This time of year, the weather has everyone wishing for a vacation from their routine.

Stage Right artistic director Anthony Marino said "Disney's Alice in Wonderland, Jr.," which will open tomorrow at the Greensburg Garden and Civic Center, fills the bill -- for audiences and student performers.

Part of Stage Right's Family and Youth Theatre Series, "Alice" is the winter show for the students of the Stage Right School for the Performing Arts. The show is based on Lewis Carroll's classic children's book, as well as the Disney film version, but is shortened for younger audiences.

Mr. Marino said Alice's curious adventures -- falling down a rabbit hole, changing sizes, and having tea with the Mad Hatter -- show audiences a different world. But they also give students a chance to learn a different performance style.

"They have to ask, how should you play these crazy characters?" Mr Marino said. "It's an opportunity for them to sow their wild oats in terms of improvisation and character voices."

Emily Cutrell, a sophomore at Greensburg Central Catholic who has attended the Stage Right school since it opened in 1998, plays regular-sized Alice.

She said her biggest role so far has been as Sharpay in last year's all-county musical, "Disney's High School Musical," but that playing Alice has its own challenges.

The original book "was written such a long time ago, that's a little like doing Shakespeare," Emily said. "It's hard to find the right interpretation of the lines."

"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" was published in 1865.

She said language is no object in her favorite scene, the tea party with the March Hare, played by Cody Petit, and the Mad Hatter, played by Sean Brannon.

Sean, a junior at Saltsburg High School, said the tea party is his favorite too, and added that his biggest challenge is keeping his energy high.

"As audience members, kids can be very demanding," he said. "You can't miss a beat."

Sean recently won an honorable mention at the Pittsburgh Public Theatre's Shakespeare monologue contest, along with Stage Right student Katie MacDonald. Classmate Matt Corridoni was a finalist.

"Alice" also stars Mari Haffner as small Alice; Phil Gavin as the White Rabbit; and Katy Blythe, Allison Petrillo and Carolyn Cole as Cheshire Cats. The 35-member cast features local students ages 6 to 18.

Lunch will be available for $5 at 1 p.m. before the Saturday and Sunday shows.

"It's out of this world, over the top," said Mr. Marino of the show. "The kids bring these characters vividly to life."