Irene Green Named New Managing Director as MATILDA Comes to Town

The Tony Award-winning Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical runs live on stage at the Barrette Center for the Arts in White River Junction, VT November 14 - January 1. For tickets and information, call (802) 296-7000 or visit northernstage.org. Tickets start at $19 for students and $34 for adults. Nearly half of all available tickets for this production are already sold and Northern Stage anticipates many sold out performances. Early ticket purchasing is highly recommended.

Northern Stage is thrilled to bring the Broadway hit, Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical, to the Upper Valley. This Tony Award-winning musical follows the struggles of Matilda, an avid reader and brilliant young girl, who dreams of a better life and a happy home. With the help of her kind teacher Miss Honey, the other students in her class, and a touch of magic, Matilda takes a stand against her self-centered parents and the despicable Miss Trunchbull in this heartwarming story of empowerment. Following a tradition of involving local youth in holiday productions (Margaret Finley appeared in last season's Disney's The Little Mermaid, 20 young actors appeared in 2016's A Christmas Carol, and 6 young actors appeared in 2015's Mary Poppins), Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical will feature the largest student cast in a main stage production at the Barrette Center for the Arts. "It is an extraordinary privilege to present 30 local student actors in a main stage musical that centers around children. Many of these students have grown up in our educational programs, from the Youth Ensemble Studio, to YES, Jr., BridgeUP: Theater in the Schools, Boot Camp, and the Dartmouth Experiential Term at Northern Stage," says Matilda The Musical Director and Director of Education Eric Love. "The story is magical, mysterious, and full of surprising twists and turns that will have the whole family on the edge of their seats. This is our holiday gift to the Upper Valley, and we can't wait to share it with you. "

Northern Stage welcomes a number of new actors to the Upper Valley for this production. Tom Ford (Broadway: By Jeeves; Regional: the New London Barn Playhouse, Portland Stage, Great Lakes Theater, Idaho Shakespeare Festival) plays Miss Agatha Trunchbull, Alexis Sims (2016 BroadwayWorld Dallas Best Actress in a Musical, Dallas Theatre Center, Tuacahn Amphitheatre and New Works Festival) plays Miss Honey, Matthew Patrick Quinn (Finding Neverland Broadway Tour, Peter and the Starcatcher at Playhouse on Park) plays Mr. Wormwood, and Lisa Karlin (Broadway/First National Tours: Pippin, The Addams Family, Ragtime) plays Mrs. Wormwood. Norwich resident Danielle Cohen returns to Northern Stage (Our Town, A Christmas Carol) as Mrs. Phelps. The adult cast is completed with Kyle Brand (also at Northern Stage, Disney's The Little Mermaid, Mamma Mia!, Mary Poppins), Dallyn Brunck, Nkrumah Gatling, Kerrigan Quenemoen (Northern Stage E-Term Student), Ross Thompson, and Andreas Wyder (Mamma Mia! at Northern Stage).

Two rotating casts of 15 local students complete the cast. Kylie Benoit and Bebhinn Knudsen play Matilda Wormwood, Ian Nolon and Trevor Siegel play Michael Wormwood, Cordelia Durand and Flynn Moreno play Lavender, and Alex Hoyt and Daniel Mello play Bruce. The youth cast is completed with Skyler Alexander, Shane Boucher, Ava Bucci, Anna Burge, Theo Cook, Tessa Francis Cullen, Ella Falcone, Norah Falcone, Margaret Finley, Nathaniel Flockton, Alia Gonzalez, Tate Mosenthal, Irene Pletcher, Aidan Samwick, Ana Laura Santana, Noah Schutzius, Roberto Silva-Neto, Emmett Smyth, Will Stedina, Olivia Swayze, Kelsey Walker, and Emily Wunderle.

Matilda The Musical is written by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, and orchestrations and additional music by Christopher Nightingale. Led by Director Eric Love, the creative team is completed by Kevin White (Music Director/Keys 1), Natalie Malotke (Choreographer), Virginia Ogden (Assistant Director), Zachary Gottschall (Assistant Music Director/Keys 2), Kyle Brand (Associate Choreographer), David L. Arsenault (Scenic Designer), Aaron Patrick DeClerk (Costume Designer), Dan Kotlowitz (Lighting Designer), Will Maresco (Assistant Lighting Designer/Video Technician), Ed Chapman (Sound Designer), Robert Pickens (Wig Designer), Janell Turley (Assistant Wig Designer), Andrea Love (Animator), Dale Coye (Dialect Coach), Brian R. Sekinger (Production Stage Manager), Danielle Zandri (Assistant Stage Manager), Christopher Roberts (Percussion), Joshua R. Kurchinski (Reed Doubler), Andrew Hoesl (Trumpet), and Jennifer Chandler (Cello).

A complimentary post-show reception with the cast follows the opening night performance on Saturday, November 17. Optional post-show conversations with the company follow the evening performance November 24 and after 2 PM performances December 2 and 9.

The 2018-19 Season is underwritten by Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital. Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical is sponsored by LaValley Building Supply, River Valley Club, Upper Valley Aquatic Center, and Matilda Lodging Partner Enfield Shaker Museum. $19 Student Tickets and $5 Access for All tickets (for EBT card holders) are available for any performance. Adult ticket prices range from $34 - $69.

Northern Stage (northernstage.org) is a regional non-profit LORT-D professional theater company located in White River Junction, VT. Northern Stage actively engages its audiences with world-class productions and extensive educational and outreach programs in its new home, the Barrette Center for the Arts. Founded in 1997, the company has offered more than 150 professional productions of new works, classics, and musicals. Now in its 22nd Season, Northern Stage serves over 50,000 people. In 2014, the company launched a new play festival that has cultivated five world premiere productions and two Off-Broadway transfers. A robust educational program focuses on professional training in a nurturing and supportive environment for students of all ages. Offerings include student acting ensembles, a summer musical theater intensive, and an expansive theater-in-the-schools residency program. Northern Stage's breadth of programming supports the company's mission to "change lives, one story at a time."

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