M/SO Youth Perform Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Jr. to Benefit Children in Sierra Leone

AUGUST 6, 2012 -- If it feels as though things are getting “curiouser and curiouser” around Maplewood this week, it may be because 60-plus local kids have taken a tumble down a rabbit hole and landed in the strange world of Wonderland.  The group is performing Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Jr. on August 18th and 19th at Morrow Church in Maplewood.

The kids have been traveling through Wonderland throughout the summer, learning parts and music, culminating in a week-long camp held at Morrow Church August 13 - 17.  The young performers have come together to develop the show and to raise money through the performances for their peers in Sierra Leone.  Sierra Leone faces many transportation challenges which prohibit their youth from being able to attend wonderful youth programs for the purpose of educating youth in trades and skills they can use to survive. We have been asked to help raise money for a new van so that more youth will be able to attend these wonderful developmental programs.

So, when Alice tumbles down a rabbit hole chasing after a mysterious talking White Rabbit, races a Dodo Bird, has tea with a Mad Hatter and meets one zany character after another, she learns a fair bit about herself as well.  And so too, do the kids in the performance, said organizer, Brenda Wheeler Ehlers. 

“This camp is an opportunity for kids to learn about the history of Sierra Leone and about the children there and how we can help them re-build their youth program.  The kids know that as they share their singing, acting and dancing gifts with others, they will support kids who are working to rebuild their community.  It is a sort of Wonderland week,” said Ehlers.

Performances will be held on Saturday, August 18 at 2pm and 7pm and Sunday, August 19 at 2pm at Morrow Church, 600 Ridgewood Rd., Maplewood, NJ.  Suggested donation is $10 and all proceeds go to The Children of Sierra Leone.