Journey to Narnia with CTC youth

Step through the wardrobe into the magical kingdom of Narnia when the Chattanooga Theatre Centre’s Youth Theatre presents “The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe,” opening Friday, Feb. 21, and running through March 1.

This dramatization of C.S. Lewis’ beloved story of the same name is faithfully re-created for the stage by playwright Joseph Robinette.

Lewis’ story represents one of the greatest battles between good and evil in children’s literature. Four children find their way through the back of an old wardrobe into the kingdom of Narnia, where a witch has cursed the land with eternal winter. The stage adaptation follows the magic and mystery of great lion Aslan and his struggle with the White Witch as the children’s fate unfolds.

It’s a land full of mythical creatures, talking animals, quests and secrets, and the action features chases, duels and escapes as the witch is determined to end the reign of Aslan.

The CTC production will use masks, headdresses and puppetry to animate the story, including an Aslan puppet with an 8-foot mane.

Two casts of 40 young actors will appear in alternating performances. They include

Isa Baez, Dulce Brown, Riley Brown, Genevieve Carlton, Zoe Chatman, Alexis Christensen, Sedona

Crawford, Kennedy Doan, Gage Goza, Landon Greene, Sam Gross,

Clara Hammontree, Ella Hastings-McGuiness,

Ivy Hays, Trinity Henry, Emily Johnson, Wyatt Jones and Paul Knotts.

Also, Hunter Landreth, Sam Landreth, Cameron Legge, Brady Lewis, Lucy Martin, Maya Mazurek,

Megan McGarvey, Rylie Mink, Lilyana Obal, Greyson Pendergrass, Jordan Ray, Jaxson Rogers, Macy Seebeck, Avery Sharpe, Eben Shriner, Jack Smith, Zella Stockman, William Tutor, Scarlett White, Ellen Winne, Lanie Wright and Mathis Young.

Cassandra Gross, Jennie Landreth, Joe Legge, Randy Rogers, Stacy Sharpe, Travis Sharpe, and Hollie Stockman appear in adult roles, all performing alongside their children in the cast.

The production is directed by Chuck Tuttle, with Annie Collins serving as assistant director.

School performances are scheduled during the week of Feb. 24. The show, performed in the CTC’s mainstage theatre, is appropriate for third-graders and up.

For tickets: 423-2678534 and online at TheatreCentre.com.

PHOTO BY CHUCK TUTTLE Jack Smith, shown, and Cameron Legge share the role of Peter, who fights alongside noble lion Aslan in “The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe.”