Alice in Wonderland hit the stage with success, but actors and tech faced many challenges before getting there.

The fall play Alice in Wonderland was performed in the PCPA Oct 24th, 25th, and 26th. 

Auditions were held in April, and the show was in the works since then. Alice was double cast with senior Bridget Lopez Valenzuela and junior Shanon Tran alternating playing the role each night. 

Other leads included senior Antonio Vargas as the Mad Hatter, junior Eden Cho, the Queen of Hearts, Junior JJ Basch as the White Rabbit, senior Fen Baker, who played the Cheshire Cat, and freshman Jackson Foisie who played the Caterpillar. 

Drama teacher Sharon Wezelman usually directs the plays, but she had to step back due to a concussion. In her place, campus supervisor and assistant director Justine Valdez covered for her.

Before Wezelman’s departure, Valdez helped with casting and some directing. She took over as director in October. The new responsibility was not difficult for her as she describes herself as being “made for the position,” Valdez said. 

Her new responsibilities included directing the entire show, making programs, posters, t-shirt designs, looking over contracts, and licensing the show, etc.

 Prior to working on the show, Valdez worked in the entertainment industry, specifically on TV. For shows like American Idol, as a production assistant, the Academy Awards, and the Hallmark channel. 

. Junior Eden Cho helped Valdez direct, working as a student director. Cho was also in the show, playing the Queen of Hearts.  

Cho worked as a director, understudy for an ensemble, choreographer, composer, dance captain, light and sound designer. 

“You have to balance a lot on your plate all the time because you have to not only think about your actors but also your techies,” Cho said.

Cho did find it scary at first to direct her peers. The show was mostly acted out by freshmen, but there were a lot of seniors. She said it  felt slightly awkward for her to direct actors older than her. 

“It was just really nerve-wracking. But once I did it, once I was like, oh these people respect me, it was a lot easier,” Cho said. 

Seeing people’s different ideas for characterizations was one of Cho’s favorite parts of directing. As well as just getting to work with the people that were in the show. 

“Oh, I love these people, It’s such an amazing community. You go to rehearsal and one person talks to you, and suddenly you’re friends with everyone. And it’s such a lovely, lovely feeling to walk in and be like, I know everyone here,” Cho said.

Like Valdez, Cho also praised Vargas, for his positive attitude, “He’s such a talent… He was very, very positive. He’s a great guy to be around. It was just really nice having that kind of, uplifting spirit to be around.”

Cho has directed shows outside of Poway High in the past, including Les Miserables, Mean Girls, Adams Family and more. 

Junior JJ Basch played the White Rabbit and also helped with the technical aspects of the show.

“I really love the community that’s formed in theatre. Even if the show isn’t going a certain direction that we love, we still have a strong supportive group of people that always makes it worth it,” Basch said.

The play will be performed again at a festival in January, and actors and tech alike are excited for what’s in store.