Education Notebook: Home Link puts spin on ‘Alice in Wonderland’
The Deer Park Home Link drama students will perform “Alice in Wonderland” in the Ken Fisher Theater at Deer Park High School at 2 and 7 p.m. Jan. 17 and 18.
Deer Park’s production differs from the childhood story most know, where Alice follows the White Rabbit down his hole to Wonderland and meets strange and interesting characters before waking up and realizing it was all a dream. In Home Link’s version, the play begins at the home of Alice Liddell, played by Cecilia Moeller, spending the afternoon with her eight sisters: Cheneen Schliep as Elizabeth, Laurel Brown as Gwendolyn, Alysse Moss as Margaret, Katie Fowler as Catherine, Sarah Levering as Charlotte, RaeAnn Knight as Cecily, Reba Carlson as Claire, and Grace Basta as Constance.
The story then moves to the home of Professor Lewis Carroll, played by Andrew Cade, where Alice and her sisters visit Professor Carroll to help him finish a play of his novel “Alice in Wonderland,” written after Alice. Soon, Professor Carroll has a houseful of guests, family and friends to improvise the characters of his play, including Alice’s brothers, William, played by Daniel Olson, and Giles, played by Jacob Brown, the children’s governess Miss Prichett, played by Aurora Carter, his housekeeper Miss O’Malley, played by Rachel DesAutel, his father and mother, played by Justin Schliep and Amber Stastny, and his Great Aunt Eliza, played by Ana Kasbar. Carroll’s students and the children’s friends also join the party to re-enact his story while he scribbles out his screenplay.
A special feature to Deer Park’s performance is the Cheshire Cat, a nine-piece puppet operated by 10 actors. Ben Wilson is the voice of the Cheshire Cat. Other cast members are Dallon Stark, Maddison Knudtson, Liam McNeal, Lindsey Carter, Becca Layman, Lydia Carlson, Olivia Griffin, Melodie McGuire, Amber Stastny, Maddie Knudson and Jacob Hofman.
Tickets are required for the 7 p.m. Saturday performance. Tickets are free, but seating is limited. For information, call Connie at Deer Park Home Link at (509) 468-3350.
Group announces video contest
In collaboration with Spokane Public Schools, People to People Ambassador Programs will sponsor a video contest to award two area students with full travel scholarships for a People to People Ambassador Programs destination of their choice this summer.
Students are encouraged to submit a video of 60 seconds or less, beginning with the phrase “I have a dream.” Videos may be submitted to www.peopleto people.com/ihaveadream. The deadline is Jan. 24.
Teachers receive certification
Teachers in the Spokane Public Schools District recently earned their 2013 National Board certification, joining 516 Washington teachers, making Washington the top state nationwide in the number of new board-certified teachers.
The board-certified teachers are Karen Krantz, Adams Elementary; Brook Cipolla, Audubon Elementary; Kelly Marsh, Cooper Elementary; Kira Attwood, Grant Elementary; Shauna Rehfeld, Holmes Elementary; Lisa Whitt, Linwood Elementary; Tracy Beck, April Bouscal and Jennifer Worley, Regal Elementary; Julie Shigeno, Sheridan Elementary; Kelly Quinn and Leslie Vancil, Stevens Elementary; David Egly, The Community School; Ashley Jones, Ferris High School; and Aaron Brecek, Caroline Dudley, Chris Greenwood, Jennifer Harmer, Jaime McCallum and Joseph Schultheis, Rogers High School.
Also, Ellen Gillespie, Rogers, recently renewed her certification.