Jesse Corbin and Kelly Strandemo Join LION, WITCH & WARDROBE Off-Broadway

Off Broadway Family Theatre has announced new cast members for its long running production, The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe, which plays Saturdays at 11 AM at St. Luke's Theatre, 308 West 46th Street, NYC.

In this inventive and highly theatrical adaptation of C.S. Lewis's beloved tale from the Chronicles of Narnia, two actors play eight characters, both human and animal. Through the magic of theatre, we travel to Narnia with the Pevensie children, and get swept into their journey to stand with the great lion Aslan against the evil White Witch. As the children battle the forces of evil they discover that Love is the deepest magic of all.

Jesse Corbin (Merry-Go-Round's From Here To Eternity) takes on the roles of "Peter," "Aslan", and others. Most recently, Corbin has appeared as "Link Larkin" in Hairspray and "Ralph Rackstraw" in H.M.S Pinafore. Other credits include performing in the NYC Frigid Festival for new works of musical theatre, as well as appearing across the country in such shows as LES MISERABLES ("Enjolras"), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat ("Joseph"), and A Murder, A Mystery & A Marriage ("Hugh Gregory").

Kelly Strandemo plays roles including "Lucy" and "The White Witch." Strandemo has previously been seen in NYC in Fuente Ovejuna (FringeNYC); Antigone Noir (EST); Belles; Thirds (Heiress Productions/The Lion Theatre) and the latest reading of Angels, the Musical. She has appeared regionally in roles such as "Guenevere" in Camelot; "Lucy" in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown; and "Eileen" in Moon Over Buffalo. Strandemo is a founding member of Ducdame Ensemble, and holds a Master's Degree in Classical Acting from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Alexander Kirby and Rachel Osterhus will also be joining the cast as understudies. Kirby was most recently seen onstage at Manhattan Repertory Theatre in Zanne Hall's Ethereal Killer. Before that he was in the holiday production of A Hoboken Tale and in the award winning production of Fuente Ovejuna in the 2015 New York International Fringe Festival. Regional credits include: Oh Gastronomy, HeroDad, Sense and Sensibility (Actors Theatre of Louisville), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Oregon Adventure Theater), Licking Batteries (Playwrights West), King John (Linbury Studio). Alexander holds a BA in Drama from the University of Portland, is an alumnus of the acting apprentice program at Actors Theatre of Louisville, and holds his MA in Classical Acting from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Osterhus is a recent graduate of Liberty University's B.A. in Theatre Arts Performance program. She was most recently seen in West Side Story ("Anybody's") at Greater Ocean City Theatre Company, and in Merry-Go-Round Playhouse's production of Oklahoma. Other regional credits: The Little Mermaid, 42nd Street, LES MISERABLES , Tarzan, and Peter Pan.

Off-Broadway Family Theatre provides quality theatrical experiences for family audiences by presenting both new and classic plays targeted towards children while still appealing to adults. Under the direction of Julia Beardsley O'Brien, their inaugural production of The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe employs two actors to play children, beavers, fauns, wicked witches and mythic lions. Ms. O'Brien states, "We invite our audience to use its imagination. There is no fake snow or audience participation. Instead we create a 'magic circle' in the theatre. When the actors are INSIDE the circle, they are SHOWING you the story as it comes to life. When the actors step OUTSIDE the circle, they are TELLING you the story." Originally dramatized by Le Clanché du Rand for Lincoln Center Theatre, this production features set and lighting design by Josh Iacovelli with costumes by Tom Long and masks by Jane Stein.

Director Julia Beardsley O'Brien's NY directing credits include The Rise of Dorothy Hale (Assistant Director); the National Tour of Gilligan's Island, the Musical (assistant director); Mad Forest (QED Productions), True Story Project: Faith (Visible Theatre), and Clucky, the Brave Little Hen (Visible Theatre/Stone Barns Center). She has also worked as the Education Director for a non-profit theatre, a teaching artist for various organizations, and is an Off-Broadway Producer.

The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe performs every Saturday at 11:00 AM at St. Luke's Theatre. There are additional Wednesday matinees scheduled throughout the summer on July 20th, August 3rd, 17th, and 31st, 2016. Matinee performances for summer camps and other groups can be arranged by calling 718-483-5989 or via e-mail at narniaoffbroadway@gmail.com. Ms. O'Brien said "The combination of classic children's literature and a Live Theatre performance make it a perfect fit for an educational and entertaining field trip."

The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe will be celebrating its 5th Year Anniversary off-Broadway on October 22nd. Tickets at $35 are available through www.telecharge.com or by calling (212) 239-6200. Running time is 45 minutes and the show is appropriate for children age five and older. For more information, visit www.narniaoffbroadway.com.

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