For the last few years, the spring Advanced Drama shows schedule has been consistent—juniors put on a Shakespeare play directed by Brit Block, and the seniors perform an original show, “Motherlode,” directed by Erik Berkowitz. But this year, they decided to change it up.

This spring, the juniors in Advanced Drama will be performing “Alice in Wonderland,” directed by Berkowitz, which the cast is quick to note is not the commonly-known Disney version.

The seniors will still be performing “Motherlode,” but it will be directed by Block.

“For the last 14 years, I’ve always directed the Motherlode play,” Berkowitz said.  “I’ve just been thinking that after 14 years of doing something it’s time for a change.”

At first, Noah Gottesman, junior, said he was disappointed by the choice to forgo Shakespeare because he was looking forward to its unique challenges. However, he said he soon came around to the idea of performing “Alice in the Wonderland.”

“I heard that the reason for it is because the play ‘Alice’ is a lot different than the movie version. It’s really dark and really different,” Gottesman said. “And our junior class has a really dark undertone to it.”

Berkowitz also mentioned that many other juniors are excited  for “Alice.”

“There are some juniors who are saying, ‘Phew, I get to do something fun,’’’ he said. “I had a lot of juniors come up to me and say they’re excited about it.”

However, some seniors said that they are disappointed they do not get a chance to work with Berkowitz.

For the past few years, Berkowitz has only directed “Motherlode,” and many seniors who awaited the play as a chance to work with him are now disappointed by the change in directors.

“I think the seniors who don’t get to work with me are really bummed,” Berkowtiz said.  “I think they were expecting to go through a particular process with me that they have heard of from other students and that it’s a rite of passage.”

Senior Ben Brazee said he was slightly disappointed that he never got a chance to work with Berkowitz but is looking forward to Motherlode.

“I am still excited to work on Motherlode and I know Britt will be an excellent director,” Brazee said.

As for the juniors who were looking forward to performing a Shakespeare play, Berkowitz had one final thing to say.

“Maybe we will do a  Shakespeare play next fall,” he said.