Live On Stage: “Matilda”

Matilda Wormwood (Alexis Benitez) is a clever little girl – amazingly clever, in fact. As a five-year-old, she reads “A Tale of Two Cities.” She starts school knowing her times tables. And as it turns out, she also possesses extraordinary magical powers.

Anyone would think her parents must realize their child is one of the greatest miracles in all of England. Yet Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood (Deion Bruce Howard and Kelsey Plante) show her absolutely no love and treat her with cruelty, favoring her slow-witted brother Michael (Sam Newkirk). Mr. Wormwood is only focused on his job as a used-car salesman, while Mrs. Wormwood cares for nothing but her dance lessons with Rudolpho (Miguel Gonzalez-Floyd).

At school, Matilda encounters The Trunchbull (Patrick Stanley), the horrible headmistress who hates children and lives to dream up terrible punishments. The little kids – Bruce (Logan Main), Lavender (Sadie Sunshine Garrett), Eric (Benjamin Keefe), Nigel (Cordel Miner), Hortensia (Alessandra Mastroserio), Tommy (Aubrey Bush), Alice (McKenzie Gradler), and Amanda (Aislynn Buehre) – all live in fear of Miss Trunchbull’s wrath.

So do the big kids (Victor Benitez III, Daniel Boodoo, Christian Gonzalez, Robert Gradler, Ciara Kelley, Kelly Myers, McKenzie Todd, Emma Toler). And most of the others in Matilda’s world (Maggie Carbonell, Chelsea Dellinger, Ashlynn Gibbs, Joshua Plante, Juliette Sanz, Will Torres) don’t do much to counteract the ill-treatment she gets at school and at home.

However, Matilda’s teacher, sweet Miss Honey (Shannon Guinn), loves her for being a bright, brave young dreamer. So does the librarian, Mrs. Phelps (Hortensia Owens), who marvels at Matilda’s intelligence and loves her dramatic stories.

The kindness of just a few people, plus Matilda’s own vivid imagination – and the knowledge that “Sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty” – empowers her to find the courage to change her destiny. Inspired by the dark whimsy of Roald Dahl’s book and the beloved film, this is a thrilling, joyous, girl-power romp full of catchy songs and high-energy dance numbers. Children and adults alike will fall in love with Matilda!

“Matilda The Musical” is directed by Katrina Ploof. Music director is Philip King. Choreographer is Sara Catherine Barnes. Stage manager is Tom Ferreira. Set design is by Nicholas Judy. Costume design is by Eryn Brooks Brewer. Lighting design is by David Castaneda. Sound design is by Jim Foster.

There will be 22 public performances from August 29 to September 22, 2019. Reserve your tickets for opening night and join us on Thursday, August 29 at 7:00 p.m. for a reception an hour before the premiere performance. Delicious refreshments will be provided, and beer and wine are available for purchase. Come celebrate the excitement of opening night!
Dates and Times:
August 29th-30th,2019- 8:00pm-10:30pm
August 31st,2019-2:00pm-4:30pm, 8:00pm-10:30pm
September 1st,2019-2:00pm-4:30pm
September 4th,5th,6th,2019-8:00pm-10:30pm
September 7th,2019-2:00pm-4:30pm, 8:00pm-10:30pm
September 8th,2019-2:00pm-4:30pm
September 11th,12th,13th,2019-8:00pm-10:30pm
September 14th,2019-2:00pm-4:30pm,8:00pm-10:30pm
September 15th,2019-2:00pm-4:30pm
September 18th,19th,20th,2019-8:00pm-10:30pm
September 21st,22nd,2019-2:00pm-4:30pm

Tickets are $27 for adults and $13 for full-time students (school ID required for college students). Group rates are available as well. Call (352) 236-2274 or go to http://bit.ly/2Knk65H