The theater department is kicking off its 2025-2026 season with an unusual twist: two students cast in the leading role.

Alice, an adaptation of the 1865 novel Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, will debut next month with Averie Dupuy and Ever Whittinghill as the title character.

But they aren’t the only characters with double actors.

The show will be double cast, with an A cast and a B Cast, said Mr. Walker, the theater teacher.

And some, like the Cheshire Cat, will be played by three actors.

Mr. Walker said the goal is to give more students a chance to perform.

“I want to make sure that we are having more opportunities for everyone to be involved in the show and take on different roles,” he said.

Mr. Walker said his vision for the show is to feel like it’s the first day at a new school. Each character plays a specific role in that concept.

For example, Alice, is the new girl in a new school. Other characters like the Mad Hatter and March Hare act as the “mean girls” clique.

Mr. Walker said rehearsals for both casts will take place simultaneously.

During rehearsals, one cast will be doing blocking or learning where to stand and how to move while they say their lines. Meanwhile, the other cast will be watching and learning from the other students.

This gives students a chance to see other versions of the same characters and experiment with different ways to play their part, Mr. Walker said.