The Blitz Cast of Centerstage TheatreWorks’ ‘Alice by Heart.’ (Courtesy photo)

Up in Fairview, just past Allen, CenterStage TheatreWorks (CSTW) is doing its part in providing musical theater to the suburban masses as well as an outlet for theater creatives. The company performs its shows in the summer in a refashioned retail space at Fairview Town Center. For its second summer production, CSTW opened the Duncan Sheik/Steven Sater penned musical Alice by Heart last weekend. What they also did was prove that a drive to Fairview is worth it with a production full of inventive design, a strong cast of diverse fresh faces and an earnest desire to present theater in the area.

From the creators of Spring Awakening along with Waitress co-writer Jessie Nelson, Alice by Heart is a dramatic take on Alice in Wonderland. Set in a London tube or subway bunker in World War II, Alice Spencer and a group of Brits reside in the underground shelter away from the perpetual bombs falling above. Alice has her favorite book and with that, she begins to escape reality by crafting her own Wonderland with those around her while also comforting her sick friend Alfred. With her book destroyed though, she has to fashion the story from memory.

The show was double and for Saturday’s matinee, the Blitz Cast was featured.

The show itself was dynamic visually. The stage was really long because it was essentially one side of a retail shop. Caleb Ross’ set filled the extensive space with a replica of a London subway turned into a shelter. Both colorful and bleak, the stage made an immediate impression that was meticulously detailed. Set pieces by Jason and Scott Rice and Ross were clever constructions that often morphed into a variety of pieces. The moody lighting that was perpetually in motion was an added effect to the show’s entire feel.

Directed by CSTW artistic director Charlotte Taylor, the show moved well through its exposition and musical numbers. With healthy energy in its pacing and its cast, the production was always compelling as each vignette of Alice’s imagination played through. This was helped by outstanding choreography by Sarah Hendricks. For a large cast, she created stunning movement pieces that felt wholly original and poetic.

Chloe Stovall carried the show as Alice with ease. The high school senior asserted her leading character with a strong portrayal of Alice. Never a meek girl, Stovall carried her with empowered resilience. An impressive performance overall, Stovall often shied away from direct eye contact with her scene partners — mostly with Alice’s best friend Alfred. This did take away from the feeling of genuine interactions in a number of touching scenes. Outside of that, Stovall had a distinct presence as the show’s leading lady.

As the frail and sensitive Alfred, Thomas Schnaible was a powerhouse. He had a strong singing voice for starters, but in dramatic moments, he easily delivered a broad range. Alfred translates into Alice’s fantasy as the White Rabbit and later, he also plays the March Hare. His chemistry with Stovall worked quite well (minus the eye-contact thing) and their familiarity felt just like the two had been childhood friends like the characters.

Katie Purdin was notable as the strict Red Cross nurse and then later, she slayed as the Queen of Hearts belting out some healthy notes. She also acted so much with her eyes serving some major side eye. Stepping in from the other cast, Dave Mar was enjoyable as the doctor and later the King of Hearts. Mostly a comic foil for Purdin’s parts, he churned out some dark sides in his Jabberwocky number.

As the Cheshire Cat, Ellie Nunemaker was understated giving contrast to all the flashier characters around her. She served as Alice’s advisor of sorts which gave her performance gravitas. Grace Everett and Audrey Murphy were marvelous as the Caterpillar.

The show had many memorable scenes like the clever caterpillar choreo and the complex staging of “Down the Hole.” The scrim fabric choreography was riveting while Alison Kingwell’s costume was a strong mix of the gritty reality of their situation and the more colorful fantasy world. Sheik and Sater write musical numbers with several voices in harmony and this cast really found that tone with beautiful unison under music director Marquis Xavier McBride’s lead. The transition back and forth from real to not was handled easily by Taylor’s direction and never confusing.

In short, Alice by Heart was a riveting piece of theater, art and music where the cast felt invested in their characters and in the story to bring this adventure delightfully to life.

The show runs through Aug. 18.

–Rich Lopez