Fans have been anticipating the release of the film “Alice in Wonderland” for many weeks, and with its release scheduled for this Friday, I would like to show you how absolutely “mad” people have become.
On February 19, Walt Disney Pictures and Buena Vista Records joined with Hot Topic, KIIS-FM, MySpace, and the artists of the soundtrack “Almost Alice” to bring California fans the Alice in Wonderland Ultimate Fan Event. The event took place at the Hot Topic at Hollywood and Highland Center Courtyard in Los Angles and was a combination of a concert, a secret screening, and a mad tea party.
Fans scored tickets and VIP passes to the concert’s preferred viewing pit at this event by being one of the first 250 people to call in to KIIS-FM, or by purchasing a 3OH!3 t-shirt and pre-ordering the “Almost Alice” soundtrack at Hot Topic in the Hollywood and Highland Center. Those fans who went to Hot Topic also received passes to the special 3D preview screening with Tim Burton at the El Capitan Theatre.
Five artists that have songs on the “Almost Alice” soundtrack performed in concert for fans in the courtyard. The bands included Metro Station, 3OH!3, Family Force 5, Kerli, and Never Shout Never. Fans were able to completely immerse themselves in the sound of Wonderland until they were hit by the ear piercing screams of girls everywhere when Johnny Depp, who plays the Mad Hatter in the film, graced the stage with his presence. Other cast members present included Alice herself (Mia Wasikowska), the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter), the White Queen (Anne Hathaway), Chris Glover, Michael Sheen, and Matt Lucas.
The entire courtyard looked like a mad tea party as fans ambled around in their own homemade costumes. Costumes ranged from store bought Halloween leftovers to a Red Queen with a dress consisting of nothing but a pack of cards. All of the costumes were judged by the film’s costume artist Colleen Atwood and the winners of the contest won tickets to the preview at El Capitan Theatre.
The mad, mad world of Alice in Wonderland may have seemed to have come to life that February night, but this Friday’s step into the mind-boggling world of Wonderland and Tim Burton will be everything that it is, and nothing that it isn’t.
Allison Seigal can be reached for comment at [email protected]