The cast is set for the upcoming world premiere of Alice By Heart, the new musical from Spring Awakening collaborators Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik and Waitress’ Jessie Nelson. Leading the cast will be Molly Gordon (Life of the Party) as Alice and Colton Ryan (Girl From the North Country) as Alfred/The White Rabbit. Among those joining them are Noah Galvin (Dear Evan Hansen) and Wesley Taylor (SpongeBob SquarePants).

Performances will begin January 30, 2019, at the Newman Mills Theater—part of MCC’s new Robert W. Wilson Theater Space. Opening night is set for February 26.

The cast will also include Mia DiLena (The Music Man), Zachary Downer (Hello, Dolly!), Zachary Infante (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Andrew Kober (School of Rock), Grace McLean (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812), Nkeki Obi-Melekwe (Bull), Catherine Ricafort (SpongeBob SquarePants), and Heath Saunders (The Great Comet).

The musical, which features a book by Sater and Nelson (who also directs), lyrics by Sater, and music by Sheik, brings Alice’s Wonderland adventures to the rubble of World War II-set London. As Alice and her friend Alfred take shelter in a tube station, they escape their peril through their cherished book.

“We’re attempting to explore the power of a book and what the story has meant to this girl,” Nelson has previously said. “How do you return to a book the older you get? Can a book change, or do we change? Can it grow with us or do we have to leave it behind? [It’s about] the power of literature in a really dark time.”

The production will feature choreography by Rick and Jeff Kuperman, sets by Donyale Werle, costumes by Paloma Young, lighting design by Bradley King, sound design by Dan Moses. Sheik and Simon Hale will collaborate on orchestrations, with Jason Hart serving as music director. Casting is by Telsey + Co.