The new musical “Alice in Neverland” will receive private industry presentations on Nov. 6 and 7 at New 42 Studios in Manhattan. Catie Davis will direct and Dominique Kelley will choreograph the Broadway-aimed musical, which features a book and score by Phil Kenny and Reston Williams. The reading is being produced by Hal Luftig, Kevin Connor, Jamie deRoy and 42nd.club.
Billed as a sequel to Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland” and a prequel to J.M. Barrie’s “Peter Pan, “Alice in Neverland” follows the titular character of “Alice in Wonderland” as an adult. Alice worries her happiest days of childhood are behind her, and she is drawn into the Neverland of J.M. Barrie’s “Peter Pan.” What begins as a fantastical escape becomes a reckoning with time, memory and the consequences of growing up.
Jane Bruce, an alum of “Jagged Little Pill” and “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” will take on the role of Alice for the reading. The company will also feature Akron Watson, a former Aaron Burr in the “Hamilton” tour, as James, Jake Pedersen, a former Boq in Broadway’s “Wicked,” as Peter, and veteran “Beetlejuice” performer Jackera Davis as Tinker Bell. Rounding out the principal cast will be Beth Leavel, a Tony Award winner for “The Drowsy Chaperone” and most recently seen on Broadway in “Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends,” as the Queen of Hearts.
Additional company members will include Raymond Baynard, Lindsay Nicole Chambers, Jessica Crouch, Eoghan Dillon, Judith Franklin, Morgan Harrison, Benjamin Henderson, Arica Jackson, Megan Kane, Garth Kravits, Kelvin Moon Loh, Brian Martin, Keven Quillon, Aaron Michael Ray, Danny Rutigliano, Honor Blue Savage and Bethany Tesarck. Casting is by the Telsey Office and Rsahad Naylor.
Beyond his work as playwright and composer, Kenny is co-founder of the aforementioned 42nd.club production company, which recently won a Tony for co-producing the 2024 revival of “Sunset Boulevard.” Williams’ many compositions have been heard on the Oprah Winfrey Show. He is a member of the Blue Man Group. Davis served as assistant director on Broadway’s “Moulin Rouge!” and associate director on “Beetlejuice.” Kelley’s choreography can currently be seen in “The Great Gatsby” on Broadway.
“Alice in Neverland” will feature puppet design by Nicholas Mahon, music supervision by Kris Kukul and music direction by Adam Laird. Andrew Joy for Foresight Theatrical will provide general management services.
