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It’s a full-circle moment for Ty Lenderman, Playhouse on the Square’s director of education.
Lenderman was 10 when he appeared in Playhouse’s 2009 production of “Narnia: The Musical” — and now he’s directing the same show, opening Friday, Nov. 6, at Circuit Playhouse.
Adapted from C.S. Lewis’ beloved “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” the musical follows the four Pevensie children as they tumble out of wartime England and into the frozen kingdom of Narnia.
The land is held in the grip of the White Witch, whose spell has frozen it so it is “always winter — and never Christmas.” The children join the Narnians — talking animals among them — who resist the Witch and await the return of Aslan, the Great Lion and rightful ruler.
He’s eager for audiences to see the work the cast has put into the show.
 “Narnia: The Musical” opens Friday, Nov. 6, at Circuit Playhouse. (Courtesy Chuck Ford/Playhouse on the Square)
“Everyone has had a great attitude and has put a little bit of themselves into parts of the show,” Lenderman said. “It’s not my show. It’s their show, really.”
Lenderman said the performers have been a wonderful, supportive group. The children are double-cast, so they don’t miss too much school during the show’s two-month run.
When they’re not performing, some sit with the sound designer to learn about sound or an introduction to lighting design.
“It’s not often with a show that you get that kind of a cast and an environment,” Lenderman said.
 Ty Lenderman is Playhouse on the Square’s director of education. (Courtesy Playhouse on the Square)
Giving young people opportunities is what drives Lenderman. As a child, he appeared in community theater shows around Memphis and said his mother encouraged him to audition with director Dave Landis for “Narnia” so the theater would get to know him before auditions later that season for “Oliver.”
Lenderman was in the ensemble for “Narnia.” He played a squirrel, a rabbit and a servant of darkness.
That opportunity began a lasting connection.
“Without ‘Narnia’ and Dave giving me that shot back in 2009, I would not be the artist and the person I am today,” Lenderman said.
As part of the theater company’s holiday school matinee offerings, which will also include “Frozen” opening at Playhouse on the Square on Friday, Nov. 13, school groups will see the show in the morning, then have a chance to stay for a talkback with the actors after the curtain call.
Lenderman said it’s a chance to “inspire the next generation of young performers and technicians” and help kids try theater at Playhouse, in their schools or in community theaters.
“I always say we were all once that kid in that seat that saw live theater and it changed our lives,” Lenderman said, “and hopefully, we’ll get that Ty who is sitting in the audience, that sees the show and goes, ‘I want to try that,’ and then maybe he’ll be sitting in my office chair one day.”
“Narnia: The Musical” opens Friday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. All subsequent public performances will be on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. through Dec. 20. Tickets are $20-$40. More information is available here.
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