By: Elaine Chan, Staff Writer
The beloved story of Roald Dahl’s Matilda has been adapted for the stage in a bright and high-spirited musical that never fails to capture audiences. Mills Drama Department has taken the challenge this spring. February has begun with vocal rehearsals, dance introductions, and character building for the cast of Matilda. The drama department is excited to bring this lively musical to life. Mr. Hudelson, the director and overseer of MHS productions, plans to use clever projections and hidden stage tricks to execute the magic of Matilda with the help of our set director, Mr. Johnson, as well as the student-crew.
One of the Assistant Stage Managers, Maya Eidson (10) says that she is thrilled to take part in her first musical as ASM. “I love working with Kaylie, our Stage Manager, and I think we’ll work well together.” Behind the curtain, our crew puts in hours of work into making the production as seamless as possible. “…the lighting will really set the tone for the show as well as the creative set,” states Eidson. By attending rehearsals and taking notes on stage directions, the stage managers can get a thorough understanding of the flow from scene to scene.
At Mills, the spring musical is always a production that comes to life over the course of several months. Joint efforts from the Mills Music students who practice alongside the cast to play the songs live in the auditorium’s pit bring a fresh and dynamic experience to the show; Mr. David Gregoric, our music director, will surely elevate Matilda to new heights. Bianca Santos (10), on violin, expresses, “I’m a little nervous since it’s my first time playing show music, but I’m excited to be part of the community.” She states that it will be great exposure and will aid her growth as a musician in the future.
A distinct quality of Matilda is its fast-paced choreography to match the vivid soundtrack. In light of this, Mr. Gary Stanford is leading the cast by choreographing the show. With it being his first production at Mills, he is already sharing his infectious energy and creativity with the cast and ensemble. One of the dance captains, Michaela Gonzalez (11) shares her excitement, “After watching the movie on netflix, I can definitely tell dance brings a liveliness and juvenile energy to the show. Dancing in footloose was a more mature experience but Matilda will urge us to tap into our inner child.”
Playing the part of young Matilda, Angel Corpuz (12) feels excited to portray this iconic and bold character who is, “…resilient and intelligent.” The main cast also includes Gianluca Bettucchi (11) as Miss Agatha Trunchbull, Shree Singh (12) as Miss Honey, Ryan Spicker (10) as Bruce, Joey Situ (10) as Lavender as well as many more talented students. This production will feature one of our largest student ensembles that will truly encapsulate all the effort put in these upcoming three months.
Come witness the magic for yourself this April, MHS’s Matilda the Musical will open Friday April 21st at 7pm in the Mills auditorium. With evening shows on the 22nd, 28th, and 29th as well as matinee showings on Saturdays the 22nd and the 29th at 2pm. With costs starting at $10-15, come to the box office in the lobby to get tickets. For SMUHSD students, you get in for free if you bring your Student ID!
