For print release Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Contact:
Broadway:  Adrian Bryan-Brown/Susanne Tighe

Tampa:
David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts
Michael Kilgore, vice president of marketing
michael.kilgore@strazcenter.org
or Paul Bilyeu, director of public relations
paul.bilyeu@strazcenter.org

WONDERLAND:
A New Alice.  A New Musical Adventure.

Book by Gregory Boyd and Jack Murphy
Lyrics by Jack Murphy
Music by Frank Wildhorn
Directed by Gregory Boyd
Choreographed by Marguerite Derricks

TO OPEN ON BROADWAY
APRIL 17, 2011
PREVIEWS BEGIN MARCH 21
AT A NEDERLANDER THEATRE TO BE ANNOUNCED

FOLLOWING PRE-BROADWAY ENGAGEMENT AT
THE DAVID A. STRAZ, JR. CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
JANUARY 4 THROUGH JANUARY 16, 2011

WONDERLAND:  A New Alice.  A New Musical Adventure will open on Broadway Sunday, April 17, 2011 and performances will begin Monday, March 21, at a Nederlander theatre to be announced.  The musical will be directed by Gregory Boyd, the artistic director of the Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas, with a book by Gregory Boyd and Jack Murphy (The Civil War –Tony nomination) and lyrics by Jack Murphy, music by Frank Wildhorn (Jekyll & Hyde – Grammy nomination, The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Civil War – Tony nomination, Dracula, Victor/Victoria) and choreography by Marguerite Derricks (Fame, Emmy Awards for "3rd Rock From The Sun" and "Fame LA").  WONDERLAND:  A New Alice.  A New Musical Adventure will play a pre-Broadway engagement at the Ferguson Hall at the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts (Judy Lisi, President and CEO) in Tampa, Florida January 4 through January 16, 2011. 

WONDERLAND is the first production of the Broadway Genesis Project, an initiative by the Straz Center for the Performing Arts to develop and prepare new musical theater for Broadway. From a show’s inception to final staging, the Project provides a safe and nourishing environment in a state-of-the-art complex with artistic, technical and administrative resources.

After Frank Wildhorn conceived WONDERLAND, it was optioned by Judy Lisi, CEO of the Straz Center, and was subsequently produced as its world premiere at the David A. Straz, Jr.  Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa, FL this past December.  It then transferred to the Alley Theatre in Houston, TX in January, 2010 for further development, becoming the highest grossing show in the history of the Alley Theatre.

In this new musical featuring a new score, WONDERLAND is a story about a new Alice who has lost her joy in life. Estranged from her husband, alienated from her daughter and in danger of losing her career, Alice finds herself in Wonderland where she encounters strange though familiar characters that help her rediscover the wonder in her life while searching for her daughter.

WONDERLAND will be produced on Broadway by the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts (Judy Lisi, President and CEO), William Franzblau and Nederlander Presentations, Inc. 

“I am at a point in my life where I want to stay in love with the things I fell in love with.  The process of creating WONDERLAND with my extraordinary producers and collaborators has shown me the magic of fun is not just for the young.  Being part of the Straz Center’s invaluable Broadway Genesis Project was an exciting and rewarding experience," said composer Frank Wildhorn.

Producers Judy Lisi, President and CEO of the David A. Straz, Jr. Center and William Franzblau said "Alice’s story is one that has always resonated with us - whether reading it when we were children or now as adults.  With WONDERLAND, our creative team has developed a Broadway musical that tells the story of a contemporary woman attempting to maintain her career as well as keeping her family together and not doing well with either.  At her breaking point she escapes into the world of Wonderland where she finds out who she really is and what's important in life."

The cast, design team and Broadway ticket information will be announced soon.

Tampa Ticket Information:
Starting Aug. 15, tickets for WONDERLAND:  A New Alice.  A New Musical Adventure may be purchased by calling 813.229.STAR (7827) or 800.955.1045 outside Tampa Bay, in person at the Straz Center Ticket Office or online at www.strazcenter.org

For more information about the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts and its upcoming events, please visit www.strazcenter.org

The WONDERLAND Concept CD is available through ITUNES from SONY Masterworks.

For more information, log on to www.WonderlandOnBroadway.com