April 25, 26, 27
6:30 p.m. nightly and 2 p.m. Saturday only matinee
Salem Upper Elementary Gymnasium
Tickets are $5 at the door
The novel Matilda by Roald Dahl has long been a children’s classic since its release in 1988. A film adaptation of the novel was first released in 1996 and went on to be a big success on home video, despite its performance in movie theatres.
Dahl was a British author, with his books selling more than 300 million copies worldwide. Some of his other works for children include, James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and The BFG.
Matilda the Musical is a 2022 musical film directed by Matthew Warchus from a screenplay by Dennis Kelly, based on the stage musical of the same name by Tim Minchin and Kelly, which in turn was based on the original novel.
The girl-power musical is being performed by Salem Upper Elementary School fourth and fifth graders, who auditioned for the show and have been rehearsing for months.
The latest adaptation features a variety of musical numbers which will be performed by the students, under the direction of Shannon Phelps, elementary music instructor.
Musical numbers include Miracle, Naughty, When I Grow Up, The Smell of Rebellion, Quiet and other favorites from the 2022 film.
This is the sixth production under the direction of Phelps. Previous shows were Mary Poppins; Annie; Willy Wonka; Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin. The Broadway Junior productions are geared towards younger talent, bringing ‘kid-sized versions of the world’s best musicals.” The shows typically last around an hour and feature a shortened-version of the plot and musical numbers from the original show.
For those unfamiliar with the story of Matilda, it is the story of a girl who dreams of a better life and the children she inspires will have audiences rooting for the "revolting children" who are out to teach the grown-ups a lesson.
Matilda has astonishing wit, intelligence... and special powers! She's unloved by her cruel parents but impresses her schoolteacher, the highly loveable Miss Honey. Matilda's school life isn't completely smooth sailing, however – the school's mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and just loves thinking up new punishments for those who don't abide by her rules. But Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts, and could be the school pupils' saving grace!
The cast of this year’s production include:
Eric - Brayden Halinar
Tommy - Issac Hinderliter
Amanda - Aubrey Jones
Bruce - Westin Stites
Lavender - Eavie Wynn
Alice - Lily Cortes
Holly - Fiona McGrail
Nigel - Peter Culp
Matilda - Khloe Bennett
Mr. Wormwood - Joshua Culp
Mrs. Wormwood - Adalyn Dunn
Michael - Greyson Duncan
Mrs. Phelps - Marisa White
Escapologist - Brody Walker
Acrobat - Paisley Nash
Cook - Zoey Cotner
Miss Honey – Tayah Terrill
Agatha Trunchbull - Jacey Griffith
Mechanic - Ryder Duncan
Rudolpho - Aaron Benuska
Sergie - Raleigh Walker
Russian - Trenton Camden
Big Kid 1 - Noelle Bennett
Big Kid 2 - Payton Gray
Big Kid 3 - Kalena Parks
Little Kid 1 - Lyric Rayfield
Little Kid 2 - Rosemary Whitlock
Little Kid 3 - Mia Blankenship
Little Kid 4 - Shaylea Sutton
Parents: Quincey Steelman, Neely Leathers, Autumn Culp, David Culp, Devin Blackwell, Hannah Greener
Leadership of the production includes:
• Director Shannon Phelps
• Assistant Director - Neely Leathers
• Choreography - Neely Leathers and Quincey Steelman
• Set Design - Shannon Phelps, Katie Culp
• Lighting/ Sound Design - Nathan Phelps
• Stage Managers - Christy Leathers, Kristi Steelman, Sarah Piatt, Mindy Dillon, Chelsey Brakefield, Neely Leathers, Quincey Steelman and backstage help, Mckinleigh Richter
