Wonderland announces cast

The cast of Wonderland: A New Alice. A New Musical Adventure will star Janet Dacal (In The Heights) as 'Alice', Darren Ritchie (Little Shop of Horrors, Thoroughly Modern Millie) as 'White Knight, Jack/Lewis Carroll', Tituss Burgess (Jersey Boys, Little Mermaid) as 'Caterpillar', Jose Llana (Spelling Bee, Flower Drum Song) as 'El Gato', Karen Mason (Hairspray, Mamma Mia!) as 'Queen of Hearts', Kate Shindle (Legally Blonde, Cabaret, Jekyll and Hyde) as 'Mad Hatter' and Edward Staudenmayer (Spamalot, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me) as 'White Rabbit'.

Directed by Gregory Boyd, with a book by Gregory Boyd and Jack Murphy, lyrics by Jack Murphy, music by Frank Wildhorn and choreography by Marguerite Derricks, Wonderland will open on Broadway at the Marquis Theatre on 17 Apr 2011, following previews from 21 Mar at the Marquis Theatre.

Wonderland will play a pre-Broadway engagement at the Ferguson Hall at the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa, Florida from 4 - 16 2011.

The ensemble includes April Berry, Sae La Chin, Dan Domenech, Mallauri Esquibel, Derek Ferguson, Lauren Lim Jackson, Morgan James, Stefan Raulston, Julius Anthony Rubio and Danny Stiles.

The design team is comprised of Neil Patel (set), Susan Hilferty (costume), Paul Gallo (lighting) and Sven Ortel (video and projection).

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.

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.

Broadway ticket information will be announced soon.

Janet Dacal (Alice) - Dacal recently finished her run with 'In The Heights,' playing the lead as 'Nina Rosario,' after having originated the role of 'Carla' in the original Off-Broadway and Broadway productions. Broadway: 'Good Vibrations.' Off-Broadway: 'Byzantium.'

Darren Ritchie (White Knight, Jack/Lewis Carroll) - Wonderland, is Ritchie's sixth Broadway show. Broadway credits: 'Bells Are Ringing,' 'Les Miserables,' 'Dracula,' 'Little Shop of Horrors' and 'Thoroughly Modern Millie.' National Tours: 'Fame The Musical' and 'Little Shop of Horrors.' Television: "Law & Order SVU," Fox News "Half -Hour News Hour," "Days of Our Lives," "Guiding Light" and starred in the CBS pilot "Stroller Wars," opposite Tiffani Amber Thiessan.

Tituss Burgess (Caterpillar) - Burgess recently starred as 'Nicely-Nicely' in the Broadway revival of 'Guys & Dolls.' Original Broadway casts: 'Sebastian' in Disney's 'The Little Mermaid,' 'Hal Miller' in 'Jersey Boys', 'Eddie' in 'Good Vibrations.' Television: "The View," "The Today Show," "Late Night With David Letterman."

Jose Llana (El Gato) - Llana most recently appeared as 'Adam' in the World Premiere of Joe diPietro's 'Falling For Eve' at the York. Broadway: Original 'Chip Tolentino' in 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,' 'Wang Ta' in 'Flower Drum Song,' 'Angel' in 'Rent,' 'Jessie-Lee' in 'Streetcorner Symphony,' and 'Lun Tha' in 'The King and I.' Off-Broadway: 'Gabey' in 'On the Town' and Adam Guettel's 'Saturn Returns,' both at The Public Theater. TV/film: "Sex and the City" and "Hitch."

Karen Mason (Queen of Hearts) - Mason's Broadway credits: 'Hairspray,' 'Mamma Mia!,' 'Sunset Boulevard', 'Jerome Robbins' Broadway,' and 'Torch Song Trilogy.' Off-Broadway: Kander and Ebb's 'And the World Goes Round,' 'Carnival,' 'Karen Mason Sings Broadway,' 'Beatles and Brian.' TV: "Law & Order" and "Law & Order SVU."

Kate Shindle (Mad Hatter) - Shindle Broadway credits: 'Legally Blonde' (Vivienne), 'Cabaret' (Sally Bowles) and 'Jekyll and Hyde' (Lucy). Film/TV: "Gossip Girl," "White Collar," "Capote," "The Stepford Wives."

Edward Staudenmayer (White Rabbit) - Staudenmayer starred in 'Monty Python's Spamalot' in Las Vegas and played opposite Martin Short for many performances in 'Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me' on Broadway. He's had an over 17 year association with Forbidden Broadway taking him Off-Broadway, around the world, and onto three cast recordings. He has toured in 'Beauty and the Beast,' 'Joseph...,' and 'The Scarlet Pimpernel.'