Party in the Bluegrass State (Prism Performing Arts)

Alice in Derbyland

Written by Tony Lewis

Directed by Alex Roby

Review by Regina Harris

Entire contents are copyright © 2026 Regina Harris. All Rights Reserved

You’d think something called the Kentucky Derby would be impossible to miss -

but plenty of us spend the first half of our lives unaware of the Run for the Roses. I

was one of them. Coming from Texas, I arrived in Louisville, wide eyed and

clueless, only to be thrown headfirst into a world of mint juleps, mile-wide hats

and a two-week whirlwind that somehow builds to a two-minute horse race at

Churchill Downs. Thunder Over Louisville shakes the sky, the Pegasus Parade clogs

the streets, and suddenly everyone is speaking language of silks, infields, and

Millionaires Row. It made no sense - until it did. Fortunately for Alice, the

protagonist of Prism Performing Arts and Drag Daddy Production’s annual spectacle Alice in Derbyland, hercrash course is far more fabulous. Guided by a sassy, glitter-drenched cast inspiredby Alice in Wonderland, she’s swept through the pageantry and absurdity of the

Derby season on her way to claiming her crown in this wild, wonderful world.

If you think you’ve seen this production before, think again. This is revamped Alice

in Derbyland comes out of the gate hot with seven new songs and an entirely new

second act that runs like a thoroughbred fueled on Makers Mark and bourbon

balls. Imagine Alice in Wonderland colliding with the Devil wears Prada, topped

with a ludicrously extravagant Derby hat (is there any other kind?) drenched in

disco and scored with everything from Broadway standards to pop anthems. It’s a

high camp fever dream that mirrors the delicious absurdity of the Derby season

itself. The result is an evening packed with self-aware humor about just how

unhinged we all become the first Saturday in May.

The stage bursts to life with flowered fleur-de-lis and towering projections of the

twin spires, instantly transporting the audience into the heart of Louisville’s springtime madness. Into this scene steps wide-eyed Alice, Derby Ingénue, wearing a cerulean blue dress and white apron, played with bright-eyed curiosity and just the right hint of mischief by Kristina Nguyen. Guiding her down the rabbit hole is the delightfully unhinged Churchill Rabbit-part host, part havoc-brought to scene stealing life with irresistible charm by Becca Worthington. Churchill ushers Alice through Derby etiquette with a knowing wink and a well-timed nod. Along the way Alice meets a gallery full of Derby inspired characters: chief among them the neon pink-clad Seersucker Cat (aka Celeste Vonderschmitt) prowling the stage stirring up trouble like a bad bet. And of course, no Derby would be complete

without its jockeys - Jockey Dum and Jockey Dee. Nathan Neace and Joey Weber

prance, banter, and babble in their own hilariously stylized horse language

bringing a dose of unbridled nonsense.

Derby party season may technically kick off in early March, but in Alice in

Derbyland the chaos hits a full gallop the moment the fascinatingly flamboyant

Fascinate Hare (Ashley Skaggs) stirs up a bubbling mix of trouble and tea at a party

hosted by the Mad Milliner. Played with wild abandon by Stephanie Michelle

Collins, the Mad Milliner doesn’t just join the race, she leads the field, stealing

every scene she charges through with fearless, laugh-out-loud commitment.

But not to be outdone, in storms the Delta Queen brought to life by Uhstel H.

Valentine, a commanding force determined to hold tight onto her title. As the

Belle of Louisville - with a voice as rich as Derby Pie, sprinkled with equal parts

glamour and grit - she sizes up her opponent and makes it clear she’s not about to

be dethroned without a fight. What follows is a high stakes showdown as she and

Alice square off in full-throttle Derby face off, each vying for supremacy in a race

where only the boldest can claim the title.

The production bursts into familiar, irresistible tunes that have you dancing in your

seat. There was a slight imbalance in the first act with the sound turned a touch

too high, occasionally swallowing some of the higher vocal lines, but this was corrected in the second act where everything settled beautifully. From there on it was pure perfection.

Alice in Derbyland sachets into the winner’s circle with a wicked wink and a hat

piled higher than your heels. If it’s not already part of your Derby tradition,

consider this your call to the post. Don’t trot - race down to Highland Community

Center as this wild ride kicks into high gear!

Alice in Derbyland

Prism Performing Arts/Drag Daddy Productions

April 17 @ 8:00 pm

April 19 @ 3:00 pm

Highland Community Center

1228 E. Breckenridge St.

Louisville, KY 40204

(833) 372-4323

www.dragdaddy.pro