The Courthouse Center for the Arts' UNDERLAND Begins Today

The Courthouse Center for the Arts, located in the historic Washington County Courthouse in West Kingston, RI presents their production of "UNDERLAND"a musical by best selling author Jodi Picoult and her son James Van Leer with music by Ellen Wilber. Performances begin today, August 7th, and continue through August 17th on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:00, with matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2:00.

Bringing Underland and its music to life are Courthouse Production Coordinator , Loraine Lesniak, as producer, Director John Faiola and Musical Director Philip Martorella and Gladys Cole as Choreographer. Ms. Lesniak is ,a driving force at the Courthouse and is collaborating with Mr. Faiola and Mr. Martorella for the first time. Mr. Failoa is an area actor making his directorial debut, and Mr. Martorella is a Julliard graduate who currently works in the Rhode Island College music department as well as the RI Philharmonic.

Underland is sponsored by Finn's Harbourside in East Greenwich, RI.

The cast is a lively and very talented ensemble of children from all over Southern New England and under the direction of John Faiola bring great energy to this production.

In Underland, Picout and Van Leer take on subjects facing kids every day: bullying, being different and not fitting in. The story begins at a jr. high school science fair where we meet Clara, who feels like the 'odd-girl out' and is teased for being different by the boy she adores, Alex. In a twist on Alice in Wonderland, Alex shrinks to the size of a small bug and finds himself in Underland, where talking insects are ruled by a domineering Queen Bee who cares little for the bugs she governs. We see how Alex is now treated by the other insects because he is different. Alex is now the 'odd-boy out' until he finds a friend in Anthony, the Queen's Captain of the army ants. Eager to return to his 'large' life and change his former ways, Alex, together with Anthony, devise a plan to escape Underland by playing in the Queen's life and death Spelling Bee. Will they make it? Can Alex convince Clara he has changed? Come see this smart, funny and engaging musical to find out!