Show: WONDERLAND
Theater: Playful Theatre Productions at Kelsey Theatre at Mercer
Theater Website: https://audition.projectcallback.com/audition/50
Theater Phone: (609) 570-3333
Start date of auditions: 06/06/2026
Music by Frank Wildhorn; Lyrics by Jack Murphy; Book by Jack Murphy and Gregory Boyd
Featuring characters from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There, by Lewis Carroll
COMPANY NAME / INFO:
Produced by Playful Theatre Productions
Directed by Frank Ferrara; Musical Direction by Shannon Ferrara; Choreography by Joan Schubin
Playful Theatre Productions and Kelsey Theatre are committed to advancing an environment of diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. We aim to foster an inclusive environment for people of all races, genders, religions, sexual orientations, creeds, socio-economic statuses, nationalities and abilities.
ABOUT THE SHOW:
Playful Theatre Productions is excited to announce open auditions for the New Jersey premiere of Frank Wildhorn, Jack Murphy, and Gregory Boyd’s musical Wonderland, which will open the Kelsey Theatre season on September 18, 2026!
Wonderland tells a new story set in the world of Lewis Carroll’s novels, in which Alice – now an adult with a child of her own – is drawn back into a Wonderland in which nothing is not unchanged and everything isn’t not the same as she remembers.
All roles are open. In keeping with the spirit of Wonderland, every role is open to any actor, entirely regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity or presentation, or body type. If you can sing it and act it, we want to see your audition. Details on the available roles are below!
AUDITION DATES & TIMES:
For young actors (roles of Chloe and The Girl only, age <16)
Saturday, June 6, 11 am – 2 pm
For adult actors (all other roles, age 16+)
Wednesday, June 10, 7-10 pm
Thursday, June 11, 7-10 pm
Callbacks (by invitation)
Saturday, June 13
If you are unable to attend a scheduled audition date, we are happy to accept virtual auditions. Please see below for additional details.
Auditions will be held on the Mercer County Community College (MCCC) West Windsor Campus. Check the Kelsey Theatre sign board for a room location on the day of your audition. MCCC is located at 1200 Old Trenton Rd, West Windsor NJ 08550.
PERFORMANCE DATES:
Fridays, September 18 & 25 – 8:00PM
Saturday, September 19 – 8:00PM
Saturday, September 26 – 2:00PM
Sundays, September 20 & 27 – 2:00PM
APPOINTMENTS AND QUESTIONS:
In order to minimize wait times, audition appointments are very strongly recommended. To schedule an appointment, please visit the audition website: https://audition.projectcallback.com/audition/50
PLEASE NOTE: In order to increase efficiency and reduce paper waste, Playful is utilizing a new system for audition appointment registration; you can upload your headshot and resume, and enter all of your information, through the site rather than at the time of the audition. If you encounter any difficulty using this system, have any questions or concerns, please contact director Frank Ferrara at frankcferrara@gmail.com.
If you are interested in auditioning but are not available for any of the audition dates, we are happy to accept virtual (video) auditions. Please contact the director at the email address above for details.
PREPARE:
Actors are asked to prepare approximately two minutes of singing (a song from musical theatre is very strongly preferred), and to bring sheet music in the desired key. An audition accompanist will be provided. Given the musical demands of the show, a cappella auditions cannot be considered.
All actors (including young and adult actors) should be prepared to learn and perform a brief dance combination at their initial audition; the entire audition process should take about 60 minutes.
Actors are also asked to bring (or upload to the registration site) a full list of recurring or one-time rehearsal conflicts. We are happy to construct the rehearsal schedule around reasonable conflicts.
SEEKING:
The cast will consist of approximately 13 adult (age 16 and up) actors, all playing a multitude of characters, and 2 younger actors to play Chloe and The Girl (as described below). All roles are otherwise open to any actor (please note that gender presentations and ages, when listed, are those of the character and not necessarily the actor who plays them).
SPECIAL NOTE: The role of the Cheshire Cat will be split among 2 actors, who will also play other roles throughout the show.
CHARACTER INFORMATION:
ADULTS
Alice (presents F, 25-40) – Once a dreamer, now miles away from Wonderland, Alice is driven and creative, quick witted, and frankly a little annoyed much of the time. Need an excellent singer and actor with a strong high belt.
The Mad Hatter (presents F, 25-40) – The villain. She is a demon of ambition: brilliant, ambitious, and, you know, mad. Must be an outstanding singer with a stratospheric belt but excellent vocal control.
The Knight (presents M, 25-40) – A would-be hero with limited real-world experience. Wide-eyed and sincere. Warm, high baritone.
The Queen of Hearts (any) – The ruler of Wonderland, chaos personified. Charismatic but easily manipulated. Old-school Broadway sound.
The Cheshire Cat I (presents M, any age) – A mercurial rockstar. Need a strong high tenor who moves very well.
The Cheshire Cat II (any) – A mercurial rockstar, part 2. For this iteration of the cat, need a strong dancer with a solid voice (but not necessarily the higher range of the other).
Morris (presents M, any age) – The March Hare, a literal mad scientist. Strong high tenor with rock influence.
The White Rabbit (any) – A fussy, frantic, panicked librarian. Mid-range singer (baritone or mezzo) with a strong character voice when needed.
The Caterpillar (any) – Calm, relaxed; a self-professed font of cookie cutter wisdom. Need a dynamic funk singer comfortable with vocal improvisation.
ROLES FOR YOUNGER ACTORS
Chloe (presents F, age ~10-14) – Alice’s daughter, reserved and full of curiosity. Need a strong, clear natural singing voice.
The Girl (presents F, age ~10-14) – a mysterious visitor. Appears only once, but is a critical piece of the show. Need a strong singer with a good medium belt.
THE ENSEMBLE
The Wonderland ensemble will consist of four actors performing all of the remaining roles, including but not limited to Walruses, Carpenters, Humpties Dumpty, Tweedledee and dum, Caterpillar legs, knights, playing cards, and card players. These roles will all include solo singing and/or dialogue, as well as significant featured dancing. Need versatile performers who dance very well and can hold harmonies.
REHEARSALS:
Rehearsals will be planned around the schedules of the actors who accept roles in the show. In general, there will be two weekday evening rehearsals and one weekend afternoon rehearsal each week, beginning in late June or early July and continuing until tech week in mid-September.
