Alice By Heart closed last night at the MCC Theater in NYC. It’s an off-Broadway show with a book by Steven Sater and Jessie Nelson and music from Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik, the Tony and Grammy award winning duo behind Spring Awakening. Un-Block The Music just saw this show which is nominated for Lortel Awards. If you aren’t familiar with the Lortel Awards, they recognize excellence in New York Off-Broadway theatre.
Alice By Heart was inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The story is sad. It’s about war and the loss of a first love. However, it reminds us that imagination is a gift in the best of times, and in the worst of times. Not surprisingly, the music of Sater and Sheik are a gift as well. Heath Saunders (Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, Jesus Christ Superstar) is nominated for outstanding featured actor in a musical and, well, he makes your face melt when he hits those notes. Stunning! And, keep your ears and eyes open for Colton Ryan (Dear Evan Hansen). I predict he is going to do even more amazing things. Wow.
While the show closed last night, I suspect it is not the last you will hear about it. You can check out the Song “Afternoon” sung by Colton and Molly Gordon (Sweeney Todd at Lincoln Center).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4-DKbBWPek
In addition to Heath, other Lortel nominations include Rick and Jeff Kuperman for choreography and Paloma Young for costumes.
Winners of the Lortel Awards will be announced May 5, 2019 at NYU Skirball Center For Performing Arts.
Un-Block The Music 