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The San Benito Stage Company is set to transport audiences into a whimsical world with its latest production, Alice in Wonderland Jr., a youth-driven performance that highlights both creativity and resilience during a period of transition for the organization.
Shannon Thiessen, producer of the show, and vice president and board member for the company, said the production offers a unique and heartfelt experience for the community.
“It’s definitely going to be a very heartwarming, whimsical, fun experience,” Thiessen said. “We are obviously doing the Disney rendition of Alice in Wonderland, but we also have our own artistic view on it with costuming and all of that. Also, it’s just the magic of children being in theater—you never know what to expect, but it’s great.”
Alice in Wonderland Jr. opens May 1 and runs through May 16 at the Granada Theater in Hollister.
While rehearsing the production, the company had to relocate, which brought both challenges and unexpected growth.
That meant preparing the show in a small warehouse space, then moving into the theater. The experience required the cast and crew to adapt on the fly.
“The rehearsals have been going great,” Thiessen said. “We’ve been working through some of the snags, but we became closer because of it. When you have 37 kids all doing a dance number, it becomes a little crowded. We had to go outside into the parking lot sometimes, but the kids were really good.”
The play itself was selected well in advance, she said, part of the company’s long-term planning.
“We tend to pick our shows one to two years out,” Thiessen said. “We always know that Disney is going to be a big sell. We try to look at what’s happening in our community and pick something that maybe hasn’t been done in a while.”
Beyond entertainment, she said the production reflects a broader mission to create opportunities for local youth.
“I think Hollister is in desperate need of things for kids,” Thiessen said. “We do have sports, but it gets so competitive. There’s not a whole lot for kids that maybe aren’t super athletic. I think it’s really important for our youth in this community.”
Bella Prac plays Rose, one of the flower characters in the “Golden Afternoon” ensemble, and said the experience has been both exciting and meaningful.
“It’s really fun being in this play,” she said. “This is my ninth production. I know almost all the cast, and it’s just really fun. Everybody’s super amazing and talented.”
She said the move into the new performance space brought a noticeable shift in energy.
“I think the most exciting part is moving into the Granada. It’s like an actual theater. It’s really awesome.”
San Benito Stage is returning to the Granada Theater after several years away and the move is seen as a trial run, as the company works to rebuild relationships with venues to establish a more permanent home, Thiessen said.
For Thiessen, one of the most rewarding aspects of this season has been seeing former participants return in leadership roles.
“Our director and vocal director—I knew them when they were really young kids,” Thiessen said. “Theater is a big family, and to see them come back is amazing.”
Ultimately, she said, the goal of Alice in Wonderland Jr. is simple: to bring joy.
“The world right now is a little heavy,” Thiessen said. “I hope audiences leave with a little joy in their heart, a smile that continues throughout the day, and a little bit of wonder from Wonderland.”
San Benito Stage Company presents Alice in Wonderland Jr. at the Granada Theater, 338 Fifth St., Hollister. Performances are May 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16. Evening shows are at 7 p.m., with matinee shows at 1 p.m. on May 2 and May 16. The production runs 45 to 60 minutes without an intermission.
Tickets are available online at https://www.sanbenitostage.org/tickets.
The BenitoLink Internship Program is a paid, skill-building program that prepares local youth for a professional career. This program is supported by the Monterey Peninsula Foundation AT&T Golf Tour and Taylor Farms.
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