Young performers shine in Griffiths Middle School’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’ adaptation
Courtesy photo
DOWNEY – Last month, Griffiths Middle School’s sixth grade Drama Club presented two performances of Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865), adapted by William Glennon as Adventure Through Wonderland. The production featured an enthusiastic cast of 18 students.
Griffiths was recently recognized as a California Distinguished School. It is impressive that in Downey Unified School District, students have the opportunity to participate in theater at such a young age.
Natalie Knox is the energetic and creative teacher behind the sixth grade drama program. She has taught for 17 years, primarily in English, at various schools. For 12 of those years, she has also taught drama, including creative writing, screenwriting and English at the Orange County School of the Arts. The past two years, she has been at Griffiths.
Not every sixth grader is able to take drama as an elective, as some are enrolled in programs such as AVID. To expand access, Knox created an after-school Drama Club open to all sixth graders, allowing any interested student to join, audition and rehearse.
At Knox’s initiative, Griffiths’ Room 92 has been converted into an intimate studio theater. Seating about 85, it provides an ideal setting for students, many of whom are experiencing theater for the first time.
Knox further adapted the play by simplifying complex scenes and adding three narrators — Vivian Charlton, Andrew Perez and Darla Topete — to guide the audience through the story. The production emphasizes storytelling and imagination over elaborate sets.
It is a reminder of why it is called a play and why these young performers are called players.
From the frantic scurrying of the White Rabbit to the boisterous Mad Tea Party, the wacky antics of the Cook and the dramatic courtroom scene with the Queen of Hearts, it was clear every student was fully immersed in these iconic roles.
Their enthusiasm was contagious, filling the theater with a sense of whimsical fun. The production became not just a play, but a celebration of creativity and teamwork that left the audience smiling.
Alice, played by Clover Curtice, encounters a host of familiar characters, including the White Rabbit (Penelope Pepper DeAlba), who leads her down the rabbit hole, and the Cheshire Cat (Emma De La Torre), who offers cryptic advice.
Along the way, she meets the Mouse (Ashley Solano), the Fish Footman (Bella Gonzales-Meza), the Duchess (Heilee Castell) and the Cook (Guillianna Scebba).
At a lively tea party, Alice meets the Mad Hatter (Vivian Charlton), the March Hare (Hendrick Gudino) and the Dormouse (Natalia Scebba).
The story culminates in a trial where Alice is declared guilty by the Queen of Hearts (Claire Inchizu) and her court, including the King of Hearts (Andrew Perez), the Knaves of Hearts (Martin Rangel and Bella Gonzales-Meza), the Mock Turtle (Darla Topete), the Gryphon (Ashley Solano), the Playing Cards (Andrea Martinez and Jason Navarrete) and the puppeteering jury (Natalie Scebba, Heilee Castellon and Mary Jo Pimentel).
Vice Principal Jason Quimby, along with art, design and media teacher Mr. Plant, designed and constructed the stage, flats and black boxes. Downey Unified’s Edwin Recinos handled lighting and sound design. Robert Knox assisted with set design, painting and props.
The eighth grade “Scholarship Members” production crew provided technical support, including lighting (Aubrey Estrada), microphones and sound (Marbella Magana), sound support (Rolan Gutierrez), assistant stage manager (Logan De Alba) and stage manager (Dahlia Meza).
Beyond the performance, the experience offers students far more than a stage production. It helps build confidence, literacy, communication skills, discipline and empathy, while introducing them to literature. Through teamwork and collaboration, students learn to overcome challenges.
The true value of the play lies in the empowerment and sense of community it creates. Kudos to the adults who made this possible. The audience is already looking forward to what these young performers will do next.