Student Writes Play Being Performed This Week

Jackson Elliott, a sophomore at La Grange High School, recently wrote a play for the Fayette County Community Theatre which will be performed this weekend.

Elliott’s play “Narnia Storbook” will introduce the audience to the magical world of Narnia and serve as a prequel to the second feature, “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe” dramatized by Joseph Robinette based on the book by C.S. Lewis.

In all, more than 60 area kids are involved in both productions.

The Fayette County Community Theatre is a nonprofit organization composed of local community members who put on plays for the community, a theatre camp for students, and organises a children’s production every summer.

Jackson has acted in “Our Town,” “Back to the 80s,” and the crew in “The Great Gatsby,” and has participated in theatre camp.

Jackson has written three full length plays for the Vacation Bible School at La Grange Church of Christ, screenplays for short films, and is currently working on screenplays for short films to be filmed and entered into film festivals. He has also participated in film camp put on by the Austin Film Society, and helped produce a short film that will premiere later this summer.

When asked why he wrote a play for the FCCT, Jackson replied, “I have written several screenplays. Late this spring, the FCCT leadership was trying to figure out a way to include more children in the summer children’s production. They were made aware of my interest and experience in writing, and asked me to write a play for young children based on a familiar children’s story, but set in the world of Narnia to be performed alongside “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.”

He continues, “Narnia Storybook is a retelling of the three little pigs, but set in the world of Narnia, as a prequel to the events in the C.S Lewis Classic, ‘The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe’. It will introduce the audience to the land of Narnia before the White Witch assumes power.” According to Jackson, the play is written to be performed by a young cast, but enjoyed by all ages.

The performances of “Narnia Storybook” and “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe are July 26 & 27 at 7 p.m. and July 28 at 3 p.m. at the La Grange ISD Performing Arts Center.