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Alice In Wonderland

March 10, 2012 by · Comments Off on Alice In Wonderland 

Alice In Wonderland, Before Alice falls into the rabbit hole in “Alice in Wonderland,” she imagines, “If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn’t… you see?”

In their largest production ever, Austintown Middle School’s Drama Club brought Alice’s nonsensical world to life with their performances of “Alice in Wonderland” on March 1-3.

The production closely followed Lewis Carroll’s 1865 novel and the 1951 animated Disney interpretation, finding Alice daydreaming at the bank of a river before spotting a white rabbit she decides to follow. She then finds herself in topsy-turvy Wonderland, where she meets characters like the Queen of Hearts, Mad Hatter and Tweedledum and Tweedledee.

Although the plot was familiar, the creativity of the drama department and AMS students transformed the play into a one-of-a-kind production.

Director Ron Johnson added songs from the ’60s and ’70s into the production, including hits by Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney and Wings, Steppenwolf, and Jefferson Starship. Talented pianist and Queen of Hearts, Sabrina Segretario, tickled the ivories in a scene that had the cast and audience dancing.

“This production is a much bigger scope than anything we have tried before. Last year’s production of Snow White included 32 cast and crew, and this year, we’ve grown to 82. We got a lot bigger and a lot more creative with ‘Alice,'” said Johnson.

The set included a painted backdrop and creatively fabricated sets, including a perch for the Cheshire Cat and Caterpillar surrounded by foam mushrooms. Impressive costuming included a glowing Toniann Minardi, whose Cheshire Cat costume was weaved with tube black lights.

As the production ended, Johnson was already looking forward to the future of AMS Drama.

Helena Bonham Carter

February 22, 2012 by · Comments Off on Helena Bonham Carter 

Helena Bonham Carter, Helena Bonham Carter received her Cbe from the Queen today (February 22, 2012). The King’s Speech actress was awarded the honour for her services to drama and according to the Daily Mail, described the day as “very, very special.” Helena wore a tartan Vivienne Westwood outfit for the occasion, topped off with a miniature top hat. She attended the ceremony with her husband, the director Tim Burton.

Helena Bonham Carter made her name as an actress initially by starring in a number of Merchant Ivory films and became known as something of an ‘English Rose.’ In later years, she has starred in a number of her husband’s films, often alongside another of Burton’s favourite actors, Johnny Depp, such as Alice in Wonderland, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Big Fish. Bonham-Carter has twice been nominated for an Oscar in her career, once last year for her role in The King’s Speech and in in 1998 for her role in The Wings of a Dove.

Helena Bonham Carter

December 31, 2011 by · Comments Off on Helena Bonham Carter 

Helena Bonham CarterHelena Bonham Carter, Actress Helena Bonham Carter and comic Ronnie Corbett are among the stars of the entertainment world named CBEs in the annual New Year Honours list. Music producer Steve Lillywhite, who has worked on records by the likes of U2, Morrissey and Peter Gabriel, was also named a CBE, along with broadcaster Clive James.

TV personalities Lorraine Kelly and Stuart Hall are among the other high profile names on the list, along with actor David Harewood, London Roundhouse artistic director Marcus Davey and Sky News special correspondent Alex Crawford.

Poet Geoffrey Hill, TV mogul Peter Bazalgette and Royal Opera House music director Antonio Pappano all become knights, while author Penelope Lively is made a dame.

Speaking about the gong, Bonham Carter said that although she was thrilled, she wasn’t sure if she deserved it. She added:
I always thought my father deserved a medal for facing 25 years of chronic disability with quiet daily heroism, so I am delighted to accept such a wonderful honour in his memory.

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