Theater Comedy

A LOCAL THEATER WONDERLAND: ‘Alice in Elderland’ Takes a Humorous Look at Growing Older

the Eau Claire Women in Theater production is coming to the Heyde Center for the Arts in Chippewa Falls this February

Parker Reed |

A GOLDEN-AGED QUINTET: The Eau Claire Women in Theater organization is a local organization of theater-loving women keen on performing locally-written material. (Submitted photo)
A GOLDEN-AGED QUINTET: The Eau Claire Women in Theater organization is a local group of theater-loving women keen on performing locally written material. (Submitted photo)

You’d have to be mad not to jump down the rabbit hole and check out this new play.

Alice in Elderland: A Coming of Old-Age Story, a locally written theatrical performance, is coming to the Heyde Center for the Arts at the beginning of February. The production will be presented by Eau Claire Women in Theater and is written by member Debbie Brown.

“Alice in Elderland is a hilarious show,” Heyde Center Executive Director Debra Johnson said. “I laughed so hard the first time I saw it. They’re talking about women going through the aging process, and trying to make sense of it all. Many of them are empty nesters who are trying to find what is next for them in life, so a show like this really hits home for them.”

The theatrical reading is a 60-minute exploration of the delights and dilemmas of aging featuring everyone’s favorite “Wonderland” characters humorously offering advice to the beloved Alice as she enters her golden years.

this is the best live theater event i’ve ever witnessed.

Sandra mckinney

eau claire county BOARD MEMBER

Sandra McKinney, an Eau Claire County Board member, said the production tickled her funny bone and left her feeling comfort in community.

“This is the best live theater event I’ve ever witnessed in my life,” McKinney said after seeing the production in Eau Claire in 2018. “My mother really struggled with aging, so this show is very therapeutic and wonderful.”

Performing in Alice in Elderland are the five women of ecWIT, a quintet of theater-loving women. The production has been running since 2017, with the troupe having to take a few years off due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

Whether you are familiar with Alice in Wonderland, or are finding yourself in the same place as the characters in the production, those who check out this show will surely find themselves in a local theater wonderland. 


Alice in Elderland: A Coming of Old-Age Story, runs from Friday, Feb. 4 to Sunday, Feb. 6 with shows at 2pm Friday, 7:30pm Saturday, and 2pm Sunday. Tickets are $15 for adults, $14 for seniors, and $8 for youth. Tickets are available now at cvca.net