Broadway's MATILDA Makes Last-Minute Tweaks for American Audiences

According to the Telegraph, the West End hit musical version of Roald Dahl's Matilda is undergoing some last-minute changes before it opens on Broadway in April. After several previews, some of the lyrics are being revised for American audiences.

"There are a few lyrics that they're just not hearing because they're so dense and require thinning out," said the show's composer and lyricist Tim Minchin. "Matilda opened last Monday into previews and you do tend to use preview time to sort out bugs before we open to glitz and nonsense in April," he added.

That being said, the characters' British accents will remain intact.

MATILDA THE MUSICAL, produced by The Royal Shakespeare Company and The Dodgers, will open on April 11, 2013 at Broadway's Shubert Theatre (225 West 44th Street).

The four girls sharing the title role are Sophia Gennusa, Oona Laurence, Bailey Ryon and Milly Shapiro, each of whom will be making her Broadway debut. The principal cast also features Karen Aldridge (Mrs. Phelps), Bertie Carvel* (Miss Trunchbull), Gabriel Ebert (Mr. Wormwood), Lesli Margherita (Mrs. Wormwood), and Lauren Ward (Miss Honey). Olivier Award winner Bertie Carvel and Lauren Ward reprise the roles they played in London.

Winner of a record-breaking seven Olivier Awards including Best Musical, Matilda the Musical is more than a show, it's a phenomenon. Based on the beloved novel by best-selling author Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr. Fox), Matilda the Musical 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 exhilarating and ingenious production with a book by playwright Dennis Kelly and music and lyrics by Australian comedian, musician and composer Tim Minchin.

The ensemble features Frenie Acoba, Erica Simone Barnett, Judah Bellamy, Jack Broderick, Ava DeMary, John Arthur Greene, Emma Howard, Nadine Isenegger, Colin Israel, Thayne Jasperson, Luke Kolbe Mannikus, Madilyn Jaz Morrow, Sawyer Nunes, Jared Parker, Celia Mei Rubin, John Sanders, Tamika Sonja Lawrence, Phillip Spaeth, Ryan Steele, Betsy Struxness, Samantha Sturm, Heather Tepe, Ben Thompson, Clay Thomson, Taylor Trensch, Beatrice Tulchin and TEd Wilson*. *Bertie Carvel and TEd Wilson appear with permission of Actors' Equity Association.

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

Roald Dahl's magical story about a girl with extraordinary powers has been a favorite novel of millions of people across the world since it was published in 1988. Commissioned by the RSC in 2010, Matilda the Musical premiered at the RSC's home in Stratford-upon-Avon, playing to sold-out audiences from November 2010 to January 2011. Capturing the imagination of young and old alike, the production transferred to London's West End in October 2011 where the show continues to play to sold-out houses.

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