BLOOMINGTON – This holiday season, Constellation is thrilled to be bringing the Tony Award-Winning Broadway Hit, Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical, to Downtown Bloomington.
Not only is this Constellation’s 17th annual Family Holiday Musical, but it’s also the regional professional premiere of this award-winning show. Featuring dozens of local elementary school students and professional actors from Bloomington and beyond, Matilda the Musical runs December 14 through 31 at the historic Buskirk-Chumley Theater in Downtown Bloomington.
Matilda Wormwood is a gifted little girl armed with a sharp mind, a vivid imagination, and a love of books. Misunderstood by her cruel and unloving family, she is thrilled to begin school. Only one problem – the school is run by Miss Trunchbull, the evil headmistress who terrorizes the students with her strict discipline. Matilda soon takes a stand to defend her friends from Trunchbull’s wrath and outwit her unkind parents. Packed with high-energy dance numbers and astonishing stage magic, children and adults alike will be thrilled and delighted by the story of this extraordinary little girl! As the Sunday Times described it, Matilda is “easily the standout musical of the decade!”
Originally written by Roald Dahl (author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach) in 1988, Matilda has gone on to have many notable adaptations. In 1996, the book was adapted into a film starring Mara Wilson, Danny DeVito, and Rhea Pearlman. It was subsequently developed into a musical, opening on London’s West End in 2011, winning 7 Oliver Awards, including Best Musical. In spring of 2013, Matilda the Musical made its way from London to the Broadway stage. The show ran for nearly four years and won five Tony awards, including Best Book of a Musical. Just five years later, in 2022, Netflix released a film adaptation of Matilda the Musical, starring Emma Thompson as Miss Trunchbull, Lashana Lynch as Miss Honey, and Alisha Wier in the title role. Constellation is proud to be bringing this magical and empowering story to Bloomington audiences with the regional professional premiere!
Constellation’s production features a stellar cast of new and familiar faces. Starring as Matilda are elementary students Noey Krothe, previously seen in Constellation’s Elf the Musical, and Miriam Spillman, recently seen in Constellation’s Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
The Musical. Emily Davis, owner of Bloomington’s Davis Academy of Music, stars as Miss Honey, Matilda’s kind and loving teacher. Amy Jo Jackson, a New York City-based actor recently seen in A24’s new movie musical, stars as Miss Trunchbull.
Playing Matilda’s parents are Jaddy Ciucci, an Indianapolis-based actor, and IU Graduate, as Mrs. Wormwood, and Jake Stibbe, previously seen as Cruchie in Cardinal Stage’s Newsies, as Mr. Wormwood.
Rounding out the Wormwood family are Lila Parker, previously seen as Michael Hobbs in Constellation’s Elf the Musical, and Cooper Tucker, in his 4th Cardinal/Constellation musical, as Michael Wormwood. Matilda features a strong ensemble of local performers and IU Musical Theatre students, including Catherine O’Connor, Yul Carrión, Laura Rong, Jaden Holtschlag, Jocylon Evans, Lucy Ferguson, Sydney Greene, Jacob Jackson, Matthew Mason Baker, Katy Plaziak, Shane Stoltz, and Evan Vaughan, with swings Gracie Garza Harrison and Justin Tidd.
This production also features two youth ensembles, split into teams “Revolting” and “Rebellion,” composed of students throughout the Bloomington and South Central Indiana community! Team Rebellion features Reid Walz as Bruce, Sophia Linville as Lavender, Madeleine Cartledge as Alice, Hailey Jane Houghton as Amanda, Lily Ensemnger as Hortensia, Jasmine Nolting as Tommy, Lucy Pell as Eric, and Viv Taylor as Nigel. Team Revolting features Piper Reynolds as Bruce, Lyra Dimick as Lavender, Alma Sela as Alice, Chloe Duggan as Amanda, Mary Claire Shaw as Hortensia, Theresa Baird as Tommy, Lydia Levesque as Eric, and Stella Jaye Durfee as Nigel. Detailed double-cast performance schedules can be found on Constellation’s website!
At the helm of Matilda the Musical is an experienced and imaginative creative team, including Constellation’s Casting Director and Creative Producer, Kate Galvin, as Director, Brandon Magid as Music Director, and Lauren Haughton Gillis as Choreographer. Joining them are Lori Garraghty (Stage Manager), Britton Mauk (Scenic Designer), Keith Truax (Lighting Designer), Corey Goulden-Naitove (Assistant Lighting Designer), Dana Lee Tzvetkov (Costume Designer), Travis Wright (Sound Designer), Cinthia Chen (Projection Designer), Aubrey Krueger (Props Master), Bob Steininger (Props Artisan), Alaska Harris (Master Electrician), David Wade (Scenic Charge), Campbell TD (Technical Director/Scene Shop), Phil Christiansen (Rehearsal Stage Manager), Chelsea Pell and Katie Ayer (Assistant Stage Managers), and Quynn Hockema (Youth Ensemble Coordinator).
Tickets for Matilda the Musical start at $32 for adults, $20 for students, and $17 for children. Tickets are on sale now through Constellation’s website, over the phone at 812-336-9300 (Mon-Fri, 12 p.m. until 5 p.m.), or in-person at 122 S Walnut Street (open Wed-Fri, 12 p.m. until 5 p.m.). Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater Box Office, during regular box office hours.
