The young cast of the summer production for the Butler Little Theatre is having a roaring good time trying to weave together the stage version of “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” by C.S. Lewis.

The dramatization by Joseph Robinette recreates the magic and mystery of Aslan, the great lion, his struggle with the White Witch, and the journey of four siblings who find themselves plunged into the exciting, never-to-be-forgotten land of Narnia.

The Lewis classic is a tale of love, faith and courage and an overall celebration of life.

The BLT youth and student production features some 30 young people ages 8 to 22 from Butler, Karns City, South Butler, Seneca Valley and Slippery Rock school districts as well as colleges.

Emily Donato, a Butler High School graduate and a freshman at the College of Wooster, plays the eldest girl of the four siblings, Susan Pevensy.

“Susan always means very well and would do anything to keep her family safe, but her trip to Narnia tests her limits and helps her evolve into more of a free spirit,” said Donato, who has learned something in portraying Susan. “As Susan grows throughout the story, I have allowed myself to try to grow as well, and while I hope my growth to be more multidimensional than this fictional character, I was glad to have her along to help,” Donato said.

Susan's brother Peter is being played by Butler County Community College freshman Austin Uram of Butler Township.

“His personality can easily be categorized as chivalric: loyal, brave, passionate and loving,” said Uram of his character.

Uram said he can readily connect with Peter. “As an eldest brother and a very romantically driven human being, I relate really well to Peter and can sometimes feel the very way he thinks,” he said.

Younger brother Edmund is being portrayed by Nathan Ellis of Butler Township, who comes to the play as a Narnia fan having loved the series of books and the movie.

“I am really trying to bring the rudeness of my character to its full potential. I'm also having a lot of fun with my British accent,” he said.

The villain of the show is the White Witch, played by Shannon Donovan of Penn Township, a junior at Knoch High School this fall.

“Queen Jadis, the White Witch, rules the land with fear. She's beautifully evil, selfish, cruel, and deathly cold as the winter she curses upon Narnia,” Donovan said.

Donovan recently appeared as Lily Garland in “Twentieth Century” at Knoch High School.

For her, the challenge is being as evil as the role calls for.

“It's difficult to capture how evil the White Witch is to the younger characters. I'm not usually like that,” she said. “I am bringing a twisted sense of humor to her bipolar attitude.”

Braeden Rawa of Mars is playing Mr. Tumnus, a mythical creature who is half fawn and half man.

“He is the first character that Lucy meets after she enters Narnia, and they quickly become friends,” he said. “He is loyal and risks his life to save her.”

Though he is familiar with the books and the movie, Rawa said there is a challenge to playing a character that is not completely human.

Helping head up the production is student director/producer Joey Hertzog, program director Bob Snodgrass Jr., and executive producer Stephanie Kobil.

The show opens July 26.

<B>WHO: </B>Butler Little Theatre summer youth and student production<B>WHAT: </B>“The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”<B>WHEN:</B> 7:30 p.m. July 26 to 28 and 2:30 p.m. July 29<B>WHERE: </B>One Howard St.<B>TICKETS: </B>$10, available at May’s Music Shoppe, 247 E. Jefferson St.<B>INFO: </B>724-287-6781