MATILDA Creates Magic At Village Theatre This Holiday Season

Village Theatre is elated to bring Roald Dahl's magical misfit Matilda to the stage in the hit musical that swept up five Tony Awards, seven Olivier Awards, and was named TIME's #1 Show of the Year in 2013. The production features an incredible cast of 15 local youth who have been training for their roles in music, acting, and CrossFit since June. They will be joined by some of the Puget Sound's best performers.

Matilda is the story of an extraordinary girl genius armed with a sharp mind and vivid imagination who dares to take a stand and change her destiny. "I think this is an exhilarating time to put a female protagonist at the head of a story about empowerment," said director and choreographer Kathryn Van Meter. "I could not be more thrilled to shepherd this piece."

The production will aim to engage and empower the Greater Seattle Area community as well. Tickets will be given free of charge to foster children. Additionally, Village Theatre will be partnering with Star 101.5 FM to identify and honor local youth like Matilda who are changing the world and making their communities a better place. Nominations can be submitted at Star1015.com/station/contests beginning October 22 until November 1, 2018. "Matilda is a young girl who faces a world of injustice," said Van Meter. "She understands that if something isn't right, you have the power to change the story. I want to amplify and celebrate the young boys and girls in our community who are working to make a difference and inspiring others to do the same."

Joining Van Meter on the production team are music director Tim Symons (Singin' in the Rain, Billy Elliot), scenic designer Matthew Smucker (Into the Woods, Jesus Christ Superstar), lighting designer Alex Berry (Billy Elliot), and costume designer Melanie Taylor Burgess (Into the Woods, Jesus Christ Superstar).

The role of Matilda will be shared by 11-year-old actors Holly Reichert and Nava Ruthfield. Joining Reichert and Ruthfield is an incredible youth cast of actors aged 7-11, including: Vaanya Chauhan, Keagan Estes, Reidar Geraci, Thomas Gomes, Tristan Hagen, Emma Hursh, Briana Lee, Akshay Needamangala, Evangeline OpongParry, Eloise Peterson, Mikayla Sanchez, and Jonas Winburn. The adult cast will feature Basil Harris (Rocketmen on Amazon) as cruel headmistress Miss. Trunchbull, Marissa Ryder (Into the Woods) as Matilda's sweet teacher Miss. Honey, Shaunyce Omar (Hairspray, Chicago) as librarian Mrs. Phelps, and Chris Ensweiler (The 39 Steps) and Ann Cornelius (The Nance at ArtsWest) as Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood. The adult ensemble will include: Maddox Baker, Ethan Carpenter (Hairspray, Newsies), Tori Gresham (Hairspray), MJ Jurgensen, Callie Nissing, Cy Paolantonio, Matthew Posner (Into the Woods), Casey Raiha (Singin' in the Rain), Jimmy Shields (Hairspray, Dreamgirls), Charles Simmons (Hairspray, Dreamgirls), Jose Luis Uz, and Ivanna Wei.

A magical experience for grown-ups and mischief-makers alike, Matilda is onstage in Issaquah November 8 - December 30, 2018 before moving to Everett January 4 - February 3, 2019. For more information, please visit www.villagetheatre.org/matilda.php.

This production is sponsored in part by Everett Bone & Joint Proliance Surgeons, Klein Honda, Rowley Properties, The Issaquah Reporter, Waterways Cruises and Events, ArtsFund, City of Issaquah, Microsoft, The Shubert Foundation, United, Lombardi's, and Pogacha.

Based in Issaquah, WA, with operations in Everett, WA, Village Theatre is a leading producer of musical theatre in the Pacific Northwest. Producing entertaining, quality productions since 1979, Village Theatre has grown into one of the region's best-attended theatres, with approximately 20,000 Subscribers and 220,000 projected total attendance each season. Through its Village Originals program, Village Theatre is nationally recognized for its contribution to the development of new musicals, having supported the creation of over 160 new works to date. Village Theatre also takes pride in nurturing tomorrow's audiences through its Youth Education and Outreach programs, KIDSTAGE and Pied Piper, serving over 58,000 young people and their families annually.