ALICE IN WONDERLAND
Alice in Wonderland was a production I had wanted to design for a long time, so I was thrilled when Alexander Academy chose it. They give me a great deal of creative trust, which allowed me to make changes as the choreography developed in rehearsal.
The production began with a formal tea party hosted by Alice’s mother. Alice wore a simple lavender dress, which gave us a restrained starting point before Wonderland became increasingly fantastical. During the rabbit-hole sequence, I changed the original concept after seeing Hallie Hunt’s fast, directional choreography. Instead of dressing the dancers as assorted Wonderland characters, I used black bodysuits with purple, gray, and silver organza ribbons so the dancers themselves became the rabbit hole.
The flower garden introduced butterflies and caterpillars, with the butterflies using stronger blocks of color and the caterpillars a more rainbow-like palette. The green caterpillar bodysuits, including the principal Caterpillar’s costume, were hand painted by Micah Oberg. The Mad Hatter’s tea party then pushed the color, pattern, and eccentricity much further.
In Act II, the White Rabbit became more elaborate and sparkling, while the Queen of Hearts and playing cards were designed to be bold and graphic so they would read clearly from a distance. The flamingos were one of my favorite elements: Absalon Figueroa choreographed them in a composed, formal ballet style that contrasted perfectly with the absurdity of the costumes.
Amelia cast three dancers as Alice so her changes in size could happen physically. We created small, medium, and tall versions of the same dress, carefully adjusting the proportions so all three still read as the same character.
The best part was working with my son and daughter on the show - Micah with costumes and Sara with lighting. Family is the best.
Alice in Wonderland, Alexander Academy Performing Company, Maui, Hawaii, 2026. Artistic Director: Amelia Nelson. Choreography: Amelia Nelson, Absalon Figueroa, Noel Ramirez, Leila Mackinnon, and Hallie Hunt. Lighting Designer: Sara Oberg. Costume Shop: The Sewing Hui of Maui. Lead Costume Assistant: Lynne Donaldson. Cheshire Cat Fabricators: Micah Oberg (foam construction), Morgan Wittmer (painting), Denise Green (mini cat fabrication).
Photography by Chelsea Fine
