This year’s Alden High School play production is Alice in Wonderland, a whimsical yet mysterious tale following a young girl who dreams of chasing a white rabbit into a strange and unpredictable world. Along her journey, Alice meets peculiar characters, navigates curious challenges, and uncovers the darker truths of Wonderland.

You may know the story, but do you know the faces behind the magic? The cast has poured their hearts into this production, from memorizing lines to bringing Wonderland to life on stage. Curious to learn more about who’s playing the imaginative Miss Alice—or who’s always shouting “Off with their heads!”?

Come along as we meet the talented cast of Alice in Wonderland!

Madeline Jones as Alice

“I play Alice, and the story really revolves around her journey through Wonderland,” Madeline shares. “She meets so many new characters, but as Wonderland starts to feel darker, she realizes she needs to escape.”

For Madeline, theater is all about embracing the challenge: “Every role is an opportunity to step into a new persona. It’s hard work, especially when it gets down to crunch time, but loving what you do makes it all worth it.”

Brooke Cotton as the Queen of Hearts

Brooke brings the fiery Queen of Hearts to life, a character famous for her temper and signature phrase, “Off with their heads!”

“My favorite thing about theater is being able to act crazy on stage and it being okay,” Brooke laughs. “But the hardest part is the time commitment—it takes a lot of energy and dedication.”

Elise Stahl as the Red Queen

Elise describes her character as a chessboard ruler searching for connection. “The Red Queen and White Queen are like sisters who were separated, so the Red Queen sees Alice as her adopted sister.”

Cohen Zaleski as Tweedledee and the King

Cohen takes on the roles of both Tweedledee and the King. “Tweedledee and Tweedledum are always competing for the spotlight, which makes their scenes a lot of fun to play.”

For Cohen, improvising on stage is a favorite part of theater, though balancing rehearsals with school and sports is a challenge.

Lillian Kochmanski as the Cheshire Cat

“The Cheshire Cat is playful, mischievous, and loves to trick Alice,” Lillian explains.

Her favorite part of theater is seeing everything come together on opening night: “The costumes, the lights—it’s all magical. The hardest part? Definitely the late rehearsals and a packed schedule, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

The cast of Alice in Wonderland is excited to welcome you to Wonderland, where nothing is as it seems. Be sure to catch the show from November 21–24 at the Wilson R. Conrad Auditorium to see these talented students bring the story to life! Tickets are available now—don’t wait, or it’s off with your head!