Perry High School to present 'Matilda the Musical' March 31, April 1

Audiences are likely to be familiar with some version of Perry High School’s spring production.

“Matilda the Musical” will be presented on March 31-April 1 at the Perry Performing Arts Center.

“The thing I think audiences will enjoy about it is that the story is kind of a timeless classic,” co-director Randy Peterson said. “If you’ve read the old Roald Dahl books from the 1980s, or watched the old 90s movie with Danny Devito, it’s kind of a story that everyone has grown up with and grown to love.”

A newer version of the story, based on the 2010 stage production of “Matilda the Musical,” was recently released on Netflix.

“We just felt this was going to be a really fun story that we got to share with the community and of course with our cast and crew,” co-director Jenn Nelson said. “We didn’t know that the Netflix movie was coming out when we chose it because we selected it quite a while ago and it wasn’t being publicized. That was a fun coincidence.”

Perry’s production of “Matilda the Musical” follows last year’s musical, “Anything Goes.”

“We try to make sure the kids have a variety of experiences in styles of theater,” Nelson said. “‘Anything Goes’ was an older show from the 30s and ‘Matilda’ was from 2010. It gives them some nice variety of styles of theater.”

Nelson and Peterson have enjoyed seeing Perry’s production come together. Nelson added that the audience will enjoy seeing elements they remember from the book, the 1990s movie or the newer Netflix version.

“Even if you’re not familiar with any of those, there’s just a lot of really fun stuff that happens in the storyline,” she said. “But also some really tender and poignant moments and some good lessons throughout.”

“Matilda the Musical” centers around a very intelligent, psychic young girl who has horrible parents and starts attending a very strict school.

“Matilda has to find some way to defeat the evil headmistress and live happily ever after. It should be a fun show,” Peterson said.

Alexa Nelson, a junior, plays the titular character of Matilda. She has been enjoying the challenges of her character’s long monologues, along with her point of view.

“She’s troubled at home and at school, but that doesn’t stop her from doing anything that she wants to do,” Alexa Nelson said.

She added that audiences will enjoy the musical’s more comedic characters, including her parents played by Jefry Gonzalez and Maddy Hollingsworth.

"This is kind of a dream come true role for me because not only do I play a funny character – he’s just goofy and all my scenes with Mrs. Wormwood are so silly – but I’m also a villain to Matilda," said Gonzalez, a senior. "I’ve always wanted to play a villain, so this is fun.”

Sophomore Andres Zarate has also been enjoying his character of Bruce, one of the kids terrorized by headmistress Agatha Trunchbull.

“At the last dance number, he gains enough courage to break out of that shell, to finally have an identity again,” he said.

Gonzalez and Zarate encourage the community to come out to enjoy the musical.

“Try and get a seat in the front row and definitely be in attendance. Come out for a good time,” Gonzalez said.

“Have fun enjoying the songs,” Zarate added. “You just have to come out and see it, it’s going to be so great.”

Perry High School will present “Matilda the Musical” at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 31, 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 1. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets are available online, at the high school office and at the door.

Nelson invites the community to come watch all of the hard work the students have put into the show as auditions were held in December and rehearsals started after winter break in January.

“I encourage people to come out and support our students,” Nelson said. “We rehearse several times a week, they’ve put in a ton of hours so we would just like the community to come out and show their support.”

Cast List

• Matilda Wormwood – Alexa Nelson

• Agatha Trunchbull – Riley Sergent

• Miss Honey – Candace Hoisington

• Harry Wormwood – Jefry Gonzalez

• Zinnia Wormwood – Maddy Hollingsworth

• Michael Wormwood – Dominic Rinner

• Mrs. Phelps – Kaylee Hay

• Bruce – Andres Zarate

• Lavender – Olivia Christensen

• Nigel – Jesus Gonzalez

• Hortensia – Allison Canales

• Amanda Thripp – Brooke Nelson

• Tommy – Ethan Jackson

• Eric – Levi Thoren

• Alice – Cloe Nance

• Escapologist – Andres Viveros

• Acrobat – Kim Flores

• Rudolpho – Hunter Ayers

• Children's Entertainer – Seth Borgeson

• Sergei – Jose Chavez

• Sergei’s Henchmen – Seth Borgeson, Jackson Loyd, Kim Flores

• Doctor – Riley Sergent

• Nurses – Kaylee Hay and McKenzie Kilts

• Cook – Oneida Hernandez

• Parents – Andres Viveros, Jasmine Agreda, Jackson Loyd, Oneida Hernandez

• Big Kids -  Jasmine Agreda, Kenneth Martinez, Jody Most, McKenzie Kilts, Seth Borgeson, Jose Chavez, Gavin Gamble, Jean-Carlos Santiago

• Ensemble Little Kids – Alissa Atwell, Leah Thoren, Edicson Arteaga, Chloe Butler, Joey Maylum, Stella Perez, Lauren Riley, Emma Sang

This article originally appeared on Perry Chief: Perry High School to present 'Matilda the Musical' March 31, April 1