Journey Theater is getting ready to bring “Narnia” to the Washburn Performing Arts Center this December, and the energy around the production is already high. The holiday musical serves as a chance to support the group’s goal of building a permanent home stage at Manor Church south of Battle Ground.
Director Melissa Bareford said the show balances their season and gives younger performers something they can shine in.
“It's a show that Journey has done before, but it's been quite a few years,” she said. “Putting together a season of shows is always a big puzzle for our artistic people.”
The show leans into themes that Bareford believes resonate with families this time of year.
“The overarching theme is good versus evil,” she said. “As we practice forgiveness and as we practice sacrifice, and as we practice love and kindness, we can begin to put that world back together.”
According to Bareford, 74 youths have joined the cast and crew, 23 of whom are brand new to the stage. Bareford said the freshness of the performers brings excitement as well as challenge.
“They don't know anything yet,” she said. “It's part of the challenge and part of the fun because they're just so excited to do it.”
Bareford is especially proud of the Aslan puppet, which she built herself despite having no prior experience making anything as complex. The prop, made of straw and wood, serves as a centerpiece for the musical.
The puppet requires three young performers to bring Aslan to life. Two operate the legs and body from inside the frame, while the actor playing Aslan stands beside it, moving the head and delivering every line and song. Bareford said the rest of the cast is trained to focus their performance on the puppet instead of the actor controlling it, helping the character feel alive on stage.
Bareford said several young actors are taking on demanding parts, including Edmund, played by Vancouver fifth grader Isaac Wood, whom she described as the emotional center of the story.
“Edmund is kind of the heart of the show,” Bareford explained.
Wood said the role clicked for him once he understood Edmund’s shift from a spoiled kid to a changed person, shaped by his meeting with Aslan.
“Edmund is kind of like a bratty character at first, and he's not the nicest,” Wood explained. “He has this meeting with Aslan. He just kind of teaches him to like change and become like a new person.
He said the moment when the character realizes he needs to change happens during a duet titled “From the Inside Out,” which he performs alongside Aslan.
The musical features around a dozen songs and runs about two hours plus intermission.
Finding a permanent home
While all performances of Narnia will be held in Washougal, most prior rehearsals have been at Manor Church, south of Battle Ground, where Journey Theater held “Finding Nemo Jr.” in November last year. The smaller setup creates hurdles for young actors who must adjust to a new stage size when they move into the performance venue.
“I’ll say: ‘Remember guys, this room that we're practicing in, the stage we're going to perform in is 8 feet wider and 15 feet deeper,’” Bareford explained.
Journey Theater hopes those challenges will eventually disappear once Manor Church is fully renovated into a permanent home.
“We've been looking for a space for many years,” she said. “The advantage of having our own space is that we would control when we can have performances, how many performances we can have.”
Executive Director Stephen Pick said the partnership with Manor Church was formalized this year, and fundraising efforts kicked off shortly thereafter. The group plans to convert the sanctuary into “a true midsize theater” with stadium seating, upgraded lighting and sound, and adaptable space for both worship and performance. The adaptive seating, providing a better view of the stage, would accommodate approximately 275 seats in total.
They also plan to expand the parking lot and build a building for set and costume construction, so materials are no longer scattered across the county. While Journey Theater’s board has not ruled out holding performances in other surrounding Clark County stages, Manor Church would serve as its main stage and headquarters.
Journey needs $3 million to complete the project and has already raised or secured pledges totaling around $600,000. Pick said families have stepped up, but the next phase will depend on broader community support.
Journey Theatre hopes to continue hosting some classes and camp programs in other county locations for family convenience, according to Stephen.
Bareford said one of her favorite parts of directing this show has been working closely with her artistic team, including the music director and choreographer.
“Getting to work with these amazing artists is certainly a highlight for me,” she said
Journey Theater’s “Narnia” musical opens Dec. 5, with six performances across two weekends. Tickets range from $17 to $21, depending on age and purchase time. Full details are available at journeytheater.org/shows/narnia-fall-2025.
