ArtRageous, Auburn’s annual celebration of the arts, takes over Les Gove park Saturday, Aug. 6 for a day of interactive fun.

Somewhere amid all the hands-on art, musical numbers and theatre will be Seattle’s Theater Simple, with an interactive performance of “Wonderland,” based on Lewis Carroll’s “Alice In Wonderland.”

Since 1991, Llysa Holland and Theater Simple co-founder Andrew Litzky have produced their shows throughout the U.S. and Canada.

At first, Holland said, the troupe focused on presenting its art in theater settings. Chafing at the confines of indoor venues, however, the group moved into outdoor interactive productions that break down the so-called “fourth wall” separating performers from their audience.

“This really grew out of trying to figure out how to take advantage of settings, like a park,” she said.

“Wonderland” is the group’s fourth and latest site-specific, interactive performance.

“The (“Alice in Wonderland”) stories are about changing perspectives,” Holland said, comparing the audience’s journey to that of the main character of the Carroll novel, Alice.

“Just like she changed, part of our fun is as you go around with the performance, no matter how old you are, you end up a different person at the end,” she said.

Holland said the performance presents several chances for audiences to join in, with musical numbers, quizzes, a game of tic-tac-toe with the White Queen, even a rousing game of croquet with the Red Queen and her court.

“There is a variety of levels you can participate at,” she said. “Passive audiences can just let the show wash over them. Or you can be a hedgehog or a wicket in the croquet game. You can sing along if you want. The idea is to break the concept of performers and audience. We’re all creating this together.”

In addition, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, the Griffin, the Mock Turtle, even a remote-controlled house, will drop in. And by solving riddles scattered throughout the park, participants in the Riddle Course can get their “Wonderland” passports stamped.

The event debuted last month at the Ballard Locks.

“It’s been really fantastic,” Holland said of the response. “Our first weekend, which was sunny, we had over 300 people playing with us in the rain.”

Theater Simple’s performance of “Wonderland” kicks off at 2:30 p.m.

For more information on the performance, visit www.theatersimple.org.

For more information on ArtRageous, visit http://www.auburnwa.gov/community/arts_entertainment/artrageous.asp.

If you would like to volunteer, or perhaps even perform, contact the simpletons at info@theatersimple.org, or 206-784.8647, ext. 1.

ArtRageous Art Festival will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The free, one-day art extravaganza invites the public to create and celebrate art in the park. ArtRageous includes hands-on art-making activities for all ages, local art organizations, professional artist demonstrations, art vendors, food booths and music.

The City of Auburn presents ArtRageous. The Auburn Parks, Arts and Recreation Department is producing it.

For more information, call 253-931-3043 or visit www.auburnwa.gov/arts.

ArtRageous is made possible with the generous support from 4Culture and 4Culture Site Specific