Alice the Musical

What an unforgettable adventure we’ve had with Alice the Musical! As Musical Director, I had the absolute pleasure of guiding our incredibly talented students through this creative journey from auditions to standing ovations.

The Build Up

It all began back in November, when the excitement started to build as we announced auditions for our school production. Over 77 children auditioned, a fantastic turnout which showed the enthusiasm and passion of our students. Each child sang a song of their choice and performed a character excerpt. It’s safe to say that Ms. Sharon, Ms. Rebecca and I were blown away by their courage, talent, and energy. Casting was no easy task! After much consideration, we revealed the final cast list in December to great anticipation and cheers for one another.

Rehearsals officially kicked off in January. Each week, our dedicated chorus worked hard learning brand new songs, while those with speaking roles brought their characters to life scene by scene. From the Mad Hatter to the Queen of Hearts, we were getting to know a whole new cast of wonderful characters and the children were already showing another side to them full of drama and fun.

We rehearsed consistently right through to March, when we paused for a well-deserved break during Ramadan. Once April sprang, it was full steam ahead as we entered our final stretch. Rehearsals intensified for sure with extra hours after school, lunchtime run-throughs, and every spare moment spent polishing scenes, lines, and songs. The commitment shown by the children was nothing short of superb.

The days were flying by and before we knew it the big nights had arrived May 18 and 19. As the children arrived early, bubbling with excitement and nerves, we could feel the magic in the air. Parents began to fill the seats, the lights dimmed, and all of a sudden… we were in Wonderland.

The Performance

What followed was an electrifying performance filled with colour, laughter and music. The audience were taken on an adventure from the real world to wonderland meeting the most peculiar characters. We took part in a ‘Caucus Race’, a ‘Mad Tea Party’ and even had time for a game of ‘Croquet’ before investigating ‘Who Stole the Tarts?’ The children shone on stage, bringing every character to life with joy and confidence. There were so many beautiful musical moments, not to mention a few surprises that had the audience singing along too!

The atmosphere was marvelous. It was much more than a show, it was a celebration of hard work, creativity, and teamwork. The first of its kind in AWIS, and we, the staff, parents and AWIS community could not be prouder of every single child who took part. This will be a production we all remember for years to come.