Join A Tea Party That's Out of This World

If the winter blues have caused you to go mad, you’ll fit right in Saturday at the "Mad Hatter Tea Party" at Quaker Valley .

The tea party will take you out of and into the wild world of "Alice in Wonderland," this year’s middle school musical production.

This fundraiser will benefit current and future drama productions at the middle school.

The event takes place in the middle school cafeteria and will “run similar to a character breakfast at Disney World, where the characters serve you,”said Margot Bruno, drama coordinator.

Bruno said annual drama fundraisers “help defray costs of sets, props and costumes that have been expensive during our past few productions."

The events usually take place about one month before the year’s in order to advertise for the upcoming show.

Middle school spring productions alternate each year between a play and a musical.

While this year's production is a play, Bruno said expenses in the musical years add up quickly.

“Musical years are especially expensive because the cost of the rights to a musical are at least 10 to 20 times that of a play. Plus we have to pay a music director and musicians for the performances,” Bruno said.

An Austrian-themed fundraiser last year for the musical "The Sound of Music" was a huge success, Bruno said.

She hopes the tea party’s proceeds will match or exceed last year’s dinner.

Along with tea, there will be finger foods, tea sandwiches, a kid’s craft area, croquet games with prizes, raffle baskets and gourmet goodies for sale. Kids and parents can pose for pictures with their favorite "Alice in Wonderland" character and purchase tickets for the performance in advance.

The production consists of 23 cast members and seven crew members and takes place in March. 

Mad Hatter Tea Party

“If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn’t.” -- Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland.

Get your kids ready for some curious fun and rediscover the child within you Saturday.

WHAT:  At the Mad Hatter Tea Party, your favorite characters from the beloved novel Alice in Wonderland will be serving tea and sandwiches, as well as posing for pictures with you and your little ones.

In addition, a kids craft table will be available for all ages to make their own party favors. Baskets filled with goodies will be raffled off and baked items will be available for purchase and quick consumption. All proceeds benefit the Middle School Drama Club and their production of "Alice in Wonderland" on March 4 and 5.

WHERE: Quaker Valley Middle School cafeteria

WHEN: 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.

PRICE: $8 pre-sale, $10 at the door (if available) Reservations: 412-303-0050

-- Patch contributor Teresa Duff