Breaking News: Craig Bierko and Jill Paice to Join MATILDA on September 3

Producers of the Tony Award winning Matilda the Musical announced today that Craig Bierko and Jill Paice will join the company as Miss Trunchbull and Miss Honey, respectively, on September 3. Bertie Carvel and Lauren Ward will play their final performances in those roles on September 1.

Craig Bierko received a Theatre World Award for his Broadway debut as Harold Hill in The Music Man and was nominated for Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Drama League Awards. His other Broadway credits include Laurent LeClaire in Thou Shalt Not directed by Susan Stroman, and Sky Masterson in Guys & Dolls directed by Des McAnuff. Off-Broadway he appeared in Modern Orthodoxdirected by James Lapine. Bierko also appeared in the 2012 New York Philharmonic's concert performance of Stephen Sondheim's Company directed by Lonny Price. His numerous film roles include starring opposite Russell Crowe in Ron Howard's Cinderella Man; Renny Harlin's The Long Kiss Goodnight; Larry David's Sour Grapes; The 13th Floor; Paramount's Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star; Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas; The Suburbans; Universal's The Change Up; The Farrelly Brothers' The Three Stooges; The Weinstein Co./Disney co-production Scary Movie 4; Christopher Guest's For Your Consideration, and Anthony Fabian's independent feature Louder Than Words. He recently completed filming Allan Harmon's independent film If I Had Wings. Craig's satirical talk show short "Bathing with Bierko" (for SuperDeluxe.com), in which Craig interviews John Malkovich in a bathtub, became an overnight viral sensation. Newsweek called it "weirdly hilarious" and "viral video catnip." Other TV credits include series regular on The Farrelly Brothers' Fox sitcom, "Unhitched," and David E. Kelley's "Boston Legal," guest appearances on "The Good Wife," "Necessary Roughness," "Damages," "Sex and the City," "Ally McBeal," "Mad About You" and an upcoming episode on "The Michael J. Fox Show" to air this Fall.

Jill Paice. On the West End and on Broadway, Jill originated the role of Laura Fairlie in Lloyd-Webber's The Woman in White. She played Niki Harris in Curtains at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles and on Broadway opposite David Hyde Pierce. On the West End, Jill originated the role of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind at the New London Theatre under the direction of Trevor Nunn. More recently, Jill was the female lead in Broadway's The 39 Steps. Jill appeared as Elizabeth Lucas inAce as well as Florence in Chess at The Signature Theatre. Each performance garnered the Helen Hayes Award nomination for Best Leading Actress. For the Roundabout, Jill appeared as Grazia in Maury Yeston's Death Takes a Holiday, and as Anne Egerman in the Roundabout's gala concert reading of A Little Night Music. Other New York credits include Weird Romance and The Gig for the York Theatre. Other credits include Sophie in the original Las Vegas company of Mamma Mia!, the national touring company of Les Miserables and as Betty Haynes in White Christmas in Detroit. Jill can be heard on the original cast recordings of Curtains, The Woman in White, Death Takes a Holiday and The Gig as well as on the album Andrew Lloyd Webber on Broadway (Jay Records). On television, Jill has guest starred or recurred on "White Collar," "Unforgettable," "Person of Interest" and "The Beautiful Life." Jill is a graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College.

MATILDA THE MUSICAL, produced by The Royal Shakespeare Company and The Dodgers, opened in April at Broadway's Shubert Theatre to rapturous reviews. The production has received four Tony Awards and a Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theater for each of the four girls sharing the title role, as well as two Outer Critics Circle Awards, five Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical, and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical.

Winner of a record-breaking seven Olivier Awards including Best Musical, MATILDA THE MUSICAL is based on the beloved novel by best-selling author Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr. Fox). It is the story of an extraordinary girl who dreams of a better life. Armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, Matilda dares to take a stand and change her destiny.

MATILDA THE MUSICAL is directed by Tony Award winner Matthew Warchus (God of Carnage), who helms this production with a book by Tony Award-winning playwright Dennis Kelly and music and lyrics by Australian comedian, musician and composer Tim Minchin.

The production has sets and costumes by Tony Award winner Rob Howell, with choreography byPeter Darling, orchestrations, additional music and musical supervision by Christopher Nightingale, lighting by Tony Award winner Hugh Vanstone, and sound by Simon Baker.

Tickets are available at www.telecharge.com (212-239-6200) or in person at the Shubert Theatre Box Office (225 West 44th Street).