Matilda at Capitol Theatre

Matilda the Musical is a musical based on the 1988 children's novel of the same name by Roald Dahl. It was adapted by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin and directed for the stage by Matthew Warchus. The musical's narrative centres on Matilda, a precocious 5-year-old girl with the gift of telekinesis, who loves reading, overcomes obstacles caused by her family and school, and helps her teacher to reclaim her life. After a twelve-week trial run staged by the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) at Stratford-upon-Avon from November 2010 to January 2011, it received its West End premiere on 24 November 2011 at the Cambridge Theatre and its Broadway premiere on 11 April 2013 at the Shubert Theatre.Matilda the Musical has received widespread critical acclaim and box-office popularity, winning seven 2012 Olivier Awards, including Best New Musicalat the time, the most such awards ever won by a single show.[3] Cleo Demetriou, Kerry Ingram, Eleanor Worthington Cox and Sophia Kiely shared a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical. 10-year-old Eleanor Worthington became the youngest winner of the award in any category.[5] At the 2013 Tony Awards, the show won five awards, including the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical for Dennis Kelly.Matilda is a beautifully written story. Angie Dee, director of Matilda, says: "it is one of the best scripts that I have ever worked with." She goes on to say: "This little girl teaches us all a valuable lesson in choosing light and love in dark places. Although it is a dark British Comedy, this story is full of hope, loads of laughter and beautiful symbolism. I know the music, which is so perfectly placed within this script to propel each scene forward, will forever be in your heart. It is my hope that you leave the theatre transformed by this story. That you too will choose hope, love and optimism in your dark placesthat you find your Quiet in the noise of the universe and your heart is healed in some small way."

Authors

• Everett Ruskay
• George T. Gartlan
• I. N. Morris