The Grand Theatre High School Project’s production of Roald Dahl’s “Matilda The Musical,” is set to play from September 17 to 28 on the Spriet Stage. As the most applied-to High School Project in history, “Matilda The Musical” boasts 58 student participants who have spent the last two months working with seasoned theatre professionals to mount a professionally produced musical in the Grand Theatre’s historic house.

Company members. Photo Angelina Moses
“Matilda is a play about children making change and harnessing the power of imagination toward a world that is different from the one they inherited,” says Grand Theatre artistic director, Rachel Peake. “The High School Project has been reflective of this philosophy for over a quarter of a century, putting many of the responsibilities of theatre creation into the hands of the next generation, under the mentorship of professionals in all areas of the discipline.”

High school students from London, and as far as Strathroy, Woodstock, and Kitchener, make up the company of “Matilda The Musical.”

By numbers: 35 of those students are performing on-stage; 4 student musicians work with professional musicians in the show’s orchestra pit.

19 students are members of the stage management, props, wardrobe, scenic art, lighting, and sound and marketing teams.

Scenic art students. Photo Angelina Moses

Wardobe student. Photo Angelina Moses

Props student. Photo Angelina MosesThe professional creative team leading the charge for these student-artists includes Megan Watson (director and former artistic associate of the Grand Theatre), Sarah Richardson (music director), Stephen Cota (choreographer), Scott Penner (set designer), Lisa Wright (costume designer), Jareth Li (lighting designer), Aaron Ouellette (sound designer), Martine Beland (stage manager), and Jess Gordon (apprentice stage manager).

“What thrills me the most about our production of Matilda is that all of these young voices, from all around the region, are making their mark on the material and on the text,” says director, Megan Watson. “The High School Project has this absolutely incredible legacy, and I’m thrilled at the thought that it could continue on and on, into the future.”

Based on the beloved children’s book by Roald Dahl, “Matilda The Musical” has been staged from the West End to Broadway, toured around the world, and now lands at the Grand Theatre.

The Tony and Olivier-Award winning show follows an under-appreciated child with an extraordinary mind, setting about to change her own story, and bring hope to the lives of those around her. But when her scheming, neglectful father enrolls her in Crunchem Hall Elementary School, under the authoritarian leadership of Ms. Trunchbull, Matilda’s magical mind is called toward a different, ‘revolting’, adventure.

For over 25 years, the Grand Theatre High School Project has offered an exceptional opportunity for students to receive education and training in the working environment of a professional theatre, at no cost to the participants.

These are this year’s participants:

STUDENT CAST
Miraya Agrawal
Ava Alcaidinho
Marissa Allen
Sophia Belleth
Charlie Burnett
Leland Chafee
Theone Damue
Michael Dodge
Evan Doerr
Shakotshanunyatha Doxtator
Sawyer Eidt
Hosna Emami
Greta Fleet
Billie Gould
Abby Hall
Isabelle Hiltz
Aya Holzberg
Piper Jesney
Alexis Khanna
Jasmine Melo
Erica Mota
Neela Noble
Danica Novo
Isabelle Parent
Ethan Pickett
Erin Prouty
Leticia Rodrigues
Una Roulston
Olivia Schiedel
Isaac Sellars
Alyssa Skiffington
Isaac Szoldatits
Desi vanBeek-Paterson
Mackenna VanMassenhoven
James Wright

PRODUCTION STUDENTS
Adelaide Alcantara LIGHTING
Angelina Moses PHOTOGRAPHY & MARKETING
Kate Telfer PROPS
Aislynn Pinelli PROPS
Corinne Smeenk PROPS
Chloe Laporte PROPS
Marlie Klompstra-White PROPS
Bea Snider SCENIC ART
Ayat Reza SCENIC ART
Joni Lau SOUND
Luis Garcia SOUND
Quentin Vieira STAGE MANAGEMENT
Grace Tang STAGE MANAGEMENT
Reagan Berdan WARDROBE
Meyer Liston WARDROBE
Morrigan Beharriell WARDROBE
Eris Marles WARDROBE
Maggie McHardy WARDROBE
Virginia McCallum WARDROBE

ORCHESTRA STUDENTS
Riley Hales
Franz Marsolais Hernandez
Emily Peacock
Ryan Shaw

CREATIVE TEAM
Director – Megan Watson
Music Director – Sarah Richardson
Choreographer – Stephen Cota
Set Design Consultant – Scott Penner
Costume Designer – Lisa Wright
Lighting Designer – Jareth Li
Sound Designer – Aaron Ouellette
Stage Manager – Martine Beland
Apprentice Stage Manager – Jess Gordon

DETAILS DETAILS
Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
Sept.17 to 28
The Grand Theatre
471 Richmond St, London, ON N6A 3E4
Book Online: https://www.grandtheatre.com/event/matilda
Call the box office: (519) 672-8800