GREAT Theatre bringing 'Matilda' to the Paramount stage Jan. 28 - Feb. 6

Sarah Colburn
·2 min read

ST. CLOUD — The GREAT Theatre cast returns to the Paramount Center for the Arts stage with all the magical sweetness of Matilda.

Fashioned after the Roald Dahl book, the musical has big dance numbers and exaggerated characters. Songs include “Revolting Children”, “Naughty” and “When I Grow Up.”

“The music really captures the tone of Roald Dahl,” said Director Kendra Norton Dando.

“There are these big, bad characters and this darkness, but the strength of this child and her imagination triumphs. It’s great to see the little guy win. We need this light; we need this excitement. The musical just captures this so well.”

Matilda’s imagination guides her throughout the production.

The cast and crew of "Matilda" take to the Paramount Center for the arts stage for the first time Monday, Jan. 17. The cast has been rehearsing in the Helgeson Learning Lab at GREAT Theatre since November. The show opens Jan. 28.
The cast and crew of "Matilda" take to the Paramount Center for the arts stage for the first time Monday, Jan. 17. The cast has been rehearsing in the Helgeson Learning Lab at GREAT Theatre since November. The show opens Jan. 28.

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“It’s so big because of the stories she reads,” Norton Dando said. “The influence of how story changes us is so integral, it’s fun to bring that to life.”

The cast and crew have also had fun with the magical elements of the show.

“That’s a fun thing that we’ve gotten to play with as a cast and creative team,” she said. “We bring these moments to life and make them real in the world of ‘Matilda.”

Just under half the cast members are youth, and all the cast members are from around Central Minnesota.

For Norton Dando and the group, returning to the Paramount after a COVID-19 hiatus has been uplifting.

“It’s just been such a joy to be back in that rehearsal space,” she said. “There’s a real excitement among the cast and crew to be doing live theater and bringing this story to life for our community.”

Newly-installed festoon lighting glows over St. Germain Street near the Paramount Theatre Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021, in St. Cloud.
Newly-installed festoon lighting glows over St. Germain Street near the Paramount Theatre Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021, in St. Cloud.

More than anything, Norton Dando said she hopes audiences walk away with the feeling that their actions can have big impact.

“I hope that the power of this little girl inspires us all to make changes in our realms of influence,” she said.

“Matilda” runs Jan. 28 to Feb. 6 at the Paramount Center for the Arts. Tickets range from $28 to $42 each and are available at www.paramountarts.org.

The Paramount Center for the Arts requires proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of attending a show for everyone age 12 and older.

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This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: GREAT Theatre bringing 'Matilda' to the Paramount stage