Chad Lundquist/Nevada Appeal Fritz Filson, portraying the March Hare, and Mariah Terjo as Alice rehearse a scene from "Alice in Wonderland" Wednesday at the Children's Museum of Northern Nevada.
Several months ago, Dianna Lightfeather was cleaning out some old books when she came across a script for "Alice in Wonderland."
Lightfeather, a teacher's assistant at the Carson Montessori School, decided to bring the play back to life as a joint production with the Sierra Crest Academy in Minden.
"I thought that both schools needed promoting and have the opportunity to know more about each other, plus I thought it was important for the kids to be exposed to more of the arts," Lightfeather said.
The Montessori School is a charter school sponsored by the Carson City School District. Sierra Crest Academy is a project-based learning charter school, sponsored through the Douglas County School District.
The play includes 37 students from the two schools, including six girls to portray the lead character.
"It's just too big a part for one girl, so we had to divide it up," Lightfeather said.
Even though this is her first time directing a play, Lightfeather said she felt confident because she watched and learned from some good teachers.
"I've watched the Wild Horse Theater Company and I just did everything they did. There's no need to reinvent the wheel, when they already know what they are doing," Lightfeather said.
Yet even after observing, the most challenging thing wasn't the cast, it was everything else.
"Figuring out all of the technical stuff, that was the hardest part," Lightfeather said. "All the little details that come up right at the end. I thought it was just getting the kids to say their lines, but it is more than that.
"It's how do they stand, where do they move and what sound effects have to go with it. That's the difficult part."
While her focus is on getting the production ready for opening night, Lightfeather said she is considering making a play an annual tradition.
"We were thinking about a spoof on 'Pirates of the Caribbean' and 'Black Beard,' which we'd call 'Pirates of the Corn and Beans,'" Lightfeather said.
• Contact reporter Jarid Shipley at jshipley@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.
If you go
What: "Alice in Wonderland" presented by Carson Montessori School and Sierra Crest Academy
When: 5:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday
Where: Children's Museum of Northern Nevada, 813 N. Carson St.
Cost: $3 per person
Call: 846-5488