Students had a hand in choosing ‘Matilda Jr.’ as this year’s stage show
Katelyn Hankey, an eighth-grade student at Butler Intermediate High School, normally fills child roles in the stage productions she has been a part of. Now, however, she is playing teacher Miss Trunchbull in the school’s upcoming production of Roald Dahl’s “Matilda Jr.”
“I usually play the people who really don’t know what they’re doing,” Katelyn said Monday, Nov. 13. “This time I’m, like, screaming at children every other second, so it’s definitely different.”
The Butler Intermediate High School Drama Club production of “Matilda Jr.” goes on stage Tuesday evening, Nov. 21, in the school’s auditorium. The show’s director, Mia Tepper, said the group of about 75 students — 50 in the cast and about 25 in the crew — have been working on the show since the first week of the school year.
“Matilda” is the story of a girl who dreams of a better life and inspires other children to revolt alongside her against mean adults. The junior version of the musical runs about an hour and 10 minutes long, Tepper said, and has nine main roles, which is a lot for a middle school production.
Although the production is the junior version, she said, it has still challenged even the most experienced of student actors and singers.
“Junior is a little shorter; the range of the songs are suited for kids under ninth grade,” Tepper said. “It is very hard music; the kids have had to do a lot of practicing at home on their own.”
Tepper said she asked students last school year what stage show they would like to do in the fall of 2023, and it came down to “Matilda Jr.” and “The Wizard of Oz.” Tepper said the children were eager to pick the “Matilda” show because there is a new version of the story recently out on Netflix.
“We did Matilda because it’s gaining popularity and we just thought it would be really fun to do,” Katelyn said.
The production is special to sixth-grade student Abigail Colonna, who portrays Matilda in the musical. She said she wasn’t expecting to land the lead role in the show, but it has so far been a challenge she enjoys.
“I have done theater for a couple years, and I was basically always ensemble,” Abigail said. “I got my first part this summer, which was Flounder from ”The Little Mermaid,“ and I got Matilda, which is a huge step up. It is a lot of stress but also excitement.”
Maranda Horstman, an eighth-grader portraying Miss Honey, said she also enjoys getting the chance to work with a group of other people her age who are dedicated to the show.
“It’s great to have people who are willing to work and they are willing to be in the show,” Maranda said.
Katelyn said even preparing for opening night has been fun, because of the dedication of Tepper and the rest of the cast and crew.
“Rehearsals are really fun; it’s a really good group of kids,” Katelyn said. “We have some serious moments where we actually get stuff done, and we have some silly, funny moments.”
Words of praise and appreciation always get back to Tepper, who said she hears many students involved in the school’s stage productions say they are happy to have it as a creative outlet.
“Every time we do a show, the students say, ‘This is where I feel safe and creative,’” Tepper said.
Tepper also said the themes of Matilda seem to have affected the children in the production, and just about everyone in the cast is excited for the show’s premiere Tuesday.
“The whole moral of the play is anti-bullying and teachers’ impacts on kids,” Tepper said.
WHAT: “Matilda Jr.”
WHO: Butler Intermediate High School Drama Club
WHEN: 3:15 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday
WHERE: Butler Intermediate High School auditorium
ADMISSION: $5 suggested donation at the door
