual aspects of the story and some of the performances, many criticized the story, calling it muddled and confusing, and were unable to see the parallels of the London Blitz of World War II and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Some critics also gave the show unfavorable comparisons to Spring Awakening, which Sheik and Sater both worked on together.

Ben Brantley of The New York Times stated "The real-world characters are so hastily established and sketchily drawn that there's nothing compelling or surprising in their metamorphoses. It's also hard to grasp any necessary relationship between war-warped London in 1941 and the particulars of Wonderland."[19]

David Cote, of The Observer, drew a comparison with Spring Awakening in his review "The difference: Spring Awakening was a straightforward adaptation of playwright Frank Wedekind's satirical-tragical portrait of hormonal adolescents and hypocritical adults in 19th-century Germany. Sater pared down the text and added his tender, sensual lyrics. Sheik brought his ruminative but groove-smart talent to the table. The result was a potent collision of signifiers-teen rebellion that transcended the historical period through emo rock. Alice By Heart is a more muddled concoction, tangled up in too many layers of reality and fantasy, trauma and whimsy, to deliver its emotional payload."[20]

Matt Windman of amNewYork Metro gave the show two out of four stars and stated, "Although sincerely intended and full of creative touches, Alice by Heart is a disjointed, depressing and bewildering mess. It would be near impossible to follow it without a working knowledge of the source material."[21]

Some reviewers took a more positive approach. Frank Rizzo of Variety praised the performances, stating "The cast is solid, though the peripheral characters are thinly drawn even as their surreal alter egos revel in extravagance. Wesley Taylor has an especially fine time as the Mad Hatter, and Andrew Kober takes on five roles with flair, including King of Hearts and an imposing Jabberwocky. [sic]"[22]

Elysa Gardner of New York Stage Review, in another positive review, described the show as "a darkly whimsical, utterly transporting musical that recalls [Spring] Awakening both in its general focus-on anxious, pining youths who must pay the price for their elders' folly-and the lush, often melancholy but exhilarating beauty of its score."[23]

## Awards and honors

[edit]

### Original Off-Broadway production

[edit]

Year  | Award Ceremony  | Category  | Nominee  | Result

|
|
|
|

2019
Drama Desk Awards[24] | Outstanding Choreographer  | Rick and Jeff Kuperman  | Nominated
Outstanding Costume Design  | Paloma Young | Nominated
Lucille Lortel Awards[25][26] | Outstanding Choreographer  | Rick and Jeff Kuperman  | Won
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical  | Heath Saunders  | Nominated
Outstanding Costume Design  | Paloma Young | Won
Chita Rivera Awards for Dance and Choreography[citation needed] | Outstanding Choreography  | Rick and Jeff Kuperman  | Won
Outstanding Male Dancer  | Zachary Downer  | Nominated
Wesley Taylor | Won
Outstanding Female Dancer  | Mia DiLena  | Nominated
Outstanding Ensemble  | MCC Theater | Nominated

## Recording

[edit]

An original cast recording was released through Sh-K-Boom Records on June 28, 2019. It peaked at number 5 on the US Cast Albums chart.[27]

## Book

[edit]

A novelization of the same name by Sater was published on February 4, 2020.[28]

## Other

[edit]

Gretchen Shope, Winner of the 2024 Jimmy Award for Best Actress, won for her role of Alice in her high school's production of Alice By Heart.[29]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Hetrick, Adam. "Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik's 'Alice By Heart' Readies for National Theatre Presentation" Playbill, June 22, 2012
2. ^ a b Rizzo, Frank. "Off Broadway Review: 'Alice by Heart'" Variety, February 26, 2019
3. ^ Hurst, David. "Review" talkinbroadway.com, accessed February 27, 2019
4. ^ "Sheik & Sater’s 'Alice by Heart' to launch Theatre Aspen’s new development series" Archived 2019-02-28 at the Wayback Machine theatreaspen.org, April 29, 2014, accessed February 27, 2019
5. ^ Clement, Olivia. "MCC to Develop Steven Sater-Duncan Sheik Musical 'Alice By Heart'" Playbill, October 26, 2015
6. ^ Fierberg, Ruthie. "In 'Alice By Heart', Alice in Wonderland Meets a Duncan Sheik-Steven Sater Score" Playbill, July 5, 2018
7. ^ a b Clement, Olivia. " 'Alice By Heart' Opens Off-Broadway" Playbill, February 26, 2019
8. ^ Lefkowitz, Andy (2018-03-21). "Alice by Heart, New Musical by Spring Awakening & Waitress Writers, Sets World Premiere with MCC Theater". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2019-01-23.
9. ^ McPhee, Ryan. "New Musical 'Alice By Heart' Extends Off-Broadway Engagement Again" Playbill, February 15, 2019
10. ^ "Musical "Alice De Cor e Salteado" ganha prévia emocionante em São Paulo antes da estreia oficial".
11. ^ Erlichman, Claudio. "ALICE DE COR E SALTEADO (Alice by Heart): A Surreal and Emotive Journey Through War and Imagination". BroadwayWorld.com.
12. ^ Hetrick, Adam (2014-05-02). "Lear deBessonet to Helm Workshop of Steven Sater-Duncan Sheik Musical Alice By Heart; Phillipa Soo, Mike Faist, Noah Galvin Among Cast". Playbill. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
13. ^ Burke, Peggy (May 16, 2014). "THEATRE ASPEN ANNOUNCES 2014 CASTING" (PDF). Theatre Aspen. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
14. ^ Clement, Robert Viagas, Olivia (2015-12-18). "Ben Platt, Ashley Park, Mary Testa Lead Steven Sater-Duncan Sheik Alice By Heart Musical Workshop". Playbill. Retrieved 2019-07-02.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
15. ^ "Alice By Heart - Powerhouse Theater - Vassar College". powerhouse.vassar.edu. Archived from the original on 2019-07-02. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
16. ^ Alice by Heart Internet Off-Broadway database, retrieved May 23, 2019
17. ^ "ALICIA - Alice by Heart". PlateaNet. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
18. ^ "Sydney Shepherd". Backstage.com. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
19. ^ Brantley, Ben (2019-04-07). "Review: Lost on a Magical Mystery Tour in 'Alice by Heart'". The New York Times. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
20. ^ Cote, David (February 26, 2019). "'Alice by Heart' Adapts Lewis Carroll Into a Romance Set to Indie Rock". The Observer. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
21. ^ Windman, Matt (February 26, 2019). "/'Alice By Heart' review: Folk pop musical based on Lewis Carroll classic is a depressing mess". amNew York. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
22. ^ Rizzo, Frank (February 26, 2019). "'Alice by Heart' Review: Duncan Sheik, Steven Sater's New Musical". Variety. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
23. ^ Gardner, Elysa (February 26, 2019). "Alice by Heart: Lost Youth in a Bittersweet Wonderland". New York Stage Review. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
24. ^ "Drama Desk Awards 2019 Winners". Archived from the original on August 29, 2019. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
25. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Nominations for 34th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards Announced; Carmen Jones and Rags Parkland Sings the Songs of the Future Lead the Pack" Playbill, April 3, 2019
26. ^ Peikert, Mark. " 'Carmen Jones' Leads 2019 Lortel Award Winners" Playbill, May 5, 2019
27. ^ "Original Cast Recording: Chart History - Cast Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 15, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
28. ^ "Young Adult Novel Adaptation of Alice by Heart Musical to Debut in 2020". Playbill. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
29. ^ Higgins, Molly (June 24, 2024). "Damson Chola Jr. and Gretchen Shope Win at 2024 Jimmy Awards". Playbill.com. Retrieved November 11, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Internet Off-Broadway listing

* v
* t
* e

Lewis Carroll's Alice

* Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
* Through the Looking-Glass

Universe

| Characters|

| Alice's Adventures
in Wonderland|

* Alice
* portrayals
* Bill the Lizard
* Caterpillar
* Cheshire Cat
* Dodo
* Dormouse
* Duchess
* Gryphon
* Hatter
* Tarrant Hightopp
* King of Hearts
* Knave of Hearts
* March Hare
* Mock Turtle
* Mouse
* Pat
* Puppy
* Queen of Hearts
* White Rabbit
* Minor characters

|

Through the
Looking-Glass|

* Bandersnatch
* Humpty Dumpty
* Jubjub bird
* Red King
* Red Queen
* The Sheep
* The Lion and the Unicorn
* Tweedledum and Tweedledee
* White King
* White Knight
* White Queen
* Minor characters

Locations
and events|

* Wonderland
* Looking-Glass world
* Unbirthday

Poems|

* "All in the golden afternoon..."
* "How Doth the Little Crocodile"
* "The Mouse's Tale"
* "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Bat"
* "You Are Old, Father William"
* "'Tis the Voice of the Lobster"
* "Jabberwocky"
* Vorpal sword
* "The Walrus and the Carpenter"
* "Haddocks' Eyes"
* "The Mock Turtle's Song"
* The Hunting of the Snark

Related|

* Alice Liddell
* Alice syndrome
* Alice's Shop
* Illustrators
* John Tenniel
* Theophilus Carter
* The Annotated Alice
* Mischmasch
* Translations
* Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
* Through the Looking-Glass

Adaptations

| Print|

| Novels|

* Davy and the Goblin (1884)
* The Nursery "Alice" (1890)
* The Admiral's Caravan (1891)
* A New Alice in the Old Wonderland (1895)
* Gladys in Grammarland (1896)
* The Westminster Alice (1902)
* Clara in Blunderland (1902)
* Rollo in Emblemland (1902)
* Lost in Blunderland (1903)
* John Bull's Adventures in the Fiscal Wonderland (1904)
* Alice in Blunderland: An Iridescent Dream (1904)
* Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Retold in Words of One Syllable (1905)
* New Adventures of Alice (1917)
* Alice in Orchestralia (1925)
* Alice Through the Needle's Eye (1984)
* Automated Alice (1996)
* The Looking Glass Wars (2004)
* Seeing Redd (2007)
* ArchEnemy (2009)
* Alice in Verse: The Lost Rhymes of Wonderland (2010)
* Unbirthday: A Twisted Tale (2020)

|

Comics|

* Tweedledum and Tweedledee (1943)
* Lost Girls (1991)
* Miyuki-chan in Wonderland (1993)
* Pandora Hearts (2006)
* Cheshire Crossing (2006)
* Alice in Sunderland (2007)
* Alice in Murderland (2014)
* Wonderland (2015)

Stage|

* Alice in Wonderland (1886 musical)
* Alice in Wonderland (1979 opera)
* But Never Jam Today (1979 musical)
* The Hunting of the Snark (1991 musical)
* Through the Looking Glass (2008 opera)
* Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (2011 ballet)
* Wonderland (2011 musical)
* Peter and Alice (2013 play)
* Wonder.land (2015 musical)
* Alice's Adventures Under Ground (2016 opera)
* Alice by Heart (2019 musical)

Film|

* 1903
* 1910
* 1915
* Alice Comedies (1923–1927)
* 1931
* 1933
* Betty in Blunderland (1934)
* Thru the Mirror (1936)
* 1949
* 1951
* Donald in Mathmagic Land (1959)
* Alice of Wonderland in Paris (1966)
* Jabberwocky (1971)
* 1972
* 1976
* 1976 (Spanish)
* Alice or the Last Escapade (1977)
* Jabberwocky (1977)
* 1981
* 1982
* Malice in Wonderland (1982)
* Dreamchild (1985)
* The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland (1987)
* 1988 (Czechoslovak)
* 1988 (Australian)
* Abby in Wonderland (2008)
* Malice in Wonderland (2009)
* 2010
* Alice in Murderland (2010)
* Malice in Wonderland: The Dolls Movie (2010)
* Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016)
* Come Away (2020)
* Alice and the Land that Wonders (2020)
* Alice, Through the Looking (2021)

Television|

* Alice in Wonderland (1962)
* Alice in Wonderland or What's a Nice Kid like You Doing in a Place like This? (1966)
* Alice in Wonderland (1966)
* Alice Through the Looking Glass (1966)
* 1983 (TV film)
* Fushigi no Kuni no Alice (1983)
* 1985 (TV film)
* Adventures in Wonderland (1992)
* Alice through the Looking Glass (1998)
* Alice in Wonderland (1999)
* Alice (2009)
* Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (2013)
* Alice's Wonderland Bakery (2022)
* Descendants: The Rise of Red (2024)

Artwork|

* Alice in Wonderland sculpture (1959)
* How Doth the Little Crocodile (1998 artworks)

Music|

* "White Rabbit" (1967 song)
* "Don't Come Around Here No More" (1985 music video)
* Alice in Wonderland (2010)
* Almost Alice (2010)
* "Alice"
* "Follow Me Down"
* "Tea Party"
* Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016)
* "Just Like Fire"
* "Alice" (2020 song)

Video games|

* Through the Looking Glass (1984)
* Alice in Wonderland (1985)
* Märchen Maze (1988)
* Wonderland (1990)
* Alice: An Interactive Museum (1991)
* Alice no Paint Adventure (1995)
* Alice in Wonderland (2000)
* American McGee's Alice (2000)
* Alice in the Country of Hearts (2007)
* Alice in Wonderland (2010)
* Alice: Madness Returns (2011)

Related|

* Dungeonland (1983 module)
* The Land Beyond the Magic Mirror (1983 module)
* Disney franchise

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Duncan Sheik

Studio albums|

* Duncan Sheik
* Humming
* Phantom Moon
* Daylight
* White Limousine
* Whisper House
* Covers 80s
* Legerdemain

Compilations|

* Brighter/Later: A Duncan Sheik Anthology
* Brighter: A Duncan Sheik Collection

Singles|

* "Barely Breathing"
* "She Runs Away"
* "Reasons for Living"
* "Wishful Thinking"
* "Bite Your Tongue"
* "On a High"

Musicals|

* Spring Awakening
* Alice by Heart
* American Psycho
* The Secret Life of Bees

Additional Works|

* A Home at the End of the World (soundtrack)

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