Local Students Hard at Work on Summer Community Theatre Play

More than 60 students from Fayette and surrounding counties came out to audition for Fayette County Community Theatre’s upcoming double feature plays “Narnia Storybook” and “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.” They range in age from 5 to 17 years old, and hail from La Grange, Giddings, Bastrop, Ellinger, Moulton, Weimar, Schulenburg, West Point, Plum and other areas.

This is the first time FCCT has offered two plays to accommodate the number of interested students. “In previous years, and really beginning in 2021 with ‘Jungle Book,’ we’ve been pleasantly surprised with an ever increasing number of students showing up to auditions,” said executive director Heather Barthelme. “This is the fourth consecutive student production with more than 50 students. It’s been challenging at times and we strive to ensure that the students are having a good experience and our staff is able to manage them all.” In an effort to continually improve, the organization sought out a short play to serve as a prequel to “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.”

“La Grange high school student Jackson Elliott wrote ‘Narnia Storybook’ and it fits perfectly,” said La Grange elementary school teacher and “Narnia Storybook” director Tiffany Denham. “We’re excited to offer this opportunity so that more students can participate in our program.”

Student Programming Director Melissa Weltner oversees the production and is at the helm of “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe,” and is mentoring student director Juan Zuniga. “It’s always exciting to see who comes out to audition,” she said. “We’ve got a great group of familiar faces and of course some new ones joining in.”

Rehearsals commenced June 20, and will run through June and July.

The performances will be held at the La Grange Independent School District Performing Arts Center, at 656 East Travis Street, from July 26-28. Tickets can be purchased online at faycotheatre. com or at the FCCT Box Office at 120 S. Washington St.

in La Grange.