“One of those writers’ miracles” is how Ensemble Theatre Co.’s Scott DeVine describes his discovery of Mark Saltzman’s musical “Alice, Formerly of Wonderland,” which makes its world premiere at the New Vic Theatre on Thursday.
“It was a blind submission, and arrived by mail,” he said. “I read it and thought it was charming and unique.”
It’s based on the true story of a secret romance between Alice Liddell, famous as Lewis Carroll’s inspiration for the girl who fell down a rabbit hole, and Prince Leopold, Queen Victoria’s son and a great-grand-uncle of local royal Prince Harry (who is also in love with a celebrity commoner).
Alice and Leopold met as students at the University of Oxford and fell in love. The queen “was not amused” (as the saying goes) and objected to the pairing.
What is unique? The songs in “Alice, Formerly of Wonderland” are all performed a cappella, meaning without accompaniment. The real Leopold joined Oxford’s Glee Society in 1872 when the play takes place. Musical numbers include new arrangements of the era’s popular songs, such as “Beautiful Dreamer,” along with originals written by Saltzman.
Saltzman won seven Emmys as a writer for “Sesame Street,” and he co-wrote more than 50 of the show’s songs during his 15-year tenure. As a playwright, several of his other shows are also based on real figures, including Scott Joplin, Irving Berlin, George Bernard Shaw and Wernher von Braun.
In 2013, Saltzman asked director Jim Fall to stage the world premiere of “Falling for Make Believe,” a musical fictionalizing the highs and lows of lyricist Lorenz Hart of the songwriter duo Rodgers and Hart (“Blue Moon,” “My Funny Valentine”) at The Colony Theatre in Burbank. Ten years later, they now collaborate again, on “Alice, Formerly of Wonderland.”
“Working with Mark is one of the best professional relationships I’ve ever had,” Fall said. “I love having a creative partner in sync with me. I couldn’t ask for better.”
Fall directed “The Lizzy McGuire Movie,” a big-screen adaptation of the Disney Channel series, and numerous television movies and episodes for programming on VH1, Lifetime, Hallmark Channel and A&E. He has staged plays on both the West and East coasts, including another world premiere, Gary Lennon’s “The Interlopers.”
“Mark’s script was in super shape and needed little tweaking,” he said, “but once you get it on its feet, little moments may need polishing. One short scene between our lovers took place on a punt (small rowboat) on the River Thames. We had to build the boat, so we decided the scene could be further developed. It’s now longer and includes a song.”
The two-act production features six performers, with some playing multiple roles. Fantasy plays a role, pun intended, as Alice has an unusual adviser — the book’s hookah-smoking caterpillar.
“We hear their conversations in her head,” Fall said. “She gets advice from him, and even some ‘tough love.’”
Leopold, a hemophiliac in real life, was not expected to live long. Queen Victoria disapproved of him attending Oxford, but he wanted to mix with real people. He ended up falling in love with Alice, a famous commoner.
Did they marry? “Therein lies the drama,” Fall quoted from Luigi Pirandello’s play “Six Characters in Search of an Author.”
Looking Ahead to Next Season
The show will conclude Ensemble Theatre’s 45th anniversary season, which is DeVine’s second year with the company and his first as programmer. Audience response has been positive, he reported, with season subscriptions up 12% and total audience numbers up 25%.
DeVine previously spent a dozen years as the chief financial officer and general manager at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, a Tony Award-winning company in Palo Alto.
“They did a lot of new works, which is what I love,” he said.
A relatively new play opens next season, “Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors,” the 2023 Off-Broadway hit that he calls “fun and sexy.”
“Million Dollar Quartet,” December’s show, follows last year’s successful “Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash” (Ensemble’s highest-grossing production ever, according to DeVine). It’s based on a 1956 jam session attended by Cash, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis.
February brings a visit from “Hamlet” with William Shakespeare’s masterpiece set in the modern day and given a “thriller” treatment focusing on its visceral and frightening aspects.
Hershey Felder presents his acclaimed one-man show “George Gershwin Alone” to the Old Vic in April.
“I presented Hershey many times in Palo Alto. He is an incredible talent,” DeVine said.
“Justice” will close the season in June and focuses on the first three women on the U.S. Supreme Court (Sandra Day O’Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor) and their sisterhood of support, despite diverging political views.
“Alice, Formerly of Wonderland” previews begin May 30, with opening night on June 1, and runs through June 16. Tickets range from $40 to $86. Subscriptions for the 2024-25 season are on sale, priced from $190 to $435. Visit etcsb.org for tickets and information.