By Marian Douglas | Echo
Aslan comes to life in CSA's production of "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" this weekend.
Narnia is just a 30-minute drive away. Marion's Community School of Arts (CSA) will perform "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" at The F. Ritchie Walton Performing Arts Center.
"The play is written from the classic C.S. Lewis story and is not just a favorite of the directors and the students at CSA but also a fan favorite," Katie Morgan, CSA's executive director, said. As with all of CSA's Theatre compANY productions, this performance features the entire pre-professional theatre company at CSA. All cast members are students between the ages of 8 and 18. Several members of CSA's Dancers Edge, their preparatory dance company, will be among the cast.
Artistic Director of CSA Shelly Inskeep said the cast of the play has great surprises for the audience, including a three-person Aslan puppet. "This is a major focal point of the show," Inskeep said. "The puppeteers have a very important and strenuous job throughout the show maintaining the voice and physicality of the large cat."
Taylor University's Center for the Study of C.S. Lewis and Friends is sponsoring the show and will have information from the Center set up at the show. Joe Ricke, the Center's director, will also be attending the Sunday matinee with a group of students.
This is the second to last show in the 2016-17 CompANY Season. CSA will also put on "Willy Wonka"in late May. For more information on CSA, check out their Facebook page or visit csa-marion.com.
Tickets are $15 on their website or $17 at the door. Showings will include a 7 p.m. performance tonight and Saturday as well as a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday.
