On Stage Tonight - "Charlotte's Web"

First Stage Theatre Company is marching into Spring with two great shows - and the first one, Charlotte's Web, takes the stage tonight at 8:00 p.m. at the Renaissance Theatre (the old Huntington High School).

It's going to be a fun and heartwarming show - but don't take my work for it - here's the story from the Herald-Dispatch's Beth Hendricks:

The world's most famous spider is spinning her web at the Renaissance Theatre this weekend and next.

In its 19th season, the First Stage Theatre Company presents Charlotte's Web, based on the popular children's book by E.B. White.

Performances are at 8 p.m. March 6, 7, 13 and 14, and at 2:30 p.m. March 8 and 15. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for seniors and children younger than 12.

"What we're trying to do are 'pages to stage' shows. That means, selecting a show because it's based on a book, particularly one that children are going to be familiar with. We even have teachers sometimes who teach the books or create study guides and then bring their kids to see the show," said show director Amy Browning. "We hope this series can evolve in the next year to, perhaps, even traveling around the area with it.

"We also selected this show because it's a straight show and not a musical. We have kids who aren't singers and dancers who still love to act, and we want to make sure those kids still have the opportunity to be involved."

Charlotte's Web tells the story of a girl named Fern who saves a runt pig named Wilbur, and how his life is saved by a clever spider named Charlotte. The First Stage production features 30 students from third grade to eighth grade. Browning said the play is remarkably similar to the intent of the author.

"There's a quote on the front page of the script from E.B. White that says, 'You have kept my spirit and my intent. Congratulations and cheers.' So, the scriptwriter followed the book very closely," she explained. "What you'll see from us are only some creative liberties on the characters. For instance, our pig is not wearing a giant pig suit but overalls and a pink hat with pig ears. Our goose wears a big poufy dress. We tried to punch up the costumes a little because there's not a lot of singing and dancing and movement.

"Our set is really cute and has a 16-feet wide red barn that takes up a giant chunk of the set."

Many of the Charlotte's Web cast members are new to the stage, but Browning said it worked out for each actor to have at least one or two speaking parts during the show.

"We didn't do that intentionally, but that's kind of how it worked out, and we think it's pretty cool," she said. "It's a great opportunity for these kids."

For more information or tickets, call 304-416-KIDS or visit www.firststagetheatre.org.

Charlotte's Web is one of two shows this month being performed by First Stage Theatre. The other is the musical comedy Alexander Who's Not Not Not Not Not Not Going To Move, which will be presented March 20-22 and 27-29, at Jeslyn Performing Arts Center.

Here's the cast for the show:

Fern Arable: Abigail Turner

John Arable: Zach Davis

Martha Arable: Sarah Stevenson

Avery Arable: Jonathan Ross

Homer Zuckerman: Jonathan Lamp

Edith Zuckerman: Caroline Hunter

Luray: Rachel Geiger

Wilbur: Samantha Young

Templeton: Jack McGee

Charlotte: Sarena Johnson

The Narrators: Leslie Collins, Rebecca Craig, Chloe Donahoe

Farm Animals: Goose, Brooke Alexander; Gander, Kathryn Booth; Sheep, Emily Bannon; Lamb, Kennedy Magner.

Chorus Members: Cassie Bowen, Karenann Flouhouse, Madalein Jackson, Hannah Kirby, Shelby McKeand, Emily Underwood, Angel Yarussi, Stephanie Yuhasz.

Baby Spiders/Chorus Member: Nathaniel Fornash, Morgan Hush, Maria Vance.