Join us for a look back at . . .

based on the novel by C. S. Lewis

Sunday, March 14

    Our production of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," ACT I's forty-seventh production, closed after a successful four performance run seen by 345 patrons.  We would like to thank those who supported us by attending the production.  It was truly a memorable experience with a great piece of dramatic literature, and an excellent cast.  A job well done for the cast for their young directors, Maggie Karr and Jessica Coulter, and a very successful start to our new program, ACT I STAGE!

    "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," presented March 12, 13, and 14 at Wesley United Methodist Church in Vinton, and "The Prince and the Pauper," which ran May 8, and 9 at the church, were produced by our youth program, ACT I STAGE!.  The hour long children's theatre shows are intended for elementary audiences. The combined casts of the two shows include 47 students and four adults.  Nearly half made their debuts with ACT I.

Directors Jessica Coulter and Maggie Karr

based on the novel by C. S. Lewis

The Story

    In 1940,  four siblings, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, are sent by their parents to live with an old professor in the country to escape German bombing raids on London.  There they discover a mysterious passage through an old wardrobe in an unused bedroom that leads them into a magical kingdom called Narnia.  Narnia is ruled by the evil White Witch, who makes it always winter but never Christmas.  The citizens of Narnia patiently await the return of Aslan the Lion, whom they trust will deliver them from the Witch.  Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy are caught up at once in the adventure.

Lucy meets the faun Mr. Tumnus, whose job it is
to kidnap human children and take them to the
White Witch.  Tumnus lets Lucy escape, and for
that the White Witch turns him to stone.

Edmund encounters the Witch and her evil Dwarf
after arriving in Narnia.  Fearing a prophesy that
four human children will come to Narnia and end
her reign, the Witch resolves to destroy the children.

Mr. and Mrs. Beaver find the four children and
take them home, but Edmund soon slips away.

Soon after, Father Christmas arrives with gifts.
For Peter, he has a sword and shield. For Susan,
there is a bow and a magic horn. For Lucy, he has
a dagger and a magic cordial which can heal the dying.

Aslan the Lion returns to Narnia to find that Edmund has
betrayed the others.  They set off to find the lost boy.

Aslan counsels Peter before battle.

Peter fights the evil wolf Fenris Ulf, captain of the Witch's
secret police.  Mortally wounded by Peter, Fenris Ulf escapes.

Fenris Ulf warns the Witch that Aslan and his
forces are on the move against her, then dies.

Angered by the death of Fenris Ulf, the
Witch and the Dwarf prepare to kill Edmund.

They are overpowered by the forest animals, who
save the boy's life as the Witch escapes.

Edmund is reunited with the others, but the Witch sends
the Dwarf with a message that she wishes to meet with Aslan.

The Witch demands Edmund's life because he is a traitor.
Aslan agrees to die by the Witch's hand in Edmund's place.

The Witch and her army torment Aslan before killing him.
After the Lion dies the Witch proclaims that Narnia is hers forever.

As Edmund and Peter prepare for the final battle, Susan
and Lucy are amazed to see that Aslan has been raised
from the dead.  They fly off to rescue those whom
the witch has turned to stone, to join in the final battle.

The Witch and her army attack as Edmund and Peter
lead Aslan's forces against her.

Edmund destroys the Witch's magic wand,
but she mortally wounds him as he strikes.

Aslan arrives with reinforcements and the Witch is killed.

As Edmund lays dying, Lucy rushes to her brother's side.  She
revives him with the magic cordial given her by Father Christmas.

Mr. Tumnus, who is among those turned to stone by the Witch
whom Aslan rescued, arrives with the four crowns from Cair Paraval.

With the battle over, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy are
crowned by Aslan as the Kings and Queens of Narnia.  But
as the play ends, they return through the wardrobe back to
the world they had left, finding that not one minute had passed.

Mark Pingenot coaches two young actors during
a rehearsal of the climactic battle sequence.

A Sunday school classroom served as
green room for the cast before performances.

MORE PICTURES OF "LION / WITCH"  TO COME!

Keep Scrolling!

The Cast:

asterisk (*) denotes ACT I debut

adapted by Joseph Robinette
based on the second book of
"The Chronicles of Narnia"
by C. S. Lewis

Produced with permission of the Dramatic Publishing Company
Woodstock, Illinois

Aslan                            Peter Shawinsky*

Elf                                     Andy Hanson*

The White Stag                John Westergard

Forest Animals and Witch's Army:

Clare Horst, Megan Horst*, Patrick Horst*,
Robert Hanson*, Tess Noeller

Co-Directors Maggie Karr, Jessica Coulter

Technical Director                 Austin Karr

Lighting Designer, Fight Coordinator:       
                                          Mark Pingenot

Costume and Makeup Coordinator:             
                                             Steve Arnold

Scenic Design                Sarah Zimmerman

Production Mentor               Steve Arnold

    ACT I has performed in a wide variety of location during its nearly 20 year history.  This season,  ACT I shows have been performed at the Riverside Park bandshell, Tilford Middle School auditorium, and at a local coffee shop, the 4th Street Coffee Company.  In other years ACT I has performed at the IBSSS auditorium, the Vinton Country Club, Tara Hills Country Club, the Ray House Museum, and the two stages of the Old Creamery Theatre in Garrison. As our new, permanent artistic home, the Palace Theatre, is not yet ready for performances, the directors of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" selected a new location for us that would offer the same intimacy that we will enjoy at the Palace.  For performing in the fellowship hall of the Wesley United Methodist Church, scenic designer Sarah Zimmerman and tech director Austin Karr augmented the tiny stage with additional platforms, and Sarah created a fanciful painted drop as background, then adorned the set with artificial trees.  Chicken wire, cloth, and wheatpaste were used to create a rock effect, and the ceiling of the stage was draped with fabric to create a cloud effect.

    Among the technical elements of this production that will be most prominent to audiences will be costumes and makeup.  We believe this is the most complicated makeup show ACT I has ever produced.  In creating animal characters, the directors and costume coordinator chose to use fur hoods and human clothing for animals, and to create facial features through makeup to keep actors' faces open.  This requires a great deal of preparation time for the cast before each performance and a large make up crew, experienced with designing the facial elements needed.

Sarah Zimmerman's set made the most of the
limited space.  She cleverly created false
walls to add back stage by matching the paint
color and woodwork of the room on the flats.

    The cast includes 19 students between the ages of 5 and 17, and two adults. For the newcomers to theatre, makeup proved a totally new experience but even the most seasoned performers find the makeup needs for this show to be uniquely daunting.

Actor Peter Shawinsky has been transformed
by makeup artist Colleen Karrick into Aslan the Lion.

Sixth grader Ryan Calderwood, a verteran
of several ACT I productions, becomes
Mr. Beaver with the help of Lori Kerwin.

Andy Hanson, a fifth grader appearing for the first
time with us, wears green foundation makeup and an
all green costume created by Jeannie Springer to portray
an elf.  Jeannie also created the costume for the dwarf.

   Five year old Tess Noeller is our youngest cast member,
appearing among the forest animals as a skunk.  This is her
second ACT I show.  KT Cook created the costume for Tess,
Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, Fenris Ulf, and several other animal characters.

Greg Tucker is Fenris Ulf in this
costume created by KT Cook.

Ryan Calderwood and Amy Cook as
Mr. and Mrs. Beaver.

Peter Shawinsky's costume for
Aslan was made by Teresa Strong.

Costumes for the White Witch and Father
Christmas were created by Janie Seeley.

For his role as the evil dwarf, seven year old actor Jason Long
sits patiently as a full beard is created for him by Steve Arnold
using a latex base, spirit gum adhesive, and crepe wool hair.  The
wool is ironed, applied to the latex in several layers, then trimmed.

  

  

  



Now in costume with his mean tempered character
already coming through, Jason is ready for his ACT I debut!

  We enjoyed our stay in Narnia, and hope that
some day we will return again!

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