Broadway-bound 'Wonderland' in Tampa today through Jan. 16

Famed composer Frank Wildhorn’s “Wonderland” musical—loosely based on the Lewis Carroll classics “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking-Glass”—premiered about a year ago at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa, marking the first production in the center’s Broadway Genesis Project.

A revised and re-subtitled “Wonderland: A New Alice. A New Musical” returns to Tampa today boasting “four new songs, a vastly revised book (script), two new major cast members and a set on steroids,” reads the Straz Website.

Wildhorn recently spent time in Sarasota overseeing the highly successful run of his “Bonnie & Clyde” musical, which played at the Asolo Rep and is planned to open on Broadway in September.

"Wonderland" plays at the Straz through Jan. 16. The Tampa performances are previews of the Broadway production. Previews in New York begin March 21 and the show opens April 17 at the Marquis Theatre.

Frank Wildhorn talks "Wonderland"

Broadway stars in Sarasota: Laura Osnes, Rob Evan join Frank Wildhorn for intimate concert

Read my interviews with composer great Frank Wildhorn and Broadway star Laura Osnes, performing concert tonight with Rob Evan, Marlyn Sanchez and Jack Murphy at Asolo Rep.

When Wildhorn called the Herald from New York, he was splitting time between “Wonderland” rehearsals and putting finishing touches on ex-wife (and close friend) Linda Eder’s upcoming album for Sony Masterworks. His frequent lyricist Jack Murphy (“The Civil War,” “Rudolf”) wrote the words for the Eder record and some of those songs will be debuted at the Asolo performance, as well.

In between songs, audiences will be treated to behind-the-scenes anecdotes from the Broadway titan.

“I’ll be telling plenty of stories,” Wildhorn said.

Story originally published Dec. 19 on front of the Herald's A&E/Accent section.