CB West Harlequin Club Bringing "Alice By Heart" To The Stage

DOYLESTOWN, PA —The Central Bucks West Harlequin Club will bring "Alice By Heart" to the stage with four enchanting performances from Nov. 21 to 24 at the high school.

The show tells the story of Alice Spencer, a teenage girl who copes with the trauma of the 1941 London Blitz by distracting herself and her childhood friend Alfred on a journey through Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Written by singer–songwriter Duncan Sheik and playwright Steven Sater, the musical has been enchanting audiences across the nation with its haunting score and artistic storytelling.

The cast of the Harlequin Club’s production of "Alice by Heart." (Joanna Nadia Photography)

The Harlequin Club production will stay true to the traditional staging of Alice by Heart with live music and iconic choreography while adding projected imagery to display the contrast between fantasy and reality central to the show.

Tickets are on sale now for performances by clicking here or by clicking on the Harlequin Club home page here.

“'Alice by Heart' has built a cult following because its music and love story have the power to transfix audiences. The show is addictive and people will travel distances to see it,” said Claudine Piechotta, director and producer of the Harlequin Club. “The whole cast and creative team are overwhelmed with excitement to interpret this beautiful musical for a Bucks County audience.”

This may be the last time audiences have the chance to see "Alice by Heart" on a local stage as licensing will end in June 2025.

“The cast has been working on the show since last June even meeting at a summer pool party to perfect aerial choreography before bringing it to the stage,” said Piechotta “They have been rehearsing between The Greatest Generation rehearsals this fall (our recent October show) and have also had a workshop with Broadway actor Andrew Kober who shared his experiences performing the role of Doctor Butridge as an Alice by Heart cast member in its off-Broadway debut.”

From left: Carey Bigley as the Red Cross Nurse; Jordan Blaszczyk as Harold Pudding; and Alyssa Cooke as Alice Spencer. (Joanna Nadia Photography)

About the Show

A group of Londoners take shelter from The Blitz in an underground tube station. Each person carries with them their own struggles, heartbreak, joy, anger, loss and fear. At the center of the story is Alice Spencer, a teenage girl who has just rescued her best friend Alfred from the rubble and brought him to the shelter. All that remains of the life she once knew is Alfred and their treasured book, "Alice in Wonderland," the book of their childhood adventures.

In an attempt to help Alfred recover, Alice takes him on a journey through Wonderland as she knows it by heart, bringing everyone in the shelter along with her to tell the tale. But Alfred and Alice soon discover that neither one is a child anymore, the stakes are far different this time and Wonderland isn’t always what it seems.

The heartbreaking love story is brought to life with a cast of iconic, endearing, terrifying and whimsical characters. Hauntingly beautiful music played by a full live band combines with artistic storytelling, creative organic choreography, integrative projections, film footage and scenic design, and original costumes to tell this timeless story of love against all odds and the importance of cherishing what matters most.

About the Harlequin Club

The Harlequin Club is Central Bucks West High School's drama club. Fall productions may include a full-length play, one-act plays and/or a smaller ensemble musical. In the spring the club produces a larger full ensemble musical, typically with a pit orchestra. In addition, we present a student-directed one-act showcase and a student-directed cabaret as well as other community appearances and festivals throughout the year. The Harlequin Club Troupe 2115 is an active member of the International Thespian Society.

In 2022, the Harlequin Club won the Philadelphia Independence Award for best High School Musical in the Philadelphia region for their production of Amélie. Also in 2022 and again in 2023, Harlequin Club students received the nomination to represent the Philadelphia region in the prestigious Jimmy Awards for High School Musical Theatre.