San Benito Stage Company show features 41 children
The San Benito Stage Company will transform the Granada Theatre into the magical world of “Narnia” in its children’s musical based on the book by C.S. Lewis, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
The current spring show includes 41 children ages 8 through eighth grade and two adults. It brings with it some new people in behind-the-scenes roles, including first-time producer Jeanne Melius and director Candace Miser Blanton.
Blanton is a graduate from Vanguard University with a degree in theater performance directing. She has worked with kids before and directed shows while she was in school, but this is her first time working with San Benito Stage Company. For Blanton it is a sort of homecoming as she acted in her first show with the company.
“I performed my very first official play in eighth grade here,” she said, of performing in “Cinderella.” “I was the fairy godmother and it was my first show.”
She said her love of theater was born there and it grew as she continued to do it all through high school.
The show combines with her other love of working with children. She said she worked with Grace Bible Church’s Vacation Bible School program for three years, directing the kids in performances.
Of “Narnia,” she said about half the kids in the show were familiar with the movie or the books.
“It’s been funny helping kids realize the story is a little different,” Blanton said. “When they refer to the movie, the musical is a lot different and the original story is different.”
She added about 10 characters to the show so that it will be different from what anyone has seen before.
“The biggest thing I changed is that I added three muses, who are ballerinas, who represent the magic of Narnia,” she said. “They are in almost every scene.”
Despite the majority of the story taking place in the mystical land of Narnia, after the Pevensie kids make their way through the wardrobe, “the rest of the set is really simple.”
Blanton said she wanted to focus on the actors to bring the story to life. There are even some actors dressed as crocuses and mushrooms who are part of the set, but who dance, sing and interact with the rest of the cast.
“I’m looking forward to this amazing story coming to life,” Blanton said. “The kids are amazing singers, actors and dancers … It’s a really important story to be told by kids.”
One of Blanton’s favorite parts of the show is that she has been able to work with her mother Becky Miser, who is the musical director.
“She followed me all through my acting endeavors and played piano for all my shows,” she said. “She taught me how to sing and how to follow harmony. She is one of the main reasons I pursued (a degree in theater.)”
Melius said Miser is one of the reasons she signed on for the show. San Benito Stage Company was looking for a producer so that Miser would not have to do double duty as producer and musical director. Melius had seen many SBSC performances and had expressed some interest in helping with set design, something she had done while in college. She agreed to produce the show, with plenty of support from others involved behind the scenes.
“I just loved the people,” Melius said, of her first meeting with the group. “They were wonderful, very open and warm. They said, ‘We’ll help you’ and I said, ‘OK.’”
The rehearsals have made for some long days for Melius, who works as a pediatric nurse with the San Benito County Public Health Division.
“But it’s been fantastic,” she said. “I thoroughly enjoy it. I get lots of hugs from the little kids.”
She said she is looking forward to the opening night.
“I’m looking forward to the first applause and curtain calls that the kids get,” Melius said. “That will just feel so wonderful.”
‘Narnia’ basics
The San Benito Stage Company presents “Narnia,” C.S. Lewis’ tale of “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” The show opened April 13, with additional shows on April 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28 at 7 p.m., and matinees on April 15 and 22, at 2 p.m., at the Granada Theater, 336 Fifth St., in Hollister. General admission is $15, students and seniors are $12, and group packs are available for advance purchase for $40 for four tickets. Tickets may be purchased at Postal Graphics or the Market, in Hollister. Details: 636-6810 or www.sanbenitostage.org.
