02/05/03

Alice In Wonderland ~ Peer through the looking glass and let your curiosity soar!

 

BENTON TOWNSHIP, MI - The Lake Michigan College Mendel Center Mainstage will be taken over by giant puppets on Saturday, February 22, at 2:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m when the Bit's 'N Pieces Puppet Theatre presents Alice in Wonderland.

Giant and traditional puppets and costumed characters will take us on a magical fantasy tour of Alice's Wonderland. We will attend the Mad Hatter's Tea Party with Alice and the March Hare, watch the Cheshire Cat dance, and see the Queen of Hearts play croquet with Alice in the royal courtyard. Like Alice, we will be delighted to find that nothing is the least bit ordinary in Wonderland.

This musical performance of Lewis Carroll's classic tale is unique for the lively music, extraordinary sets and costumes. One set has a 16-foot growing door. The Queen of Heart's costume is one of the tallest puppets at 10-1/2-feet high and 35-feet wide. The puppets and costumes from this production have been displayed in museums in the U.S. and Europe for their artistry. Volunteers from each performance are chosen to be part of the opening act. The volunteers will wear costumes that resemble library books as part of a lead-in to the play.

The Bit's 'N Pieces Puppet Theatre is a not-for-profit and is supported by several art and cultural councils and their audiences. Jerry Bickel, Executive Director and performer, founded Bits 'N Pieces Puppet Theatre in 1976. He has adapted several favorite children's tales and writes the lyrics for each show. Bits 'N Pieces Theatre's objective is to bring to life the magical wonderment of children's fantasy and reinforce the core values emphasized in each of the great stories.

Tickets for this fantasy musical performance of Alice in Wonderland at the Lake Michigan College Mendel Center Mainstage are available by calling (616) 927-1221. Students (kindergarten through college) and senior adults (60 and over) receive a 10-percent discount off single ticket prices. Special group rates are available to parties of 20 or more. These groups receive 15-percent savings on ticket prices. For further information about group rates and special arrangements, call the Group Coordinator at (616) 927-8109. Atlantic Automotive is sponsoring the Alice in Wonderland performance.

The 1,505-seat Mendel Center Mainstage Theater offers state-of-the-art acoustics and comfortable seating in elegant surroundings. Other amenities include free, lighted parking; handicap accessibility (inside and out); an array of special services, and friendly ushers and support personnel.

The Mendel Center is located within 30 minutes of Niles and 40 minutes from Kalamazoo or South Bend. Located on the Napier Avenue campus of Lake Michigan College, the Mendel Center is one mile east of I-94 on Napier Avenue (Exit 30) in Benton Township, Michigan.