'Matilda' by NewArts at Masuk High School

Dedicated to Prof. Ruth M. Sasso, who took me to see MATILDA on Broadway, remembering her on the first anniversary of her death

“Rise above and go beyond”

Monroe, CT - Last evening, the children of Newtown and beyond presented the opening night performance of MATILDA with the NewArts wing of the 12.14 Foundation. The foundation was formed following the tragic school shooting at Sandy Hook; the following summer 12.14 set out to provide the community’s young people with an empowered way to move forward. As Founder Michael Baroody, MD writes in the printed program, both their ARC character building program and the NewArts performing arts program “prime children to flourish and achieve overall well-being throughout their lives regardless of the challenges they invariably face.” The NewArts rehearsal process and performances provide mastery experiences for children from Newtown and beyond to feel and exhibit the resilience and grit built by the ARC curriculum.

“We are so proud of the cast and crew of MATILDA for growing as individuals, supporting their peers and, together, creating something bigger than themselves.” - Michael Baroody, MD

Highly credited director Michael Unger has been associated with NewArts from its inception and returns to direct MATILDA. Mr. Unger has recently been named Artistic Director of Milwaukee’s Skylight Musical Theatre. He has once again shown off his amazing ability to bring out the best in every young performer in his two casts and rise to the challenge of bringing Broadway to the stage of a local high school with just 39 days of rehearsal.

“Being a non-profit organization created to empower children, there can be no better musical for us than MATILDA with its credo of how ‘you mustn’t let a little thing like little stop you.’ Matilda Wormwood is a fabulous force to be reckoned with. As are all of you.” - Michael Unger, the Director of MATILDA in his director’s note in the program that is addressed to the children in the audience – adults can also read if accompanied by a child.

Roald Dahl’s MATILDA The Musical has a book by Dennis Kelly and wonderful music and lyrics by Tim Minchin. Mr. Under directed and produced the NewArts inception, with fun choreography by Linda Talcott Lee (with Katie Taintor as associate choreographer) and music direction by Drew Nichols. Michael Baroody, M.D. is the executive producer, as always. There were a few issues with the sound design by Tye Hunt Fitzgerald that were quickly made right and the lighting design by Andrew F. Griffin was inspired throughout. The magical scenic design by James Dardenne featured large books that opened to reveal little nooks for scenes, a seesaw and slide, stairs and much more.

Inspired costumes were designed by Stevie Rival with character-inspired wigs by Carissa Thorlakson. Props, which included British flag and dance score paddles, were secured by Lisa Ashby and wonderful shadow puppets were designed by Danny Dyer. Kudos to stage managers Allyson Schiller and Emma Ettinger, production manager Brian McManimon, and technical director Alyse Porsella.

"In a country and world more divisive than ever, with boundaries being built up all around us, literally and figuratively, perhaps it would behoove our society to listen to you little ones as wee bit more than we currently, conventionally, do. Your wisdom, like Matilda’s, often sees things “we” (the adults) do not always see. By intuition, Matilda and her friends help empower others, a critical component to both this show and our character development program, ARC.” - Michael Unger in his director’s note in the program that is addressed to the children in the audience – adults can also read if accompanied by a child.

The excited audience had to wait a bit for the opening night curtain featuring the Newt Cast to rise, but no one seemed to mind. It was well worth the wait. ARC Coordinator and former NewArts performer Maddie Oldham bravely gave the opening night curtain speech.

Matiya Kouassi performed well as the strong and smart Matilda, whose dimwitted father keeps calling “boy” and, along with her mother, never appreciates the brilliance of their young daughter.

In a brilliant casting move, Joseph DeVillis (JOSEPH, NEWSIES, A CHRISTMAS CAROL) donned the brown uniform to play the commanding Miss Trunchbull. This talented actor was delightfully scary in the role and he looked to be having the time of his life. It was such a pleasure to enjoy another one of his performances with NewArts.

Marina Kolitsas (NEWSIES, LIBERTY SMITH) brought her strong acting skills to the role of teacher Miss Honey and performed beautifully this important part. I feel like I have watched both of the Kolitsas sisters grow up on the NewArts stages and I am always proud to say so.

Miranda Wakeman was a hoot in the role of the horrid and “Loud” Mrs. Wormwood. Christian Winter changed hair color as the “stupid” auto seller Mr. Wormwood. Logan Nicolari sang well as the doctor present as Matilda’s birth; Gabreilla Ciccarino played a nurse.

Rebecca Spalvieri was the lovely librarian who appreciates the stories that Matilda tells her in the library. Ashley Raymond played the lovely acrobat in Matilda’s story with Jason Winter covering the role of the escapologist. Danny Stutman played the student Nigel and Ethan Kravec played Tommy. Sophia Baroody stood out in the role of the student named Lavender and Anna Parsons was Erica. Ellie Lemieux appeared as Amanda, Alexa Schmid was Hortensia, and Ava Baroody took the role of Alice. Patrick Labriola lived up the challenge of the role of the student Bruce.

Sabrina Spraggins played the colorful role of the entertainer in the opening scene. Alex Goldstein played the mostly mute brother of Matilda. Jerusha Wright was the lithe Rudolpho and Lauren Jacobs played a cook. Mark Sadowski came out at the end of the second act in the role of Sergei and nailed it.

In the younger ensemble in the Newt Cast were Meghan Bailey, Ava Bauco, Alexa DiBattista, Elizabeth DeBattista, Annika Fogal, Noelle Fogal, Reagan Garvin, Mia Kapur, Ven Mahoney, Anna Stutman, Carlina Tampellini, and Sophia Terilla.

Shining in the older ensemble were Gabriella Ciccarino, Katy Gaffney, Alex Goldstein, Kelsey Hampton, Sarah Herde, Lauren Jacobs, Gwen Kavanaugh, Logan Nicolari, Ashley Raymond, Mark Sadowski, Rebecca Spalvieri, Sabrina Spraggins, Jason Winter, and Jerusha Wright.

MATILDA marks the twelfth large-scale musical produced by NewArts in their seventh year of building confidence in the performing arts. Please support this fabulous program for children that has been doing such great work with the survivors of the Sandy Hook tragedy. The high-quality shows never disappoint, and I have been enjoying them since the first one, SEUSSICAL with Broadway’s John Tartaglia as the Cat in the Hat in 2013. In the lobby, I was able to purchase a show shirt with the NewArts logo on the back as a memento of this fabulous production. I suggest you bring a sweater for the chilly auditorium at Masuk HS. MATILDA runs through August 11, 2019.Tickets can be purchased online here.

12.14 is on the road to developing a model program that can help children in communities everywhere. You can visit their website www.1214foundation.org for more information and to invest in the future.

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.

Click here to read about Naugatuck/Bethwood Patch Mayor Nancy Sasso Janis.