Back Alley brings to life Tolkien's fantasy about a hobbit's quest for treasure

James Lanier stars as Bilbo Baggins in Back Alley Productions' performances of "The Hobbit."
James Lanier stars as Bilbo Baggins in Back Alley Productions' performances of "The Hobbit."

If you go

› What: “The Hobbit”› Where: Mars Theater, 117 N. Chattanooga St., LaFayette, Ga.› When: 7:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, March 2-3 and 9-10; 2:30 p.m. Saturdays, March 3 and 10› Admission: $15 and $12› For more information: 706-996-8350

Back Alley Productions will present its retelling of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic fantasy story "The Hobbit," in six performances over two weekends beginning Friday, March 2, at the Mars Theater in LaFayette, Ga.

"The Hobbit," a prequel to the "Lord of the Rings" fantasy trilogy, details the unexpected journey of Bilbo Baggins as he joins a party of wayward dwarfs on a quest to reclaim their kingdom from an evil dragon.

James Lanier is cast as Bilbo Baggins, the reserved and nervous hobbit.

"Our goal is to bring the world of Middle Earth alive," says James Reed, director. "We want you to feel like you're part of this adventure. That's why we are using an alley-style stage. You will be in the middle of all the action and adventure."

Spurred to action by the wizard Gandalf, Bilbo begins to find the thrill of adventure compelling. But as the party gets closer to their destination, more and more dangers emerge: bloodthirsty goblins, talking spiders, deceitful elves and a mysterious creature with a magical ring.

An unexpected journey. A dragon to be slayed. And a kingdom to be retaken.

Because "The Hobbit" is one of the most popular children's novels, even though it features intense battles and scary monsters, Back Alley's production will maintain its family-friendliness by including puppets to portray some of these characters.

"The show is funny, daunting and dramatic all in one," Reed adds. "We are simply retelling this classic tale in an exciting and immersive format."

Tickets are $12 and $15. Tickets can be purchased in person at the box office 30 minutes before showtime, or online at www.BAPshows.com. Due to the popularity of this show, preordering tickets online is encouraged.

For more information: 706-621-2870.

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