As the stage lights illuminate, the Cowboy Theatre Company prepares to put on a show full of joy and connection through “Matilda the Musical.”
“Matilda the Musical” follows the story of 5-year-old Matilda Wormwood, an exceptionally intelligent and resolute young girl.
The play is the Cowboy Theatre Company’s first district-wide musical, with students in grades fifth to 12th from every elementary, middle and high school across CISD taking part in the production.
“I got the idea from a former district I worked at that we would do district musicals every four years,” theatre director Glenn Price said. “I wanted to bring that here and continue that.”
Price said having a district-wide production benefits both the younger students and the high school students greatly.
“ Introducing theater at the elementary level has been great, and seeing the bright eyed elementary kids look up to the high school kids with giggles and admiration is so fun to see,” Price said. “It has also benefited the high school actors by allowing them to remember what it was like to be a kid and in awe of the world. The biggest benefit is unifying the community and our school district through the art of theatre.”
The set design on the musical takes inspiration from Sir Quentin Blake, artist for Roald Dahl’s Matilda book, to bring the production to life and enhance its immersion.
“ The set plays a huge part in telling the story that our directors wanted us to tell with the musical,” New Tech High @ Coppell senior stage manager Sophia Ninan said. “We had a big focus on telling the story as it was in the original book. Much of Sir Quentin Blake’s artwork was unfinished or similar to sketches, so a lot of our set pieces are in black and white and almost look purposefully undone, to pay homage to the original art style.”
Price said the musical helps actors involved let loose, and invoke the spirit of childhood whimsy involved with the story.
“ What has been great for the actors is for them to remember how to have fun again,” Price said. “As we grow up and become more responsible, and as kids become seniors, graduate and go to college, we forget how to have fun and play pretend. This musical is a way for us to remember that, to make new choices and just be silly because that’s what we’re allowed to do.”
New Tech sophomore Lena Gay, who plays Matilda, said playing the titular character has taught her valuable life lessons.
“ Matilda is such a strong little girl,” Gay said. “There are so many things that are going on in her life, and you would never think that a 5-year-old could take that and still go about her day. I strive to be her – I want to be as strong as her and to be able to make things right for myself.”
Gay thinks the musical has been a special experience.
“I’ve always wanted to do Matilda – it is one of my childhood dreams,” Gay said. “I have really enjoyed what I’ve done, and I think that playing this role has definitely changed my mindset on a lot of things in life.”
Price hopes the audience experiences a sense of happiness from the play.
“ I hope the audience walks away with joy and that they remember how beautiful life can be,” Price said. “If we see the world through a kid’s eyes, we’ll learn that a lot of stuff that we worry about is really not that big of a deal, and as long as we learn to love people, that everything will be okay.”
“Matilda the Musical” shows in CHS Auditorium at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, and at 7 p.m. on Jan. 23-25. Tickets can be purchased here.
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