Wonderland: A Fantastical Production

After I watched Wonderland from Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet on DVD, I felt my imagination expanding with possibilities. So many details come together to make this a super fun, mind-blowing, spine-tingling experience. Loud, spectacular costumes, loveable and unique interpretations of characters, and skilled dancers having fun on stage take over the senses and win the audience over. But perhaps the most intriguing to me was the use of video projection as a set.

Very minimalist in actual physical pieces, the set is basically just a few big white blocks that move around, with a handful of props that come into play. Instead, the set comes from the video that is projected onto the backdrop. It's an incredibly playful use of video that can create the illusion of falling down the rabbit hole, making Alice grow to monstrous proportions and then turn around and shrink; these illusions through video achieve a versatility and depth to the set that are hard to find in any other production I can think of.

Not only is the use of video fabulous in itself, but it also seamlessly fits with the piece. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is all about the fantastical, about turning the ordinary world upside down and shaking its preconceived notions out of its upturned pockets. The use of video as a set in this production fulfills this sentiment to a whole new level.

Come and get your mind upturned, your imagination jump-started, and your love of dance ignited! We'll see you Nov 12 and 13 downtown at the Orpheum Theatre for the production of the season!

*Don't miss the free community events happening in conjunction with Wonderland. A Celebration of Wonderland at Hennepin County Library - Minneapolis Central and Wonderland Family Fun Day at Macy's Downtown Minneapolis include Alice-inspired activities for all ages.

Melissa Wray
Northrop Marketing & Communications Associate