NewArts' Performers Meet Broadway Composer Stephen Schwartz

Monroe, CT - The children of the NewArts wing of the 12.14 Foundation presented their magical production of MATILDA this past weekend to delighted audiences. On Sunday, there was a very special supporter in the audience.

Michael Unger, the long-time, beloved director of NewArt's productions, announced Monday that Stephen Schwartz (the composer of WICKED, RAGS, CHILDREN OF EDEN, GODSPELL and more) brought his granddaughter to see the NewArts production of MATILDA. The Sunday matinee was presented by the Newt Cast, but I am sure that members of the Chalk Cast were on hand to sing the NewArts theme song "Rise Above and Go Beyond" at the end of the curtain call. Some of them no doubt appear in these photos shared by Mr. Unger.

I recently completed Carol de Giere's comprehensive biography of Mr. Schwarz and posted a review on Patch. In February, Ms. de Giere spoke to the students at Immaculate HS visited with the cast and crew of Immaculate's production of PIPPIN. Ms. de Giere discussed the history of the musical, as well as the cultural and musical influences that inspired Mr. Schwartz to write and compose various songs in the musical. PIPPIN's director/choreographer Matthew Farina attended the Saturday matinee of NewArts' MATILDA.

My readers will not be surprised that I am a big fan of Mr. Schwartz. I was thrilled to attend a talk that he kindly presented in 2014 to the young performers of Trumbull during the rehearsal process of their wonderful performance of CHILDREN OF EDEN. I took copious notes as he spoke with the high school students, but I couldn't help being star struck to be in the same auditorium as one of my musical heroes. My next encounter with Mr. Schwartz was when I literally followed him up the stairs to the Goodspeed Opera House at the press night for his reworked musical RAGS; the composer stayed for the performance, causing at least two critics to turn into fangirls.

Only four more chances remain to see MATILDA.

Mr. Unger, who quotes my review of THE SCHOOL OF ROCK on his professional website, posted on his Facebook page: "You don’t want to miss this one - and I highly recommend seeing BOTH casts!" I am just a bit disappointed that I was not at the Sunday matinee, but by then I had enjoyed a performance by both casts. I had already followed the director's advice and I posted reviews/wrap ups of both the Newt Cast and the Chalk Cast. Both casts include the wonderful performance of Joseph DeVellis (pictured above) in the role of Miss Trunchbull, a rendition of the evil headmistress of young Matilda's school that is worth the trip to Masuk High School.

Click here to read by review of opening night with the Newt Cast, with Marina Kolitsas in the role of Miss Honey and Mayiya Kouassi in the title role.

Click here to read my review of the first performance by the Chalk Cast, with Nicole Kolitsas as Mrs. Wormword, Michael Spanedda as her husband and Scarlet Tanzer in the title role.

I tried to sing along with the NewArts theme song (above) at the curtain call of the two performances of MATILDA that I saw, but I teared up both times.

Remaining performances of MATILDA are posted here.

www.newarts.org

Nancy Sasso Janis, writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, posts well over 100 reviews each year. In 2016, her membership in the Connecticut Critics Circle began and her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted not only in the Naugatuck Patch but also on the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the NEW CCC Facebook page.

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