NMU’s dance company Co/Lab, recently took the Marquette community “down the rabbit hole” with an immersive, off-campus show. Held at the 906 Bar and Grill in downtown Marquette, many came to see this twist on the classic story everyone knows so well. The show ran from Jan. 30 to Feb. 8.
Audryn Just, an NMU student in attendance, described the performance as, “Ethereal, magical and wondrous.”
With a maximum of 100 tickets available per night, this show was unique in that audience members stood for the entirety of the performance, except when the dancers moved the crowd around the floor to follow the story.
This production was distinct in another way, as there were no words—only movement. This allowed the dancers to be more expressive, bringing the audience deeper into the story.
The story of Alice in this production is portrayed a bit differently, as Alice has already visited Wonderland once before and has now returned. The show begins with the Queen of Hearts poisoning a rose, which Alice then takes and wears on her dress, making her mad and chaotic.
“When everyone else is confused, scared or upset about Alice, I believe the Mad Hatter is the first to embrace Alice and her chaos,” said dancer John Thomson, who played the Mad Hatter.
The story continues as Alice spreads chaos, causing mischief for characters like the tea party guests and the flowers. The Queen of Hearts then holds a trial, where the White Rabbit realizes she is actually behind all the messes Alice created.
From walking in the front doors of the bar to being moved around the set, the attention to detail was spectacular. With roses on the railings, hanging vines and cards leading into Wonderland, the design crew truly put in the work.
“The time crunch was pretty stressful, and we didn’t know how it was going to turn out for a while. Once we got to the space, it went well, and I’m really happy with it,” said dancer Caydence Sturtevent, who played Alice.
The cast started rehearsals at the beginning of the fall semester, meeting once a week. After winter break, rehearsals became more frequent. The work the dancers put into this show demonstrates their passion and drive to make the experience as immersive as possible.
In only a few weeks, the cast and crew were able to put on a hit dance show and once again spike sales for NMU’s Theatre and Dance department.
For those who missed this show, NMU’s actors and dancers are always working on something new. Their next show is Shakespeare’s “Much Ado about Nothing,” playing in the Panowski Black Box Theatre from Feb. 20-March 1.
