Some stories never lose their magic.
You may have first discovered Narnia as a child, turning the pages of C. S. Lewis’s beloved novel and imagining what it would be like to push your way through the coats in an ordinary wardrobe and suddenly feel snow crunching beneath your feet.
Or maybe you’ve shared the story with your own children or grandchildren, introducing another generation to Lucy, Edmund, Susan, Peter—and, of course, Aslan.
This fall in Branson, you don’t have to imagine what it would be like to step through the wardrobe.
You can experience it for yourself.
The Academy of Arts Logos Theatre brings The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to life on stage at the Branson Hillside Theatre, transforming one of literature’s most beloved adventures into a theatrical experience filled with imaginative storytelling, spectacular puppetry, unforgettable characters, and a timeless story of courage, sacrifice, redemption, and hope.
For this week’s Wonder Wednesday, we’re stepping through the wardrobe.
Welcome to Narnia.
An Ordinary Wardrobe. An Extraordinary World.
The adventure begins during World War II, when siblings Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie are sent away from London to escape the bombings and stay with an eccentric professor in the English countryside.
It is there that Lucy discovers what appears to be an ordinary wardrobe.
But when she pushes past the coats, she doesn’t find the back of the wardrobe. Instead, she discovers a snow-covered forest—and a world none of the Pevensie children could have imagined.
Beyond the wardrobe lies Narnia, an enchanted land filled with talking animals, mythical creatures, and extraordinary adventures.
But something is terribly wrong.
Always Winter, but Never Christmas
Narnia has fallen under the rule of the White Witch, who has trapped the land in an endless winter.
Yet hope is beginning to return.
The great lion Aslan is coming back to Narnia, and the four Pevensie children soon find themselves caught in an extraordinary struggle between good and evil.
Along the way, their courage and loyalty are tested. There is betrayal and forgiveness, fear and bravery, sacrifice and redemption.
Those themes are part of what has allowed The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to resonate with readers for generations. Beneath the adventure and fantasy is a story with something meaningful to say about the choices we make, the people we love, and the hope that can emerge even in the darkest of seasons.
And experiencing those moments live on stage brings an entirely new dimension to a story so many of us already know and love.
Watch Narnia Come to Life
Under the direction of Nicole Chavers Stratton, the internationally acclaimed Logos Theatre uses theatrical artistry, imaginative staging, and its renowned puppetry to create the world of Narnia before your eyes.
That means audiences aren’t simply hearing the story retold. They get to watch this fantastical world unfold around them.
Characters that once existed only on the page suddenly have voices and movement. Creatures of Narnia appear before you. Epic moments become theatrical spectacles.
And somewhere along the way, a theater in Branson begins to feel a little less like Missouri and a little more like another world entirely.
For longtime Narnia fans, there is something special about seeing familiar characters and moments brought to life.
For children experiencing the story for the first time, there is the thrill of discovering it all without knowing exactly what waits on the other side of the wardrobe.
Go Behind the Wardrobe
And when the curtain falls, the adventure doesn’t necessarily have to end.
Guests who want an even closer look at how the magic is created can add the Backstage Pass Experience to their visit.
The 15- to 20-minute experience gives audience members an opportunity to meet favorite characters, see the Logos Theatre puppets up close, and learn more about how the artistic team brings the world of Narnia to life on stage.
It’s a fun opportunity to see what happens behind the scenes—and perhaps gain a new appreciation for just how much creativity and craftsmanship goes into creating the world audiences have just experienced.
The Backstage Pass Experience is stroller and handicap accessible. Passes are $15 for adults and $8 for children ages 5–12, while children ages 4 and younger are free. Space is limited, so advance reservations are recommended.
A Story Worth Sharing With Another Generation
One of the wonderful things about stories like The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is the way they pass from one generation to the next.
Parents who once imagined themselves walking through that wardrobe can now watch their children discover Narnia.
Grandparents can introduce grandchildren to characters they first met decades ago.
And families who have never read the book at all can experience the adventure together for the very first time.
That makes this more than simply another show to add to a Branson itinerary. It can become a shared experience—and perhaps the beginning of a whole new family tradition.
Your Journey to Narnia Awaits
Branson is filled with places that invite us to escape from the everyday for a little while.
But there aren’t many where you can walk into a theater in the Ozarks and find yourself transported to a snow-covered world on the other side of a wardrobe.
Whether The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a treasured childhood favorite or a story you’re just beginning to discover, this is your opportunity to experience Narnia in an entirely new way.
Bring the kids. Bring the grandkids. Bring the person who first introduced you to Narnia.
Then settle into your seat and let the story take you somewhere extraordinary.
Because somewhere in Branson, there’s a wardrobe waiting.
Will you step inside?
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Branson Hillside Theatre
Branson, Missouri
Call: (417) 334-4845
Tickets and information at Narnia Branson
Until next Wednesday, keep exploring, keep discovering, and keep finding the wonder in Branson. ✨
