When Wonderland Meets Mystic: How Alice Brought Magic to Life at The Cloak and Wand

As Seen Live on CBS News: Performit Live’s Real-Time Digital Character “Alice” Connects Across Continents

“Hello there! How are you? Hi Melissa, you look fabulous in that cloak.”

That was the moment Alice — yes, the Alice from Wonderland — surprised CBS Breakfast viewers across Connecticut. Speaking live from the UK, she greeted reporter Melissa Cole inside The Cloak and Wand in Mystic Village, Connecticut — a fantasy shop famous for its wizarding atmosphere, potion bar, and immersive retail experiences.

Except this time, the magic wasn’t just make-believe — it was real-time, interactive, and powered by cutting-edge digital performance technology from Performit Live.

CBS Breakfast clip of Melissa Cole speaking live with Alice — powered by Performit Live’s real-time motion streaming technology

A Talking Portrait That Wasn’t Just a Screen

When Melissa first approached the talking portrait of Alice, she assumed it was a looping video — a charming piece of themed décor.

But when Alice turned, made eye contact, greeted her by name, and joked “Maybe try the mermaid tears — though they can be a little salty!”, it became clear this wasn’t pre-recorded magic.

Alice was speaking live — from across the Atlantic.

Behind this seamless illusion was Performit Live’s real-time motion streaming technology, enabling a live performer in the UK to interact naturally with guests in Connecticut. The result combined theatrical warmth with digital wonder — a first for this beloved Mystic destination.

Clip of Alice speaking live with reporter Melissa Cole and the CBS Morning anchors reacting in real time.

Inside The Cloak and Wand: Where Fantasy Feels Real

The Cloak and Wand is more than a shop — it’s a place where stories come alive.

“We’re a one-of-a-kind wizard, witchcraft, and fantasy store,” says owner Samantha. “Everything we do is immersive — from magical creature adoptions to potion making and wand activations.”

Guests can sip potions like Wizard Beer or Mermaid Tears, adopt their own magical creature, and now — meet Alice from Wonderland, a real-time interactive digital character who can hold conversations, offer advice, and even help you discover your perfect wand.

Behind the Magic: Real-Time Performance Technology

What makes Alice remarkable isn’t just her lifelike design — it’s how she listens, reacts, and responds in real time.

Performit Live’s technology connects professional performers with audiences anywhere in the world through a two-way interactive display.

Here’s how it works:

• A trained performer operates the digital character live using motion and facial real-time streaming.
• The audience sees and hears the character as though she’s physically present.
• The performer simultaneously sees and hears the audience, allowing authentic, unscripted interaction.

“The magic isn’t in the screen,” explains Jon Dalzell Performit Live’s founder. “It’s in the connection — when technology disappears and the story takes over.”

At The Cloak and Wand, that connection transforms a retail visit into a memorable, story-driven encounter that blends performance, technology, and brand experience.

A Glimpse into the Future of Immersive Retail

Alice represents a new evolution in immersive retail experiences — where audience engagement is powered by human connection and real-time responsiveness.

Unlike static displays or AR activations, real-time digital characters invite guests into living narratives. Every conversation feels personal, spontaneous, and alive — whether Alice is helping pick a wand or sharing her favourite potion recipe.

For retailers and entertainment brands, this approach opens new opportunities for:

• Customer engagement through storytelling
• Interactive product discovery
• Memorable in-store moments
• Socially shareable experiences

Beyond Alice: The Hybrid Magic of Performit Live

While Alice is performed live from the UK, Performit Live also creates AI-driven characters and hybrid digital characters that can switch seamlessly between live and autonomous modes.

This flexibility means attractions, retailers, and event organisers can scale the same magic across multiple venues — each with its own uniquely interactive personality.

Every character is powered by emotion, performance, and storytelling — ensuring no two encounters are ever the same.

When Storytelling Meets Technology

When CBS viewers saw Alice converse naturally with Melissa — cheerful, witty, and undeniably real — it wasn’t a scripted stunt. It was a glimpse into how technology and human creativity can unite to build connection.

At The Cloak and Wand, that moment turned a local fantasy shop into a world-class immersive experience. And for Performit Live, it demonstrated the power of live digital performance to transform storytelling everywhere.

Because when performance meets technology, magic isn’t an illusion — it’s an experience.

About Performit Live

Performit Live helps brands, venues, and entertainment companies bring digital characters to life through live or AI-driven performances. Their proprietary real-time motion streaming platform connects professional performers with audiences anywhere in the world — perfect for immersive retail, theme parks, trade shows, and live brand activations.

Ready to explore how augmented reality can elevate your next project? Contact Performit Live today and book a demo. Let’s create immersive experiences that captivate and inspire.