Sights and Sounds: Bringing Wonderland to Life
Wonderland wasn’t built in a day. Go behind the scenes of UNOTheatre’s surreal, student-driven production of "Alice in Wonderland."
- published: 2025/05/16
- contact: Bella Lockwood-Watson - Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
- email: unonews@unomaha.edu
Stop and smell the roses, even if they’re painted! Alice takes a moment mid-madness while a very concerned playing card keeps watch. Photo: Ryan Soderlin, Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications.
“Whooo... are you?” said the Caterpillar, serving flapper elegance, feathered flair, and a swirl of mystery in every puff. Photo: Ryan Soderlin, Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications.
When Wonderland throws a party, everyone shows up in style—feathers, sparkles, sunglasses, and just a hint of chaos. Photo: Ryan Soderlin, Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications.
Curtain call in Wonderland! The cast takes a well-earned bow under technicolor umbrellas, closing the curtain on an unforgettable trip down the rabbit hole. Photo: Ryan Soderlin, Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications.
The magic starts before the curtain rises—wigs fluffed, curls pinned, and one last scroll through the group chat before Wonderland begins.
Long live the Queen of Hearts! It takes a kingdom of hairspray, roses, and precision to get this royal look stage-ready.
Sparkles? Check. Crown? Placed. The White Queen is ready to rule, with grace, glitter, and just a hint of backstage excitement.
Wonderland doesn’t happen by magic alone. It takes warm-ups, wild gestures, and a whole lot of rehearsal room rhythm to make the madness sing.
Every tea party needs a little prep. From thread spools to teapots, backstage becomes Wonderland one prop at a time.
Sequins, steam, and stage light transformed the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s (UNO) Weber Fine Arts Building into something curiouser and curiouser. Down the rabbit hole they went, costume designers, puppet makers, lighting technicians, each one shaping the surreal world of UNOTheatre’s Alice in Wonderland from a dream into a dazzling reality.
What they created is something out of a fever dream, a production packed full of wacky characters, acrobatic dancers, and over-the-top costumes.
The stage has transformed into a surreal landscape of giant toadstools and twisting turrets, while kaleidoscopic lighting cues chase Alice down the rabbit hole.
It’s a portrait of true ensemble work, the kind of collaboration the UNOTheatre Department prides itself on. In Alice in Wonderland, that spirit is on full display.
About the University of Nebraska at Omaha
The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university, committed to innovating for the public good, advancing social mobility, powering workforce development, and serving as a hub for community engagement. Nearly 15,000 Mavericks choose UNO for its hands-on education experiences, nationally ranked online and graduate programs, military-connected student support, and innovative approaches to supporting lifelong learning. UNO holds the Carnegie Research Activity “R2” designation, securing more than $40 million annually in external research funding and counts its faculty among the world’s most cited scholars. Sixteen Omaha Athletics programs compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Summit League and National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC).
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