In keeping with its seasonal theme of plays based on books, the Matchbox Children’s Theatre will perform the C.S. Lewis classic “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” this weekend.

The play is based on the story of the same name, which tells the tale of four siblings who are evacuated from London during the World War II Blitz to a home in the English countryside. There, they stumble upon a wardrobe that transports them to the Land of Narnia, where they meet characters such as Aslan the Lion and the evil White Witch.

“It is one of my favorite stories of all times and I really wanted to be part of the show,” said Nikki Phillips who, along with Cameron Davis, is directing the show.

Phillips said the show provided some challenges.

“Winter time is a challenge with cast members being sick and missing rehearsals,” she said. “The show has a lot of props and characters. Our costume people have worked very hard. The costuming has been a collaborative effort with Riverland Community College.”

Despite the challenges of the show, Phillips said the cast has been up to the task.

“We have a wonderful cast,’ she said. “We have some new up and coming kids that are doing really well. We had some veterans try out, too.”

One of those veterans, Lia Culbert, who is playing the White Witch, had a personal reason for auditioning. Culbert played the White Witch in the Matchbox Children’s Theatre performance of “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” during the 1984-85 season. The director then was Steven Kinney, a recognizable face in the Austin theatre community who passed away from multiple myeloma on Dec. 17, 2017.

“He passed away so suddenly,” Culbert said. “I wasn’t planning to do a show, but I was sad and I thought that would be a nice way to get through it. Penny (Kinney’s wife) and Steve were so important to me when I was growing up. It’s important for kids to have adults in their lives and I want to have that impact on the kids in the show.”

Culbert remembered that Kinney had her perform the role on roller skates.

“The character is part giant and I’m kind of tiny, so I think that was a way for Steve to get around that,” she said. “The White Witch floats and Steve had seen the Andrew Lloyd Webber show ‘Starlight Express,’ which was performed on roller skates, so he asked if I could skate and I said yes.”

Because Kinney passed away from cancer, Culbert feels the performance being scheduled close to Paint the Town Pink is “serendipitous.”

For a fee, visitors can have their pictures taken with the cast. Money raised from the pictures will be donated to cancer research.

Phillips, who said the story’s biblical allegories remind her of her faith, believes the show has something for everyone.

“It is just a beautiful story of redemption, good versus evil, and how good wins out in the end,” she said. “And to see all of the wonderful costumes and make up, as well as two big fight scenes in the show, it really has something for everyone. There are several tender moments and lots of action.”

“The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” will be performed at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 16, and Saturday, Feb. 17; and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 18, at the Historic Paramount Theatre. Tickets are $6 for youth 14 and under and $10 for adults. Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/11298, at the Austin ArtWorks Center or at the door one hour prior to the performance.

Sweet Reads will be holding a special preview of the show from 10-11 a.m. on Saturday.

For more information, call 507-433-1931 or visit www.matchboxchildrenstheatre.org.