Dallas Children's Theater Blog

Astonishing Kids And Families With The Fun of Broadway-Like Plays and A Lot More!

Meet the Cast of THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE

Join us in the wardrobe for a magical adventure…

MONALISA AMIDAR**

Mrs. Beaver

Monalisa Amidar is grateful to be back with DCT. Her previous DCT work includes Last Stop On Market Street. She recently performed in shows with Elf on the Shelf Magical Holiday Journey, IMPRINT Theatreworks, and Shakespeare Dallas. Monalisa holds a B.A. in Theater from Pepperdine University and an M.A. in Arts & Humanities from UT Dallas. She is represented by the Kim Dawson Agency. Monalisa dedicates this show to Phillip and their pets, Chum, Rock and Mr. Turts

 

MICAH JL BROOKS

Fenris Ulf, a wolf / The White Stag / Understudy

Micah JL Brooks is excited to make his long awaited DCT debut with this special show. His selected credits include Bright Star (Jimmy Ray Dobbs), Puffs (Cedric), Jack Frost (Boreas/ Father Winter), West Side Story (Action), and Oklahoma! (Jud Fry). A huge thanks goes to DCT and everyone who is helping create safe live theater right now.

 

DOUGLASS BURKS*

The Professor / Father Christmas

A veteran of Dallas area theater, Mr. Burks has worked with Dallas Children’s Theater for many years as an Equity actor, stage manager, sound designer, and director. He is a founding member of the nationally acclaimed Kathy Burks Theatre of Puppetry Arts and has earned the distinction of Master Puppeteer. A popular actor with DCT audiences, Doug will be remembered for his many roles on the DCT stage, which include The Giver (The Giver), Goodnight Moon (Larry the Tooth Fairy), James and the Giant Peach (Old Grasshopper), Peter Pan (Captain Hook), Young King Arthur (Merlin), The Emperor’s New Clothes (the Emperor), The Mummy’s Claw (Sir Nevil Blore), Jungalbook (Baloo), Holes (Mr. Sir), and Treasure Island (Long John Silver). He also portrayed the title characters in Frankenstein, The Reluctant Dragon, The Canterville Ghost, and the 2001 production of The BFG (Big Friendly Giant). Mr. Burks was a member of the first graduating class of Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas, Texas.

 

QUINTIN JONES, JR.*

Aslan, The Lion

Quintin (he/him) is so excited to be participating in his first production with DCT. He is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association. BLM

 

 

 

THI LE*

Lucy

Thi Le is delighted to be returning to Dallas Children’s Theater for The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe! Her previous work includes productions with Dallas Children’s Theater, Brick Road Theatre, The Firehouse Theatre, Uptown Players, and WaterTower Theatre. Thi loves creating art and having the opportunity to tell someone else’s stories, and she strives to inspire others to do the same. Follow her on social media: @littleteacup37

 

RUDY LOPEZ

Mr. Beaver

Rudy Lopez is very excited to be making his debut with Dallas Children’s Theater. Previous roles include Little Shop of Horrors (Mr. Mushnik); Bless Me, Ultima (Narciso); and Anna In The Tropics (Cheché). He would like to give the biggest thanks to his friends and family, mom, dad, and sister for always supporting him in his career.

 

ANIA LYONS*

Susan

Ania Lyons is so happy to return to the DCT stage after Dragons Love Tacos (Blue Dragon)! She returned to LIVE THEATRE in Dallas Theater Center’s A Christmas Carol (Female Swing) and Theatre Three’s touring production of The Music Man (Zaneeta Shinn). Ania has also worked onstage and backstage with other DFW theaters such as Prism Movement Theatre, Uptown Players, Casa Mañana, Lyric Stage, and more. Follow her adventures @Lyons.dance543

 

JOHNNY LEE MOSS

The Dwarf

Johnny is honored to be back at DCT in his 2nd production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe playing The Dwarf again after being in the 2010 production. His other DCT credits include The Curse of Castle Mongrew; Young King Arthur; and Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! Thanks to Artie for the chance to journey to Narnia again and love to Mom always

 

ETHAN RODRIGUEZ-MULLINS**

Mr. Tumnus, a faun

Ethan is absolutely thrilled to be back at Dallas Children’s Theater after appearing in Dragons Love Tacos (The Boy) earlier this year. He was also seen at DCT in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (LeFou) and the national tour of Diary of a Worm, a Spider & a Fly (Spider). He has music directed Godspell at CORP, Addams Family at NTPA, and Park-A-Palooza ll at Collin College. Favorite roles include: Grease (Doody) and Gypsy (Yonkers) at The Firehouse Theatre; Hello, Dolly! (Barnaby) at Garland Summer Musicals; The Yellow Boat (Benjamin) at Resolute Theatre Project; and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Chip) at Collin Theatre Center. He would love to thank his friends and family for their love, support, patience, and strength.

 

JO-JO STEINE*

Jadis, The White Witch

Jo-Jo Steine has been waiting for years to make her DCT debut and is over the moon to be here! Her past shows include A Christmas Carol (Belle, Charitable Woman, Sister) at Dallas Theater Center, Harvey (Nurse Kelly) at WaterTower Theatre, Reykjavik (Naomi/Valerie) at Kitchen Dog Theater, and Once (Reza) at Theatre Three. Thanks Mom, Dad, and Aaron!

 

LEO THOMASIAN*

Peter

Leo is thrilled to make his Dallas Children’s Theater debut! Credits include Spring Awakening (Melchior) at Serenbe Playhouse, Nobody Loves You (Evan/Dominic) at Horizon Theatre, Little Women (Laurie) at Contemporary Theatre of Dallas, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical (Rudolph) at Wishing Star Productions. Leo’s band, Last Minute Alive, has made their music available across all major digital music platforms. leothomasian.com / @lastminuteleo

 

AARON VERRILL

Edmund

Aaron is very thankful to be making his DCT (and Texas) debut! He would like to thank his friends and family for their unwavering support and hopes you enjoy the show!

 

 

GENA LOE
Understudy: Ensemble Swing

Gena is excited to return to DCT! Her previous work on the DCT stage includes Dragons Love Tacos (Yellow Dragon), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Babette), The Island of the Skog (Hannah), and Ella Enchanted: The Musical (Olive). She has also performed locally with in Disaster! at Uptown Players and Sister Act at MainStage Irving-Las Colinas. She would like to thank her family and friends for encouraging her to continue dancing her heart out.


THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE
Adapted by Joseph Robinette
Based on the book by C.S. Lewis
Directed by Artie Olaisen

April 3 – May 15, 2022
Ages 7 and up

One of the most celebrated books in children’s literature and the #1 most requested DCT play returns to the stage to create a remarkable world of magic. Join young adventurers Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy as they step through the not so ordinary wardrobe and into the mythical land of C.S. Lewis’ Narnia. Facing fantastic creatures and fierce battles in the heart and on the land, the four siblings must find the courage to battle the treacherous White Witch in order to end the deadly eternal winter in the beautiful forest. Guided by the all-knowing Lion, Aslan, these discoverers learn to cast aside their own fears to find the heroes within themselves.

Sunday, April 3, 1:30PM
Sunday, April 3, 4:30PM
Saturday, April 9, 1:30PM
Saturday, April 9, 4:30PM
Sunday, April 10, 1:30PM
Saturday, April 16, 1:30PM
Saturday, April 23, 1:30PM
Sunday, April 24, 1:30PM
Saturday, April 30, 1:30PM
Sunday, May 1, 1:30PM
Saturday, May 7, 1:30PM
Saturday, May 7, 4:30PM
Sunday, May 8, 1:30PM
Saturday, May 14, 1:30PM
Saturday, May 14, 4:30PM
Sunday, May 15, 1:30PM
Sunday, May 15, 4:30PM

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe photo by Karen Almond

All other photos courtesy of the actors

*Indicates member of Actors’ Equity Association
**Indicates AEA membership candidate

Meet the children of the LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE

Four humans and a prophecy…

In Narnia, humans are extremely rare—so rare, the word “human” is seldom used. Instead boys are called Sons of Adam and girls are Daughters of Eve. This is important, as the only way to end Narnia’s eternal winter is to follow the ancient prophecy and have “two Sons of Adam and two Daughters of Eve” sit on the four thrones of Cair Paravel…

Still following? If not, don’t worry. The four Pevensie children are going to struggle a little, too – as anyone does when entering an unfamiliar land. Let’s get to know them!


Lucy Pevensie – the youngest
Lucy Pevensie is the youngest of four siblings, and the first to discover Narnia through the wardrobe and make a fast friend. The play begins with Lucy’s second trip to Narnia, as her siblings didn’t believe the stories from her first. She’s determined to show them Narnia is as real as she is—and a whole lot of fun.


Edmund Pevensie – the second youngest
Edmund is skeptical and rebellious, teasing Lucy the most out of all the siblings. He causes trouble sometimes, but he has a good heart underneath it all. He is the second sibling to enter Narnia, but he is not as lucky as Lucy. His love of the candy Turkish Delight makes it easy for the villains to trick him—will he find his way, or be lost forever?


Susan Pevensie – the second oldest
Susan is the second oldest, and like Peter, takes on a lot of responsibilities. She can be a little strict with her siblings, but only out of love. She does not believe in Narnia until she sees it, but once she does, she’s just as excited as Lucy—although she tries to be a little more cautious.


Peter Pevensie – the oldest
Peter is the oldest sibling, and very aware of it. A natural leader, he tries his best to do the right thing. In Narnia, he is determined to step up and defend his siblings against whatever foes they may face—including the dangerous Fenris Ulf.


Because of actor proximity to audience members in this production, our actor’s union is still requiring that all audience members be masked.

Review DCT’s Health and Safety Policies and Procedures


Join the Sons of Adam and the Daughters of Eve on this unforgettable adventure…
Buy tickets now before they sell out!

THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE
Adapted by Joseph Robinette
Based on the book by C.S. Lewis
Directed by Artie Olaisen

April 3 – May 15, 2022
Ages 7 and up

One of the most celebrated books in children’s literature and the #1 most requested DCT play returns to the stage to create a remarkable world of magic. Join young adventurers Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy as they step through the not so ordinary wardrobe and into the mythical land of C.S. Lewis’ Narnia. Facing fantastic creatures and fierce battles in the heart and on the land, the four siblings must find the courage to battle the treacherous White Witch in order to end the deadly eternal winter in the beautiful forest. Guided by the all-knowing Lion, Aslan, these discoverers learn to cast aside their own fears to find the heroes within themselves.

Get your tickets as soon as you can; we’re known to fill up fast…

Sunday, April 3, 1:30PM
Sunday, April 3, 4:30PM
Saturday, April 9, 1:30PM
Saturday, April 9, 4:30PM
Sunday, April 10, 1:30PM
Saturday, April 16, 1:30PM
Saturday, April 23, 1:30PM
Sunday, April 24, 1:30PM
Saturday, April 30, 1:30PM
Sunday, May 1, 1:30PM
Saturday, May 7, 1:30PM
Saturday, May 7, 4:30PM
Sunday, May 8, 1:30PM
Saturday, May 14, 1:30PM
Saturday, May 14, 4:30PM
Sunday, May 15, 1:30PM
Sunday, May 15, 4:30PM

Photos by: Karen Almond

5 Facts about THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE

Fascinating Facts about the C.S. Lewis classic…

Animal Land, if you were to ask a young C.S. Lewis about it, was filled with talking animals and located on the shores of India. He came up with the idea with his brother when they were children. His brother was mostly interested in India, while young C.S. Lewis cared about the animals.

When C.S. Lewis was 16, he found himself thinking about this image, and wanting to write about it. He didn’t know what story to tell, but he apparently knew he would tell it someday. Thirty-five years later, he would!

Numerous rewrites and edits made the writing process for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe difficult for C.S. Lewis. He apparently did not have a story in mind when he started out, and the original drafts were very different.

Lucy Barfield, C.S. Lewis’s goddaughter, was the intended first recipient of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. In the book’s dedication, Lewis jokes that at the time of writing he did not know that “girls grow quicker than books” – referencing the fact that he wrote the book for a four-year old Lucy, who was now fourteen.

Each book in the Chronicles of Narnia series stands alone, because C.S. Lewis did not know he was going to write them. Each book reads differently and although they all center around Narnia, many of them have fully new casts of characters.


At this time, masks are still required by our actor’s union for safety reasons.
Review DCT’s Health and Safety Policies and Procedures


THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE
Adapted by Joseph Robinette
Based on the book by C.S. Lewis
Directed by Artie Olaisen

April 3 – May 15, 2022
Ages 7 and up

One of the most celebrated books in children’s literature and the #1 most requested DCT play returns to the stage to create a remarkable world of magic. Join young adventurers Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy as they step through the not so ordinary wardrobe and into the mythical land of C.S. Lewis’ Narnia. Facing fantastic creatures and fierce battles in the heart and on the land, the four siblings must find the courage to battle the treacherous White Witch in order to end the deadly eternal winter in the beautiful forest. Guided by the all-knowing Lion, Aslan, these discoverers learn to cast aside their own fears to find the heroes within themselves.

Get your tickets as soon as you can; we’re known to fill up fast…

Sunday, April 3, 1:30PM
Sunday, April 3, 4:30PM
Saturday, April 9, 1:30PM
Saturday, April 9, 4:30PM
Sunday, April 10, 1:30PM
Saturday, April 16, 1:30PM
Saturday, April 23, 1:30PM
Sunday, April 24, 1:30PM
Saturday, April 30, 1:30PM
Sunday, May 1, 1:30PM
Saturday, May 7, 1:30PM
Saturday, May 7, 4:30PM
Sunday, May 8, 1:30PM
Saturday, May 14, 1:30PM
Saturday, May 14, 4:30PM
Sunday, May 15, 1:30PM
Sunday, May 15, 4:30PM

 

Frequently asked questions about DCT’s newest show…

Whether you’re familiar with THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE and need a refresher, or are a beginner to all things Narnian – DCT has you covered.

How long is the show?
This particular play is about 1 hour and 15 minutes plus an intermission.

Why are you recommending an age of 7-and-up for this show? Can I bring my younger child?
We consider a number of factors when making our age recommendation: what grade the book is read in school, as well as what age the book is suggested for in the marketplace. We look at vocabulary, topics, and themes, as well as play length, and the likelihood of children to sit through it without being a distraction or disruptive to the rest of the audience.

Ultimately, however, these are recommendations. You know your child best, and if you believe your child would like the show and could be attentive with our other patrons, bring them!

What is Narnia?
Narnia is a fictional place created by C.S. Lewis, and featured in the book series, The Chronicles of Narnia. Talking beavers, fauns, witches and wolves are but some of the residents of this land.

During THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE, Narnia is stuck in an eternal winter – but some young and unexpected heroes are about to change that.

How do I get to Narnia?
Well, you could do what Lucy does in THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE and walk through the family wardrobe right into the magical land.

Who is Aslan?
Aslan is a powerful lion and the King of all Kings in Narnia.

Can you tell me some of the scarier things that happen in the show so we can be prepared?
Absolutely. A heroic figure is sacrificed and appears to die – although he does return to life later in the show. There are incidences of staged sword combat that result in the death of a villainous figure.

Sounds dark! Is all the show like that?
THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE is a story about hope and family, and it remains a children’s classic for a reason. Although it dips into darker themes, there’s plenty of levity to serve as counterbalance and make the story meaningful for both children and adults. Plus, there’s a family of beavers. What’s not to love?

We hoped this answered some of your questions and got you excited for the show! See you soon.


At this time, masks are still required by our actor’s union for safety reasons.
Review DCT’s Health and Safety Policies and Procedures


THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE
Adapted by Joseph Robinette
Based on the book by C.S. Lewis
Directed by Artie Olaisen

April 3 – May 15, 2022
Ages 7 and up

One of the most celebrated books in children’s literature and the #1 most requested DCT play returns to the stage to create a remarkable world of magic. Join young adventurers Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy as they step through the not so ordinary wardrobe and into the mythical land of C.S. Lewis’ Narnia. Facing fantastic creatures and fierce battles in the heart and on the land, the four siblings must find the courage to battle the treacherous White Witch in order to end the deadly eternal winter in the beautiful forest. Guided by the all-knowing Lion, Aslan, these discoverers learn to cast aside their own fears to find the heroes within themselves.

Get your tickets as soon as you can; we’re known to fill up fast…

Sunday, April 3, 1:30PM
Sunday, April 3, 4:30PM
Saturday, April 9, 1:30PM
Saturday, April 9, 4:30PM
Sunday, April 10, 1:30PM
Saturday, April 16, 1:30PM
Saturday, April 23, 1:30PM
Sunday, April 24, 1:30PM
Saturday, April 30, 1:30PM
Sunday, May 1, 1:30PM
Saturday, May 7, 1:30PM
Saturday, May 7, 4:30PM
Sunday, May 8, 1:30PM
Saturday, May 14, 1:30PM
Saturday, May 14, 4:30PM
Sunday, May 15, 1:30PM
Sunday, May 15, 4:30PM