“Alice in the Musical of Wonders,” premieres at the Coliseu of Porto

Plateia d’Emoções premieres (October 27) a new version of Lewis Carroll’s tale, at the grand amphitheater of northern culture. The play, which was awarded in Spain as Best Family Musical at the Musical Theater Awards, and Best Musical at the Broadwayworld Spain Awards, will later move to other venues, with Christmas on the horizon.

A talking rabbit, a friendly cat, a mad hatter, a spiteful queen of hearts, and countless charismatic characters are all present, along with the plot of Lewis Carroll. The charismatic Alice unites everything. The framing will be different, some underlying messages will change, and, of course, the wrapping of the gift that Plateia d’Emoções is preparing to take to the stage. The premiere of “Alice in the Musical of Wonders” is scheduled for the Coliseu of Porto, on October 27, at 16:30, but the work will then continue to other venues, with Christmas in sight and a return to the “Cidade Invicta” on the route.

In the version of the play that this musical theater company has at hand, the characters seek answers to the questions that arise from the new challenges of an increasingly filled (dis)information society.

“Is it possible to reconcile the technology of mobile phones, tablets, and other digital objects with books? Is there room for imagination in this ‘digital’ society? To what extent is our appearance important? What do we invest our time in? Can we grow without renouncing imagination and dreams?” is questioned in the synopsis of the work, with artistic direction by Fernando Tavares, the paternal figure of Plateia d’Emoções, based on an original idea by Jose Tomàs Chàfer, with text and lyrics by Josep Mollà. The original music that gives expression to the 70-minute piece is signed by Paco Ivañez.

The creation, for which the artistic collective from Vila Nova de Gaia holds exclusivity for the national territory, has already won more than a dozen awards in Spain, including “Best Family Musical” at the Musical Theater Awards, and “Best Musical” at the Broadwayworld Spain Awards.

“Alice’s grandmother will enter the world of children with the force of a hurricane. With imagination and cunning, she will make Alice’s grandchildren and friends put down their mobile phones and tablets to listen to a fantastic tale she read when she was little, to instil in children a love for reading,” is explained in the synopsis.

“This is a very current message, in which all contemporary families will recognize themselves: it seeks to emphasize the values of love for literature and the power of imagination in the face of the often excessive influence of multiple screens in our lives,” complements the artistic director of Plateia d’Emoções.

The proposal is, therefore, a journey full of adventures, color, and of course, a lot of music.

“Will Mr. Rabbit help his guest Alice learn the true meaning of the phrase ‘We must seize the moment’? Will Mr. Caterpillar, a transformation expert, change Alice’s hair colour and, above all, convince her that the change must be internal and that she should accept herself as she truly is? And we will also have the mad hatter, who must always appear happy for the Queen of Hearts, who will teach us that sometimes we show a happy face, even when we have moments of sadness inside.”

The journey begins on October 27 at the Coliseum of Porto. Mealhada (November 28 to 30), Amarante (December 4 to 6), Póvoa de Varzim (December 10 to 14), and Porto (December 16 to 22) are already on the route. And other cities will follow.

“Alice in the Musical of Wonders” – Technical Sheet:

Artistic Director/Spain: Jose Tomàs Chàfer • Original Idea: José Tomàs Chàfer • Text and Lyrics: Josep Mollà • Original Music: Paco Iváñez • Artistic Director / Portugal: Fernando Tavares • Staging and Set Design: Fernando Tavares • Musical Direction: André Lacerda • Choreographies: Sara Lima • Lighting Design: Fernando Tavares • Lighting Programming and Operation: João Rodrigues • Sound Design: Rodolfo Cardoso • Technical Direction: João Rodrigues • Costumes: Leonor Viana • Executive Production: Cátia Tavares • Stage Direction: Leonardo Lopes • Translation: Helena Durães/Fernando Tavares • Social Media Management: Margarida Pinheiro • Communication: MS Impacto | CAST: Alice – Bárbara Rocha • Mother/Mr. Rabbit – Beatriz Oliveira • Maria/Mr. Caterpillar/Voice Mr. Cat/Middle Card – Teresa Cruz • João/Hatter – Bernardo Alves • Tânia/Mrs. Marmot – Maria Maricato • Grandfather/Queen of Hearts – Isabel Garcez • Mr. Frog/Hare/Small Card – Sofia Cardoso • Large Card/Stage Direction – Leonardo Lopes • Show for ages 3 and up.

About Plateia d’Emoções:

Plateia d’Emoções is an artistic company based in Vila Nova de Gaia. It debuted in 2015 in musical theatre productions with the play “Cinderella – The Magic of the Musical.” The project continued with great successes, such as “Pinocchio – A Musical to Dream,” “Little Red Riding Hood,” “The Three Little Pigs,” “The Wizard of Oz – An Enchanting Musical,” “Via Crucis,” and “Anne Frank – The Musical.” In addition to producing cultural shows for a general audience, the company’s activities also include presenting musicals with educational content aimed at children, schools, and families, in performances spread across various national venues.

Always confirm with the concert hall or promoter the conditions of access, confirmation of the date or time, ticket place of sale, price, and availability.

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