The Nichols Middle School Drama Club took a trip to Narnia over the weekend in a stage adaption of C.S. Lewis’ classic “The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.”

The students performed an hour-long version of the story adapted by Joseph Robinette on the middle school’s stage at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 9 and 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 10.

Drama Club Director Susan Schobel said the students have been working on the production since early March.

“We threw it together pretty quickly quite frankly,” she said, noting that students were able to handle the short turnaround because of their experience with “Matilda the Musical Jr.” in the fall.

“Most of them are repeat people so it’s actually amazing to see how quickly things come together. There’s times where they already start moving things on stage before I even say anything,” she said with a laugh.

Schobel described the play as a “community event” and thanked the family members of the cast and crew for helping with costumes, the high school shop class for building the set and other high schoolers who volunteered their time to help. One cast member's grandmother created the unique centaur costume.

The play was “entirely student run,” Schobel said. Student crew members were in charge of the sound, lighting and moving the set. The crew even designed the stage's back lighting after painting a home-made backdrop for the production.

“I stand back and they take control,” she said.

Schobel said a highlight of the production for the cast was the pivotal battle scene between the forces of the White Witch and Aslan. The team choreographed the fight and set it to music.

Some students have read the book, but more have watched the movie version of the classic story and took inspiration from it, she said.

“Everybody gets a part and we find a place for everyone,” Schobel said.