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Young cast leads ‘Matilda’

Staff photo / Andy Gray
Maeve McGuire plays the title character in Kent State University at Trumbull Summer Stock’s production of “Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical,” which opens today for an eight-performance run.

Melanie Lucas has fond childhood memories of doing summer stock productions at Kent State University at Trumbull, and she wanted to make sure today’s children had that same opportunity.

That’s why she proposed “Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical,” which opens today for an eight-performance run, as this year’s summer stock musical.

“I wanted a show that involved kids and teens and adults,” Lucas said. “Growing up as a summer stocker, I just think it’s really important to keep people of all ages involved. And the last few years, including my own ‘Rent’ (in 2022), have been adult-only shows. So I totally wanted there to be a chance for kids to do the main stage.”

The cast for Kent-Trumbull’s “Matilda” includes more than 20 teens and children in its cast of nearly 40 performers.

Based on the book by Roald Dahl, “Matilda” is the story of a brainy child born into a dull, uneducated family.

Even worse is her school, where she rebels against the bullying leadership of headmistress Miss Trunchbull.

Adapted by Tim Minchin and Dennis Kelly, “Matilda” won five Tony Awards in 2013 and ran for nearly four years and more than 1,500 performances on Broadway.

A film adaptation of the musical that debuted on Netflix in 2022 introduced the show to a new generation of children.

“My daughter was obsessed with it,” Lucas said. “We were watching it all the time and the songs just kind of get stuck in your head. I thought this would be a great show to submit.”

Lucas had more than 70 people turn out for auditions, many of them girls from 8 to late teens who all wanted to play the title role, which went to Maeve Miller, 10.

“I really had no idea who was going to come out and who was going to fit that role,” Lucas said. “You really need someone with a certain maturity level, not just talent. We needed somebody who can carry this and do well. We had a few good options, and we felt settled on Maeve, and she’s just wonderful. She’s so easy to work with and she gets along with the adults.”

The rest of cast features Dakota Smith, Lena-Sophia Dill, Harmon Andrews, Katherine Roman, Spencer McCleery, Charity Bauer, Connor Fitzpatrick, Alex Cooke, Amelia Lucas, Alastair Howard, Phillip Graham, Julianna Wason, Emma Paliswat, Ethan Packman, Keith Stepanic, Brooke Jonas, Nate Chapline, Abigale Erb, Dana Brown, Steve Brown, Emma Woodyard, Jonathan Bahrey, Emma Wason, Rui Tarr, Cadence Treich, Leah Hendrick, Ellie Kistler, Alivia Orr, Sydnie Schoening, Ishaan James, Neela James, Allee Keene, Dahlia Natale, Katara Brown, Maelee Erb, Mara Paliswat and Clara Solich.

Not only is Matilda smart, she’s also telekinetic, which presents its own challenges on stage.

“There’s so much magic involved in ‘Matilda,'” Lucas said. “What you can do on film versus what you can do on stage is definitely different. So that took a lot of creativity on the part of the team on how we were going to make all of those magical aspects come to life, from cups tipping over magically to chalkboards being written on and children being thrown across the playground.”

Then there is the challenge of working with so many young performers, who don’t just have to show up and look cute for certain scenes. The young cast has to carry many of the big musical numbers.

It’s been a lot of work, Lucas said, but she’s also tried to create an atmosphere that will make those children look back on their summer stock experience as fondly as Lucas does.

“We’ve had nights where we had popsicles, and we try to do lots of positive reinforcement and encouragement and make sure that everybody is having a good time,” Lucas said. “If you get a note, it’s also, ‘But you’re doing this really well too.’ So we try not to discourage anybody and kind of keep everybody as hyped up as we can.

“If there was a break where we were working with adults, then the kids were off playing a game together, so there was always something to keep them as busy as we could, because as soon as there was a spare moment, you would lose their attention. So we tried to keep everybody busy and just having a really good experience.”

If you go …

WHAT: “Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical”

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday through July 27

WHERE: Kent State University at Trumbull, 4314 Mahoning Ave. NW, Champion

HOW MUCH: $20 adults, $17 students and senior citizens and $15 children ages 12 and younger and free for Kent students and faculty. Tickets are available online at www.kent.edu/trumbull/theatre and by calling 330-675-8887.

Starting at $3.23/week.

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