CATEGORY: MAIN EVENT

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

Based on the Novel by C.S. Lewis
Dramatized by Joseph Robinette

Directed by Wayne Brinda

Playbill
- Link to The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe Playbill (Flipbook)

- Link to The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe Playbill (PDF Version)

Social Story
- Link to The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe Social Story (Flipbook)

Reviews
- 'Burg Vivant Review

- onState Pittsburgh Review

- Pittsburgh Owlscribe Review

- Prime Stage Teen Advisory Board Review

Article - TribLive: Pittsburgh's Prime Stage heads to Narnia with 'Lion, Witch & the Wardrobe'

On a rainy day in London four children step through a magical wardrobe and discover an enchanted kingdom filled with fantasy, mystical characters, and suspense as the world of Narnia based on C S Lewis’ timeless book comes to life.

Performance Dates and Times

Special Dates
Preview: Friday, March 3rd at 8pm - Pay What You Can

Opening Night: Saturday, March 4th at 8pm

Prime Stage Theatre is committed to providing an environment that is inclusive and welcoming to all patrons. Please identify any special seating needs to our Box

POST SHOW DISCUSSION - MARCH 4TH

We're having a post-show discussion on March 4th with Dr. David von Schlichten, the Dean of the School of Humanities of Seton Hill University and Author.

Dr. David von Schlichten, D.Min., Ph.D., M.F.A.
(Special Guest for our Post-Show Discussion on March 4th)
David is Dean of the School of Humanities, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, and the Coordinator of the Gender and Women's Studies Program at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA. Before becoming a full-time professor, Dave served as the pastor of Saint James Evangelical Lutheran Church in Youngstown, PA from 1997 until 2014. Dave has over 200 publishing credits in various genres, including articles on C.S. Lewis for the journal Lectionary Homiletics. His best-known book is The Bible Out of the Pew: An Empowering Guide for the Spiritual But Not Religious (Wipf and Stock, 2019). Dave is also the founder of Golden Rule Online Worldwide (G.R.O.W.), a Facebook page and YouTube channel working to reduce online harassment by 25% by the end of 2025. Dave lives in Greensburg with his wife Kim, his two young-adult children, and his seven-year-old granddaughter (as well as six cats).

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe Cast

Michael Barnett
Will portray the role of Aslan
Michael is proud to once again work with the Prime Stage Theatre company. Michael is an American actor known for his impressive height and distinguished brows. Born in Northern Pennsylvania, he started acting in high school when he landed the role of (Big Jule) in Guys and Dolls. He returned to acting in 2016 thanks to the teaching and support of the wonderful Pittsburgh acting community. Michael's career has brought him to the stage and screen where he has acted in commercials, voice overs, theatrical productions, and films. He is known for the role of (Cross) in the feature film Red Woods, (The Killer) in the feature film Little Mouse, and (Darrel “Darry” Curtis) in Prime Stage Theatre’s The Outsiders. When not in acting classes or trying to perfect a line, he can be found hunched over a computer reading opinions or trying to deadlift a small truck. Facebook/TikTok/Twitter/Instagram: @BrowsUnlimited.

Jill Buda
Will portray the role of Wood Nymph Amanita
Jill is so excited to be performing in a Prime Stage production for the first time! Some of her favorite recent roles include (Bridget) in Nana Does Vegas at Little Lake Theater, (Lydia) in Pride and Prejudice, (Marianne) in Tartuffe, and (Wendy) in Peter Pan with Arena Theater in Wheaton, Illinois. She would like to thank the entire team at Prime Stage Theatre for giving her the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful cast. She sends her love to her husband, Trevor, for his constant encouragement and support in all her artistic endeavors.

Trevor Buda
Will portray the roles of Fenris Ulf
Trevor is is making his Prime Stage debut. He was most recently seen in Pittsburgh at Little Lake Theater in their production of The Metromaniacs, where he portrayed the role of (Damis). He is also an actor in the touring productions of Saltworks Theater Company. He previously worked with the Ohio Shakespeare Festival in many productions like Romeo &Juliet (Peter), All’s Well That Ends Well (Bertram), Dracula (John Seward), As You Like It (Silvius), and others. Additionally, he worked with Great Lakes Theater in productions of A Christmas Carol and Hamlet, as well as their school-residency program. He is a graduate of Baldwin Wallace University. He recently started recording his original music with his wife and friends under the band name Robin Hill. He sends love to his wife, Jill.

Jackson Conforti
Will portray the role of Peter Pevensie
Jackson is an eighth grader at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School where he majors in Musical Theater. This is Jackson’s first production with Prime Stage but his favorite past credits include Hermey in Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Jr, Ren McCormack in GTK Footloose, Old Man Jenkins in The SpongeBob Musical, and many more. In his free time Jackson writes songs, and plays 5 instruments. He would like to thank the amazing cast and crew members for bringing this classic story to life in the beautiful and magical way that it did.

Brooke Echnat
Will portray the role of Wood Nymph Adaria
Brooke is an Actor, Director, Theatre Arts Educator, Audition Coach, and Pittsburgh Native! She is thrilled to be making her onstage debut with Prime Stage after being a part of the Run Crew for Frankenstein this past fall! In 2022, Brooke was a part of the Opening Entertainment Teams for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser and the Disney Wish. She is also currently a Teaching Artist with City Theatre! Brooke has trained at the London Dramatic Academy as well as Bucknell University! You can catch Brooke again next month at Vigilance Theater’s production of The Crucible as (Rev. Hale). Brooke would like to deeply thank her family and friends for all of their love and support!

Molly Frontz
Will portray the role of Lucy Pevensie
Molly is a sixth grade theater student at PPS CAPA and has been studying at CLO Academy since she was 6. She is excited to be playing the role of (Lucy) in her Prime Stage debut. Other recent roles include (Matilda) in CAPA's production of Matilda the Musical and assorted roles including (Belinda Cratchitt) in CLO's A Musical Christmas Carol. Molly would like to thank her family and teachers for their patience and guidance. "All shall be done, but it may be harder than you think." ~C.S. Lewis

Andrew Lesnett
Will portray the role of Tumnus
Andrew is thrilled to be working with Prime Stage Theatre once again! He is a recent graduate of Point Park University with a BA in Theatre Arts: Performance and Practice. Previous credits include Prime Stage’s Frankenstein, Pittsburgh Playlabs’ Stagestruck, and Pittsburgh Playhouse's Pippin. He would like to thank his friends and family as well as the amazing cast and crew who have made this such an incredible experience

Eamonn McElfresh
Will portray the role of Edmund Pevensie
Eamonn a theater major at CAPA, is thrilled to be back on stage with Prime Stage Theatre! He was recently seen on stage in The Pittsburgh Public’s production of The Christmas Story, in CLO Academy’s Into The Woods, and in Front Porch Theatricals’ Grand Hotel. You can catch Eamonn on stage soon in Pittsburgh CAPA’s The Prom musical. He thanks his family, teachers, and coaches for their support and guidance

Isaac Miller
Will portray the roles of Professor and Father Christmas
Isaac is thrilled to be performing at the New Hazlett again in his hometown of Pittsburgh. Recent Prime Stage performances include Frankenstein (Victor Frankenstein/Percy Shelley) and Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad (Publisher, Master, Conductor). New York credits include America’s Favorite Newscaster and What Elsa’s Knew in a Peril. He has starred in shows such as Beauty and the Beast, Ragtime, and Little Shop of Horrors. Isaac is also a musician. He graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 2017 with a BFA Musical Theater.

Matt Henderson
Will portray the role of Dwarf
Matt returns to Prime Stage after appearances in Arsenic and Old Lace, Einstein, A Stage Portrait, Twelfth Night, Walk Two Moons, The Scarlet Letter, and The Westing Game. He has worked with many other theatre companies throughout the Pittsburgh area. Quantum Theatre: 10 for 21. Arcade Comedy Theater: The Thanksgiving Play. City Theatre: The Young Playwrights Festival. PICT Classic Theatre: The Old Curiosity Shop, Romeo & Juliet, The Lion in Winter. 12 Peers Theater: Mythburgh, Mr. Burns, a post-electric play, Thom Pain (based on nothing), White Rabbit Red Rabbit, Colorado, The Pittsburgh Monologue Project. Bricolage: Bazaar, B.U.S., Midnight Radio, Jr. - Mad Science Lab, Underwater Voyage, Midnight Radio - Animated Holidaze, Speech & Debate, Weightless. Saint Vincent Summer Theatre: Suite Surrender. No Name Players: Fixing King John. Off the Wall: boom. Cup-A-Jo Productions: Unhinged, Hospitality Suite. Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks: A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The New Renaissance Theatre Company: The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Tempest. Up next: Prime Stage Theatre’s production of The Boxcar Children, running June 16th-25th.

Anthony Luisi
Will portray the role of Mr. Beaver
Anthony is excited to be making his debut at Prime Stage Theater as Mr. Beaver. He has also been recently seen as (Jacob Marley) in A Christmas Carol with The Wright Company, (Andy) in the one act play, Gossip, at the Pennsylvania State Thespian Conference and (Race/Jack Understudy) in Little Lake Theater’s production of the Newsies. Anthony is a junior at Peters Township High School who also enjoys playing the baritone saxophone in the school marching band, singing with his a cappella group, and being a part of the wrestling team. He is proud to have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. Anthony would like to thank his family for their support of his love of acting and hopes to pursue it in college

Rachel Pfennigwerth
Will portray the role of White Witch
Rachel is thrilled to be performing with Prime Stage for the first time. It is also a dream to be performing in this space after having spent lots of time around the then Pittsburgh Public and Prime Stage as a child. When not performing, Rachel can be found teaching and directing at Act One Theatre School in the North Hills. It’s at Act One where she was first introduced to Narnia in the musical production as (The Pink Poodle), a made up Narnian who becomes a statue in the Witch’s courtyard. Years later, Rachel shed the collar in exchange for a mane to play (Aslan) in that same musical, Narnia. It’s been extremely fun going to the dark side…and the Witch’s fashion is much more on point. Previous favorite credits include: (Electra), Electra Little Lake Theatre; (Kala), Tarzan China National Tour; (Sheriff/Shop Lady), Bubble Boy the Musical, Arcade Comedy Theater; (Logan), The Thanksgiving Play, Arcade. Most recently, Rachel appeared as (Katie) in the independent film A Mother’s Love, for which she has received a Best Actress nomination at the Catalano Film Festival. Come back to Prime Stage Theatre this season to see Rachel in The 39 Steps!

Annabel Tew
Will portray the role of Susan Pevensie
Annabel is thrilled to be in her first Prime Stage production! She is a 10th grade musical theater major at Pittsburgh CAPA. Some of her favorite productions include Seussical Jr. (Mayzie), I Love You, You’re Perfect… (Diane), Willy Wonka Jr. (Veruca Salt), and Hairspray (Lou Ann). She is a 3-time finalist for the Williams Sing-off and a 2-time finalist in PPT’s Shakespeare Scene and Monologue Contest. She would like to thank her friends, family, and teachers for their support.

Caitlin Young
Will portray the role of Mrs. Beaver
Caitlin is thrilled to make her Prime Stage debut with this amazing team! A Pittsburgh local and Duquesne University graduate, she has performed with theaters around the area for over a decade. Favorite credits include: (Sister James) in Doubt at Iron Horse, (April) in Company at Riverfront, (Pickles) in The Great American Trailer Park Musical at BMTG, (Panacea) in Forum at South Park, (Polly Peachum) in Threepenny Opera at Red Masquers, (Ensemble) in Anything Goes at Stage 62, and (Cast Choir) for Candlelight Processional at EPCOT from 2016-17. Later this spring, she will Assistant Direct Godspell at The Theatre Factory. Caitlin serves on the Riverfront Theatre Company’s board and helps with their Marketing. Thank you to the entire Prime Stage team for this opportunity! "A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest.” – C.S. Lewis

More Information

Link to Living the Legacy of C.S. Lewis

Link to C.S. Lewis Study Center

Link to The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe information

Link to The Origins of Narnia

Link to Origin of The Narnia Wardrobe

Fun Facts

The story was inspired by an image Lewis conjured up when he was 16- of a faun carrying parcels and an umbrella passing through a snowy wood. This is most likely who the faun Mr. Tumnus is based on- who would become Lucy's first friend in Narnia.

Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien were in a writing group called “The Inklings.” While both writers were working on fantasy novels—Lewis on Narnia and Tolkien on The Lord of the Rings—they met every Monday morning to talk about writing. Others started to join them, and soon the group swelled to 19 men, so they started meeting on Thursday evenings to share and discuss their work.

Characters

Aslan is named after the Turkish word for 'lion'!

Aslan is a powerful creature but also gentle and wise. He has a deep love for all creation and will do anything to protect those he cares for.

The White Witch’s name, Jadis, means 'witch' in Persian.

The White Witch has magical powers that allow her to freeze people and objects by turning them into stone, creating spells and potions, and casting the land into never-ending winter.

The Professor, whose name is Digory Kirke, is based on William T. Kirkpatrick, who tutored Lewis when he was a teenager.

The Children

In 1939, three girls, Margaret, Mary, and Katherine, were evacuated from London because of anticipated bombings and sent to live with Lewis in the countryside for a short time. This situation seems to be the inspiration for the four children.

The original names of the Pevensie siblings were Rose, Peter, Martin, and Ann.

The character of Lucy, the youngest sibling, was based on C.S. Lewis's goddaughter- Lucy Barfield. In fact, he began writing the books in an effort to get his goddaughter to read more fairy tales! She was 4 years old when he started the book and 14 when he finished it.

Turkish Delight – Recipe

What is Turkish Delights?
Turkish delight is a candy made with starch and sugar. The most common flavor is rosewater but many other varieties such as lemon, mastic, orange, as well as plain are popular in Turkey. Some of them also contain chopped nuts or soapwort extract.

Why did C.S. Lewis write Turkish Delight into Narnia?
When C.S. Lewis started writing the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, the world looked very different. Because of World War 2, confectionery items were rationed in Britain. By the time the book was finally published in 1950, the allowance was still half a pound of candy and chocolate per person per month—if you could afford it, of course. That’s why it makes so much sense that Edmund’s wish from the White Witch is a candy that is made almost entirely of sugar. Something luxurious and out of reach at the time.