STAMFORD, Connecticut – Bi-Cultural Hebrew Academy’s popular spring musical is back!

After a prolonged COVID induced hiatus, middle and high school students at the Stamford Jewish school are preparing for a return to the stage with a production of “Alice in Wonderland: An Original Retelling.” Performances are scheduled for March 31, April 1 and April 3.

With a cast of more than 40 students, Bi-Cultural’s revised version of the original story is more comedic. It is written and directed by BCHA theater director Janice Chaikelson, now staging her 11th production at the school.  

“This year was definitely different because of the constantly shifting Covid-19 situation and the pent-up desire for a school show,” said Chaikelson. “As planning began last summer, the school decided to forgo its usual full-scale musical and present a play without singing. This way, we’ll still be able to provide our budding actors and actresses with the chance to have a theatrical performance experience,”

The joy of participating in the show isn’t just for the actors on stage, it also promises to be a positive theatrical experience for all those students working behind the scenes on sets and costuming and the like. 

“Two students are also doubling as assistant directors,” says Chaikelson. “The camaraderie that develops across many grades among all the students in the cast and crew is really quite remarkable.”

Performances are: Thursday, March 31, 7 p.m.; Friday, April 1, 1:45 p.m.; Sunday, April 3, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance at tickettailor.com/events/bcha/, or at the door.

Main Photo: Shira Hecht (center), who plays the Dutchess in the BCHA upcoming production of Alice in Wonderland rehearses a scene as other case members look on. (Kaila Rosovsky)