Sometimes, another world can

be found in the most unusual places.

In C.S. Lewis' "The

Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," the first installment of his Chronicles

of Narnia series, four children hide in a wardrobe and enter the world

of Narnia. Narnia is a land locked in eternal winter because of a curse

from the White Witch. Aslan, the good king, returns and fights the witch

alongside the children. This beloved tale will be presented as part of

the Newnan Community Theatre Company's Popcorn Series starting this

Friday.

"The Lion, the Witch and

the Wardrobe" is directed by Laurel Alford and features a cast of

47 children between the ages of 5-17. The children, all from the Southern

Crescent, represent 27 different public and private schools and also includes

nine home-schooled children. It is the largest cast that Alford has dealt

with, but she has found the cast to be very dedicated to the play.

"One of the challenges

has been keeping some of the younger children focused on their parts,

but that is where the older kids have been really helpful," said

Alford. "They are very strong actors, who have been able to memorize

their scripts quickly and have really helped the younger kids along."

It also helps that much of

the cast is very familiar with the series. Some of the cast members are

so familiar with the story that they know every detail and also know how

the characters progress through the series. The books are still very popular

with young readers and continue to find new audiences each year.

"It has been very rewarding

to see so many children take an active interest in literature and theater,"

said Alford.

One of the major attractions

to this production will be an amazing set that uses all of the space in

the Black Box Theatre, which is located in the same building as the main

stage theater. There are trees, bridges, caves and more. The audience

will be in the world of Narnia for the entire show and the action will

constantly be going on around them. This should be especially impressive

when the ultimate battle between good and evil occurs and all 47 cast

members are on stage simultaneously. The theater can seat between 80 and

90 people, so audiences will be very close to the action.

"The Lion, the Witch and

the Wardrobe," will be presented Fridays-Sundays, Nov. 7-23. Performances

will be at 8 p.m. on Fridays and 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets

are $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors. For groups of 10 or

more ordering in advance, there will be a $2 discount per ticket. Phone

770-683-NCTC to reserve your tickets.

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