Wonderland Performing Arts

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The Wonderland Story

At the age of 18 years old, Allison Brandon (Founder & Artistic Director of Wonderland Performing Arts) discovered the world of musical theatre. She was first cast as Eponine in Les Miserables at UL Lafayette the summer after graduating high school. At that time, musical theatre was uncommon in Lafayette, LA. Allison grew up taking classical ballet, tap, jazz, & modern dance lessons, participating in school choirs, and show choir at Comeaux High (Magic Moods). She knew she LOVED to sing and dance... but being cast in Les Miserables changed everything. Her world was opened to putting her passions together. Being immersed in a full-fledged musical production would shift her path in life.

She began choreographing musicals around Lafayette for Lafayette High, Ascension Episcopal School, UL, and more. She performed in many more productions including Into the Woods (2005; Cinderella), & Grease (2007; Rizzo). While at ULL, Allison decided her senior project would be researching musical theatre schools & creating a hypothetical school for performing arts. The dream seed was planted that year, 2008.

After obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Performance from ULL, she moved to New Orleans where she performed in Let Freedom Swing! (2009-2010; Lorna Baker) at the National WWII Museum, The Wedding Singer (2010; Holly) at Le Petit Theatre, The Drowsy Chaperone (2011; Janet Van de Graaff) at Tulane Summer Lyric Theatre & Thoroughly Modern Millie (2016; Gloria) also at Tulane SLT. While in New Orleans, she felt a calling to teach. She created two after-school theatre programs at local private schools, St. Andrew the Apostle & Holy Name of Jesus. The dream seed began to grow.

When Allison & her husband, Noah, found out they were to have a baby, they moved home to Lafayette to be closer to family. It was then that Allison’s teaching career really took off. AllisonWonderland Children’s Theatre was born. It grew rapidly & Allison knew she had to make a decision to leave her full-time job with the Lafayette Parish Talented Theatre Program to open up a performing arts studio. With a leap of faith, Wonderland Performing Arts opened it’s doors on September 11, 2017. The dream seed sprouted and Allison presently has the privilege of sharing her passion for musical theatre & performance with students of all types each & every day!