Who in the world am I? Ah, that’s the great puzzle! asks Alice, finding herself in the enchanted world of Wonderland in Lewis Carroll’s timeless classic, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” first published in England in 1865. The chamber ensemble Art of Elan will team up with Colette Harding Contemporary Dance Company, Philadelphia-based composer Joe Hallman and narrator Dorothy Annette to present “Alice: Re-Imagining Wonderland through Music, Dance, and Spoken Word,” with costumes and sets by Deven P. Brawley and lighting by Chris Plonka. This world premiere event, scheduled for April 16 at 8 p.m. and repeating on April 18 at 2 p.m. at the Museum of Contemporary Art’s Sherwood Auditorium, will attempt to answer Alice’s eternal question in a coming of age story that mixes reality and fantasy with a new twist, and costumes very different from Sir John Tenniel’s original book illustrations. The Art of Elan, now three years old, is a chamber ensemble forged by flutist Demarre Gill and violinist Kate Hatmaker. Gill is a graduate of Julliard and is the principle flutist with the San Diego Symphony. Hatmaker, a graduate of Carnegie Melon, is a violinist with the Symphony and teaches at Coronado School of the Arts. Together, they have sought to re-vitalize interest in classical music by “presenting short colorful energy-packed concerts anyone can relate to.” Their goal: “to develop a loyal following and a trusting relationship with audiences by promising to always put on a great show which is one hour in length.” Composer Joe Hallman, who wrote the score, has been called “One of the most creative forces in the world of music today.” He is currently composer-in-residence at Traverse Arts Project and an adjunct faculty at Drexel University. “This was a fun and challenging project,” Hallman said. “Not only did I have to consider the dance, but the narrative of the story — the drama and the nonsense that are intrinsic to the whole of the piece.” The dance portion of the show was choreographed by Colette Harding of the Colette Harding Contemporary Dance Company, drawing on both the story and Hallman’s music. Harding earned her MFA in dance from UC Irvine where she is trained in both ballet and modern dance. “In our story, Alice is young and carefree, but then lives a crazy journey meeting unusual characters,” Harding said. “She learns from their mistakes and nonsense, and grows into a beautiful, dignified and mature woman.” Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for students. Reserved seating and an invitation to a post concert reception to meet the artists costs $50.
