About

About Alicia and the White Rabbit

Alicia and the White Rabbit is a text-based children's video game opera by award-winning composer Sabrina Peña Young.

This is an interactive opera. 

Users can choose the fate of Alicia and her friends, listen to music from the opera, and even play along with the sheet music!

This is a work in progress that will be continued throughout 2016-2017. The composer hopes that this unique presentation of opera will be an 

interesting discovery for children, students, and educators.

Gameplay is simple, as well as the music, making this a very accessible introduction to opera for anyone.

Please continue to visit the site as it is being updated.

Enjoy! 

OPERA SYNOPSIS

In the late 21st century Nueva York, young ALICIA lives with her ill ABUELA in the barrio. Overhearing a conversation between ABUELA and the SOCIAL WORKER from Longheart Manor foster home, ALICIA learns ABUELA cannot care for her. Unless ALICIA’s missing FATHER (WHITE RABBIT) takes her in, ALICIA will go to the terrible Longheart Manor. Terrified, ALICIA runs away, hiding in the sewers but falls down a deep underground hole. When she awakes ALICIA is surrounded by strange beings (CHOIR) and a mysterious but familiar WHITE RABBIT. Together they fight the evil QUEEN OF BROKEN HEARTS (SOCIAL WORKER). Inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Adventures of Alice in Wonderland, the opera explores family challenges with a distinct Latino flavor.

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

Inspired by Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderful (Public Domain since 1907). Original libretto written by the composer. Attached file from British Library "Alice's Adventures Underground", original manuscript, c. 1862. Has since fallen into the public domain. Full Link (https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/alices-adventures-under-ground-the-original-manuscript-version-of-alices-adventures-in-wonderland).

OPERA OVERVIEW

ACT I The Stranger at the Door:

Scene 1 In the late 21^st century, the young ALICIA is playing soccer with her friend MANOLO in the streets of Nueva York, outside of her ABUELA’s house when a mysterious stranger appears at the door. It is the SOCIAL WORKER from the Long Heart Manor Children’s Home, a sad place for unwanted children. Curious, ALICIA overhears their conversation, finding out that her ABUELA is dying and cannot care for ALICIA. The SOCIAL WORKER will have to take ALICIA to the Longheart Manor if they cannot locate her missing FATHER.

Scene 2 the CHILDREN of Longheart Manor sing of their plight.

Scene 3 After the SOCIAL WORKER has left, ABUELA is ill. ALICIA sings a goodnight duet with her ABUELA then steals away into the night.

ACT II The Tunnels:

Scene 1 ALICIA runs away to the underground sewers of Nueva York. She trips and falls, hitting her head.

Scene 2 When she awakens, she finds a mysterious, yet familiar, WHITE RABBIT. He is on his way to fight the evil QUEEN OF BROKEN HEARTS, but he needs ALICIA’s help.

Scene 3: ALICIA decides to follow the WHITE RABBIT deep into the tunnels, discovering an haunting society of misfits and strange creatures.

ACT III The White Rabbit Fights the Evil Queen:

Scene 1: After building a small band of misfits that includes talking animals and cyborgs, ALICIA and the WHITE RABBIT head to the cavern of the QUEEN OF BROKEN HEARTS.

Scene 2: A great battle ensues between the powerful QUEEN and the WHITE RABBIT. ALICIA tries to help, but finds that she is too scared.

Scene 3: The QUEEN threatens to trap ALICIA in the sewers forever, but in the last minute the WHITE RABBIT offers to stay the QUEEN’s captive instead. ALICIA is free to go home. ALICIA does now want to leave the WHITE RABBIT behind, but he assures her everything will be alright.

ACT IV: Home

ALICIA wakes up and finds herself in her own bed. Was the entire adventure a dream? ABUELA explains how ALICIA was found in the sewers. They sing a song of joy together. As they sing, a familiar voice joins them. Is it the WHITE RABBIT? ALICIA turns to the door, where her missing FATHER stands. Now the family will never be separated again.