LIC gallery offers a modern take on classic Alice
BY TAMMY SCILEPPI
Forget everything you knew
about Alice and her psychedelic
trip to Wonderland.
A new Alice is coming to
Long Island City and she’s
an artist.
And you can be a part of
her creative adventures in
the upcoming production
of “PAINTED ALICE” (by
William Donnelly and Michael
Mahler), when this quirky
musical adaptation of Alice In
Wonderland (for adults) hits
The Plaxall Gallery (5-25 46
Ave.). Shows will run at 8 pm
from April 19 to April 28.
Alice struggles to balance
her artistic work and love
life. As she distances herself
from her partner, so she can
better focus on her passion
and find her creative flow,
she accidentally falls through
her canvas into a visual,
art-inspired wonderland. In
this strange world rife with
self-indulgent artists, Alice
meets a variety of outrageous
characters that challenge
her idea of success and help
her answer the question,
“Does domestic bliss cause
artistic death?”
This immersive live
theater experience is made
possible thanks to a unique
collaboration: Long Island
City Artists, Inc. in association
with Broadway producer
Greg Schaffert (Tony Awardwinning
“Peter And The
Starcatcher”), and Broadway
director Jenn Rapp (“The
Illusionist”) with musical
direction by Conor Keelan
(Broadway’s “A Bronx Tale”).
As well as playing Alice,
co-producer Tana Sirois also
works as the Performing
Arts Director at The
Plaxall Gallery.
“It’s our mission to foster
new, exciting, off-beat work,
and I’m thrilled to have the
chance to produce such a
fantastic (and hysterical)
play,” Sirois said. “A large
part of this show takes place
in an art gallery, so we have
an amazing opportunity to do
site-specific work in a very
cool, non-traditional venue.
Since it has many sensory
elements, the audience will
have the opportunity to taste/
smell/listen to the visual art
show, as well as contribute to
the exhibition with some of
their own artwork that will be
created during the show.
So, why Is Broadway talent
working in LIC on a low-budget
musical at an untraditional
venue?
As it happens, co-producer
Schaffert’s wife, Eileen Coyne,
is a member of LICArtists. She
paints in the gallery and they
live in the area. When he told
Sirois and her team about his
idea for an original musical
that would be perfect for the
gallery, they gave it a big
thumbs up.
“This development
production allows the writer
and creative team a chance to
see the show on its feet in front
of a paying audience. They will
tell us what works and what
doesn’t. It was an opportunity
not to pass up,” Schaffert said.
“I’ve known the
playwright, Bill Donnelly, for
almost 20 years. ‘PAINTED
ALICE’ started as a play that
I produced in Wash DC. It was
also produced in Kansas City.
Seven years later we turned
it into a musical with Michael
Mahler writing the score.
They are a perfect match and
the show took on a new life. It
was meant to be a musical.”
When you see the play
you’ll find that it echoes
some contemporary realities
that artists and others can
relate to.
“PAINTED ALICE” asks
these questions: What does
it take to be an artist? What
do you sacrifice? What do
you gain? “Being an artist is
hard, whether it’s today or
thousands of years ago. There
is always the struggle to make
a living, find a place to do your
work, and find inspiration,”
Schaffert said. “There are no
correct answers.”
Director/choreographer
Jenn Rapp, an Astorian who
rides a Citibike to work every
day, said she’s excited about
doing a show about artists in
an art gallery, “creating art
amongst art.”
“The gallery space is
inspiring: no rules, no
preconceived notions, everchanging
perspectives and
those concepts are a big part
of what this musical is about,”
she explained.
And, re. the play’s message,
she added: “We all struggle
with finding our authentic
self in a never-ending sea of
outside influences. Everyone,
in their own way, wants
to have love and to love, to
feel understood.
Performances: Fridays,
Saturdays & Sundays at 8 pm,
April 19 – 28. Tickets: www.
licartists.org.
DRINK ME, TASTE ME
will be on view April 11
through May 12. Gallery hours:
Thursdays, 6 – 10 pm, Saturdays
and Sundays, 12 – 6 pm.
CATERING MENU
Buffet Menu Sit Down Dinner
Minimum 40 Guests 3 Hour Function
(Mon.-Sat. 12-3pm or 1-4pm)
Assorted Breads & Rolls
All Unlimited
Large Tossed Salad
Fresh Cooked Turkey and Roast Beef Platter
Potato & Macaroni Salad
Choice of Five Main Dishes
Baked Ziti �� Penne a la Vodka �� Chicken Marsala
Sausage & Peppers �� Eggplant Rollatini
Meatballs �� Chicken Francese �� Shepherd’s Pie
Minimum 25 Guests 3 Hour Function
(Mon.-Sun. 5-10pm)
Assorted Breads & Rolls
House Salad
Choice of Three Main Dishes
Served with Potato & Vegetables
Broiled Filet of Sole �� Chicken Marsala
Penne a la Vodka �� Shrimp Scampi
Chicken Francese �� Spinach Ravioli
Shepherd’s Pie �� 16 oz. Black Angus Certifi ed
Shell Steak $4 extra / per person
�� Buff et Only...........................................................$18.95/pp
�� Dinner with Soft Drinks...................................$21.95/pp
�� Dinner w/ Domestic Tap Beer, Wine & Soda...$23.95/pp
�� Dinner w/ Mixed Drinks, Domestic Beer
(Bottle & Tap) Wine & Soda..............................$26.95/pp
�� Dinner w/ Top Shelf Liquors, Imported &
Domestic Beer (Bottle & Tap), Wine & Soda...$37.95/pp
�� Dinner w/ Domestic Tap Beer, Wine & Soda..$24.95/pp
�� Dinner w/ Mixed Drinks, Domestic Beer
(Bottle & Tap) Wine & Soda................................$27.95/pp
�� Dinner w/ Top Shelf Liquors, Imported &
Domestic Beer (Bottle & Tap), Wine & Soda...$37.95/pp
FRESH COFFEE, BREWED DECAF & TEAS
DESSERT
Chocolate Truffl e Cake
214-22 41st Ave., Bayside, NY 11361 �� 718-224-9898 �� maggiemaysbayside.com
TIMESLEDGER,34 APR. 12-18, 2019 QNS.COM
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