Hunterville School might be miles from Broadway but it has just staged a 10-star-plus production of Alice in Wonderland with a cast of hundreds ... well 190, which is the entire school, including staff.
And to keep the score even, they had a small Alice from the junior school, normal Alice (the real Alice) from the senior school, and a big Alice from the school of grown-ups.
Burly head of sport Shane Smith played big Alice but he didn't do any of that "singing stuff", he said.
Instead, when it was time for a song or two, big Alice would sob uncontrollably in time to the music. "Yeah, I just cried a lot."
The school paid $1200 for the rights to the show, held by an Australian company, earlier this year.
Principal Stephen Lewis said they were really lucky because former teacher Heidi Jeynes, who had just completed a television directors' course in Auckland, returned to Hunterville for the rest of the year.
Ms Jeynes was thrilled to jump in and take over the reins of the show. "It's really my thing and I just love it."
Once the auditions were sorted, it was straight into rehearsal with every class having their own song and dance.
With characters including a team of lobsters, Tweedledum and Tweedledee, the Doorknob, the Dormouse, White Rabbit, the Cheshire Cat, the Caterpillar, the Queen of Hearts and dozens of others, there was plenty of work to do.
And in came an army of grandmas, aunties, mums and friends with their sewing machines to make the enormous wardrobe of fantastic costumes, she said.
As well, people from the community as well as parents and friends were recruited to help construct and paint the set.
"One man found out he was not only good at painting, he loved it. Now he has applied to do a fine arts degree next year in Wellington," Ms Jeynes said.
Hunterville School does a production every two years and there's never any hesitation about pulling the stops out, said Mr Lewis.
"No we just love it. It's so good having everyone involved and we just love our talented students.
"It's a real boost for the school."
For those from the local community who packed out the school hall to watch Alice disappear down a rabbit hole into a world of madness, it was a hit. The small school hall was extended for the show, with rows of tiered seating installed and all four shows sold out.
Even big Alice said that, although he was a bit dubious about it to begin with, he'd had a thoroughly good time.
"Yeah, I have to say I really enjoyed myself ... we all did. It was just a fun time and great experience for all of us ."