Alice by Heart Hits Randall Theater October 22nd

Set in 1941, families are forced to live in overcrowded London tube stations to escape enemy German bombing. Alice Spencer and her friend Alfred are quarantined in these air-raid shelters. Due to poor ventilation and overcrowding, Alfred contracts tuberculosis. The disease at this time would cause organ failure and respiratory distress. Alice retells the classic tale of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland from memory in hopes of aiding Alfred through his sickness. 

Directed by Peter Reynolds, head of musical theater and assistant chair for Temple University’s theater department. He is the founding artistic director of Mauckingbird Theatre Company. He has contributed to productions at eight different Philadelphia theater companies. Professor Reynolds has been with Temple’s theater department since 2007. He is the winner of the Award of Excellence in Prevention Education, presented by Mayor Daley and the Department of Public Health. 

Although performed by Temple Owls, Alice by Heart’s first production was in London and later moved to New York in 2018. Alice by Heart was originally written by Steven Sater and Jessie Nelson. The pair got the idea for the production from the Theater Geeks of America. All original music and melodies are written by Duncan Sheik. Sheik used certain musical sounds to create a haunting and emotional atmosphere that fits the World War II setting. Sheik unfortunately passed away on September 17th from cardiac arrest, but his work will always be remembered.