Small Stage, Big Stars
ESA Field Trip 2024
Discover Wonderland Performing Arts, a place where creativity flourishes, live performances ignite the soul, and imagination knows no bounds!
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Hello, I’m Allison Barron Brandon, the proud owner of Wonderland Performing Arts. My 10-year-old daughter, Addy, and I reside in Points of View here in Lafayette, my hometown. Growing up in Lafayette, I spent my childhood dancing at Morgan Street & The Ballet Studio and singing in church and school choirs. When I’m not producing, directing, choreographing, or performing, you’ll find me in the audience of our local theatres: IPAL, Abbey Players, Cite Des Arts, The Heymann Center, & The Saenger. I also cherish spending time with my family and friends, entertaining, traveling (especially to NYC), dancing for fun, and crafting!
The journey to founding Wonderland Performing Arts in 2017 was fueled by my deep passion for the performing arts and a desire to create a nurturing environment where children could explore their talents, gain confidence, and develop their creativity. In college, I was hired to choreograph shows at local high schools, where I fell in love with creating dances that tell stories and connecting with students. This experience solidified my passion for teaching and choreography. After earning my theatre degree at ULL, I sought opportunities to perform on a larger scale. I spent two weeks in NYC, dreaming of a career in the arts, but decided I wasn’t quite ready to make the move.
At 22, I moved to New Orleans to pursue a career in professional live theatre. I was cast in the first-ever show at the National WWII Museum, a 1940s-inspired show honoring veterans and American History titled Let Freedom Swing. This professional contract afforded me the opportunity to perform for major celebrities, including Drew Brees and Tom Hanks! I continued performing in New Orleans at Le Petit Theatre & Tulane Summer Lyric for several years while working on my Masters Degree at UNO. Despite enjoying my time in New Orleans, I yearned to teach again. I worked with a few local schools in New Orleans and developed after-school theatre programs where students created original shows.
Teen Greek Theatre Class at Spring Showcase 2024
In 2011, I got married and a few years later returned to Lafayette when I was expecting my daughter. Back in Lafayette, I continued performing and began teaching dance and theatre locally. I was hired by LPSS to teach for the Talented Theatre program but felt a calling to do more. In the fall of 2016, I created an original show for 12 students, which we performed as a benefit for the Muscular Dystrophy Association in honor of my father who suffers with MD. It was a huge success, and word spread quickly. By spring 2017, I had 25 students, and even more joined in the summer. I decided to leave LPSS and focus on the after-school program full-time. I rented a small studio space on Bendel Road and opened the first location of Wonderland Performing Arts.
Between 2017 and 2019, we experienced tremendous growth, and I needed more space. With the help of my guardian angel, I found a new location at The South College Center, complete with four studio spaces, a 200-seat auditorium, dressing rooms, workshop space for building sets and props, and offices. I signed the lease in February 2020, just before the world shut down due to the pandemic.
Those were tough years, but we’ve come back stronger than ever. If you haven’t seen Wonderland yet, it’s truly something special, and everyone who visits says, “I didn’t know this was here, this place is HUGE!”
What sets Wonderland Performing Arts apart is our unique approach to fostering creativity and confidence in young performers. We provide an environment that empowers the next generation to find their voice, use their talents, be brave, and work together as a team to create something entirely original. We use the phrase “Small Stage, Big Stars” because we believe every young performer deserves their special spotlight moment. Our school-year productions are limited to 40 students to ensure that every performer shines.
One common misconception about the performing arts is that quality lies in fancy costumes, props, and set pieces. In reality, incredible and meaningful performance art can be created with simplicity. The connection to the relationships and the story being told are what matter most. Quality lies in the impact on the performers and the audience.
Wonderland Academy offers arts education through our after-school program, summer camps, and workshops. Students benefit from being encouraged to creatively problem-solve, use their voices, connect with others, gain confidence, and be their most brave selves. We produce eight shows annually, giving kids ample opportunity to perform. Additionally, we offer advertising opportunities, field trips for schools, and we rent our space out too! Adults can get involved with our sister non-profit theatre company, The Looking Glass Theatre Co., which offers high-quality theatre experiences and produces four shows annually.
I guarantee that anyone involved in Wonderland will feel a deeper connection with their peers and create something unique. Beyond the business, I serve on the board of The Looking Glass Theatre Co. and as a city commissioner for the Heymann Performing Arts Center. Many of
Madagascar Jr. Spring 2024
Allison and her
daughter, Addy,
backstage at Cinderella
Spring 2024
our students also perform at local retirement homes, Acadian Village, Moncus Park, South College Center Christmas Celebrations, Festival International, and Bridgepoint Farms. We love sharing our gifts with the community.
We are proud to support local organizations, including Maddie’s Footprints, Healing House, Sacred Heart, and Episcopal School of Acadiana. Wonderland Performing Arts is more than a business; it’s a community dedicated to fostering creativity, confidence, and a love for the performing arts.
To anyone considering a career in the arts, my advice is to focus on the joy and fulfillment that performing brings, rather than the pressure to become famous or make it to Broadway. Theatre on any level brings people together and that should be the main focus. A career in performing is possible for some and quite the challenging path to choose. I have enough experience and connections in the performing world to help students move on to college programs or professional opportunities and I’m always more than happy to do so. I just don’t want young performers to feel pressured to take a path that isn’t right for them because of stigmas. There are many ways to have careers in the arts that do not involve being famous or on Broadway, and I want to educate the community about those paths.
In conclusion, Wonderland Performing Arts is a place where young minds are inspired and nurtured, where creativity knows no bounds, and where every performer gets their chance to shine. If you haven’t visited us yet, I highly recommend it. You’ll discover a space brimming with potential, passion, and a whole lot of heart.
Spongebob
Summer 2023
Superheroes and Villains
Summer Camp 2024
Allison performing as Baker's Wife in Into the Woods June 2024