Show PlayBill

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

September 23, 2021 - September 26, 2021
Image

Director's Message

After the cold and dark winter, spring returns. It rejuvenates and restores, breathing new life into us all. Any time people come together to face a challenge, they meet countless obstacles – some of them predictable, some unknown. We first set out to produce The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe in the spring of 2020. We got as far as our matinee performance for the Lebanon Middle School 8th grade, and it was our first and last show. After curtain, I explained to the cast that we would all be leaving school with no return date in sight. We were all devastated. Our set, props, and costumes stayed on stage, and we went home. Our original cast faced every challenge I presented them throughout the process with the best grace and fortitude Narnia has to offer. What stood out to me the most throughout our journey was the incredible family our cast and crew formed. Every single student was hands-on, helpful, loving, giving, and nurturing. I never encountered an attitude or an eye roll or a “me first” mindset. These students always took care of others before themselves, always made sacrifices for the show, always lifted one another and celebrated strengths. The grace, selflessness, kindness, and welcoming spirit that moves throughout this cast and crew is a simple reminder how we can all face our challenges together. By welcoming those we don’t know well, by teaching those eager to learn, by forgiving mistakes, by embracing others in their pain and fear as well as in their joy and triumphs, by giving love and compassion, and by serving others first we can thrive together in a harmony that seems only possible in a fictional place like Narnia, but is actually very achievable in our own worlds, large and small. We ended our last rehearsal with the words “the last shall be first,” and that is exactly how each person involved in this show approached the work. We continued to take care of one another the best we could through our quarantine, but our cast never came together again. This fall, we recast our show, eager to try again. Some of our actors are original to their roles. Some of our actors had been 8th graders in our first audience. We put a quick timeline on our process and pushed one another to rebuild the show through backward design. We welcomed newcomers, relearned our lines, looked to the actors who paved the way for us, pulled our costumes out of storage, found our sound and light files, dusted off binders, and brought our show back together. In a recent rehearsal, I asked the cast to each share why it is important that we tell this story. Their answers spoke of hope, resilience, love, goodness, and joy. I felt so grateful to witness that moment, to see the best we have to offer shining in each of them. I hope our original cast knows what a legacy they left us and I hope they are able to join us on stage as we take our bows this weekend. They are all so present in this show. Aslan’s final line of the play says “Yes, the children will find their way back here again. Perhaps not through the wardrobe – but there are other paths that lead to Narnia. Oh yes, they will return someday. It is important that they return, for good people need good rulers and good rulers need good people. That is perhaps the Deepest Magic of all.” We have returned.

A Special Thank You To...

LHS Administrative Team
Fall Sports Coaches
Jacob Kessler
Amanda Wines
The Tigerettes
Gwen Schoeff
Brice Skiles
The Smith Family
The O'Neill Family
Holli Decker
Darrell VanTilburg

Image

THANK YOU FOR COMING TO OUR SHOW!

For everyone to better enjoy the show, please:

  • No lighted screens or flash photography during the performance.
  • Silence all electronic devices.
  • No food or drinks in the Auditorium, except bottled water.
  • No re-admittance to the performance until curtain closes or Intermission.
  • Please escort unhappy/busy children to the lobby to wiggle.
  • The video or audio recording of this performance by any means is strictly prohibited.

Dramatization By Joseph Robinette
Based Upon The Story By C.S. Lewis

Produced by special arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois.

Rachel Becker

Director

Wade Thatcher

Technical Director

Michelle McKaig

Costume Coordinator

Brynn Hensley

Student Director

Mallory Kaylor

Student Director

Neil Acton

Student Director

Madison VanHowe

Student Director

Anneliese Wolfgang

Dance/Fight Choreography

Taylor Moss

Dance/Fight Choreography

JoJo Morrison

Stage Manager

Maren Devlin

Stage Manager

Nick Smith

Lighting Director

Grant Krulik

Sound Director

Alex Smith

Sound Director

Sophie Martinez

Sound Equipment Manager

Nathan Monnett

Camera Operator

Brandy Moss

Makeup Design

Cast Members

Click on a cast member with a to view their bio.

Emma Brown

Susan

Ryan McGrotty

Edmund

Taylor Moss

Lucy

Neil Acton

Peter

Madison VanHowe

Unicorn

Anneliese Wolfgang

Mrs. Bever

Aaron Carter

Mr. Bever

Anna Hale

Centaur

Mallory Kaylor

Fenris Ulf & Gargoyle

Samuel Piper

Tumnus & Boggle

Charlotte Peña

Dwarf

Brynn Hensley

White Witch

Carter Thurnall

Elf & Aslan

Jef Frye

Father Christmas

Davohn Ziesmer

Aslan

Craig Reynolds

Aslan

Ben Waskom

Raccoon

Ilias Barrie

Pirate Squirrel

Trinity Pruitt

Grey Wolf

Erik Culley

Monkey

Caleb McKaig

Minotaur

Olivia White

Mouse

Melanie Marzell

Cheetah

McKenna Reynolds

Stone Statue

Kaitlyn Griffen

Stone Statue

Lucy Lockhart

Stone Statue

Elsa Cheek

Stone Statue

Destiny Cornwall

Stone Statue

Crew Members

Click on a crew member with a to view their bio.

JoJo Morrison

Stage Manager

Maren Devlin

Stage Manager

Sophie Martinez

Sound Equipment Manager

Grant Krulik

Sound Director

Alex Smith

Sound Director

Nick Smith

Lighting Director

Show Sponsors