THE LION THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE At Alden 3/13-22

Young actors from more than seven area schools are performing in the Alden Theatre's production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, a delightful tale by the master of imaginative enchantment, C.S. Lewis. The show will be presented weekends, March 13-22, Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets are $12, $8 for McLean tax district residents. The show is recommended for children ages 7 and older. The theatre is located at 1234 Ingleside Avenue.

With The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, writer C.S. Lewis created a unique world, Narnia, and a story about courage and the love of freedom. An old house in rural England is the home base for four children who wander into an incredible country through an old wardrobe. In the incredible Narnia, they make friends with the frightened forest people who have almost given up hope for the return of good King Aslan, their true ruler. When Alsan was there, it was always summer. There is a great battle to see whether this magical country will remain under the wintry spell of the White Witch or will, once again, know freedom and summer under good King Aslan.

Young actors from more than seven area schools are participating in the show. Chesterbrook Elementary School 6th grader and newcomer to the stage Hugo Kessler will play the role of Edmund; Churchill Road Elementary School 5th grader Jesse Dennis plays Lucy; McLean High School 11th grader Nicole Davidow plays Susan and Cooper Middle School 8th grader Brendan McConnaughay plays Peter. Longfellow Middle School 7th graders Robbie Hefferon and Jack Hayden play The Professor and Mr. Tumnus, respectively. The White Witch is played by 10th grade, McLean High School student Amandine Thomas and Oliver Hudson, a 9th grader at The British School of Washington, plays Aslan.

Other performers include: Polina Tamarina, Robbie Hefron, Malaika Murphy, Wolfe Glick, Madeleine Chalk, Katherine Broom, Hope Sullivan and Camila Eugenia Alfonzo-Meza (Longfellow Middle School), Bridget Blythe Brady (Bishop O'Connell High School), Cayla Komarow and Samantha Downey (McLean High School), Christina Penland (Nysmith School for the Gifted), Stacey McDaniel (Spring Hill Elementary School), Josh Hayden (Churchill Road Elementary School), Allie Vogt (Franklin Sherman Elementary School), Katie Acton (McLean High School) Rachel Mayman (Cooper Middle School), Yara Alemi (George C. Marshall High School) and Thomas Kelty (Haycock Elementary School).

Director Melissa Richardson, who has directed Alden Theatre productions of The Phantom Tollbooth and The Golden Goose, has returned to direct this show. Evelyn Verdon designed the costumes. Set design is by Tyler Whitmore, lighting design is by Alden Theatre Technical Director Jennifer Garrett, sound design is by Alden Theatre Technician Justin King and set construction is by Alden Theatre Asst. Technical Director Nathan Devonshyre.

Tickets are on sale now! To purchase tickets, stop by the Alden Theatre Box Office, or to purchase tickets by telephone or online, contact TICKETMASTER at 703-573-SEAT, or www.ticketmaster.com. For more information, call 703-790-0123, TTY: 711, or visit: www.mcleancenter.org.

Photo: Oliver Hudson, a 9th grader at The British School of Washington (King Aslan), Longfellow Middle School 7th grader Jack Hayden (Mr. Tumnus) and McLean High School 10th grader Amandine Thomas (The White Witch). Photo by Evelyn Verdon.