Quaker Valley High School has announced that its 2026 spring musical production will be Alice by Heart. The news was shared with students on Wednesday, August 27, during an after-school meeting. The production will bring a unique and moving story to the Quaker Valley stage this spring.
A new musical inspired by Lewis Carroll’s timeless Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Alice by Heart is set in London during World War II. As bombs fall outside, Alice Spencer encourages her friend Alfred to journey with her into their beloved book for comfort and escape. Through this fantastical world, they confront themes of love, loss, imagination, and the power of stories to carry us through even the darkest times. Written by Steven Sater and Jessie Nelson, with music by Duncan Sheik (Spring Awakening), the show is praised for its poignant storytelling and hauntingly beautiful score.
Alice by Heart opened Off-Broadway in 2019 at the MCC Theater, and was hailed by The New York Times as, "A fantastical, magical mystery tour with ingenuous costumes, Noel Coward-ish wit, and dreamy songs…with echoes of music from Spring Awakening." Due to its themes and content, the production is considered PG-13 and recommended for more mature audiences.
Musical Director Austin Wolford shared his excitement about the production: “Not a lot of people have done it yet. It only came out in 2014–2015. It is very, very new; it was off-Broadway. Last year, they released rights for high schools, so we are among the first to do it.”
Students are equally eager to bring the show to life. Discussing the anticipation of the show’s reveal, senior Violet Muders shared, “I didn’t know what to expect, but I am so excited and can’t wait to get started.”
Muders has previously participated in Quaker Valley’s musicals. “I’m excited to perform the music and can’t wait to see the costumes and choreography,” she said.
Audition information for Quaker Valley High School students is now available, with opportunities for performers, crew members, and musicians to get involved. Vocal auditions will be held after school on Monday, November 17 with dance auditions scheduled from 5:00-7:00 on Wednesday, November 19. Call backs are scheduled for Thursday, November 20 after school. Interested students should contact Mr. Wolford ([email protected]) for audition information and the required Schoology code to join the audition course.
Performances of Alice by Heart will be performed March 12-14, 2026 in the Quaker Valley High School auditorium. Additional details, including ticket information, will be shared later this year. Visit www.qvsd.org/highschoolmusical for the latest updates.