When the light fills the stage at Valley Regional High School on Saturday, March 13, students will present the musical Matilda.

Based on a 1988 children’s book by Roald Dahl, Dennis Kelly adapted Matilda while Tim Minchin wrote the music and lyrics. The musical has received widespread praise since premiering in 2011 at the Cambridge Theatre of London. It continues to hold the record for the most awards received by the Society of London Theater to recognize excellence in professional theater.

Matilda is the story of a young girl with the power to move objects with her mind. With neglectful parents at home and a mean teacher at school, Matilda is challenged to overcome several obstacles to her happiness.

The high school’s production of the musical is directed by Ingrid Walsh of Valley Regional Musical Productions (VRMP).

After seeing Matilda twice on Broadway, Walsh said in an email interview with the Courier that she was “inspired by the creativity, humor, and poignant tale.”

“The story brings to light so many themes that I think are valuable messages for students to learn about. Most importantly is how it is up to you, ‘Even if you[‘re] little, you can do a lot’, to change your own story,” she added.

Sophomore Claire Majewski will play Matilda.

“She has a purity in sound and character,” said Walsh. “A genuine, humble believability from a very endearing role. She has performed for [VRMP] last year in Newsies and has done shows through the Community Music School.”

Other featured roles include Nathan Szymanski as Miss Trunchbull, Maeve Collins as Miss Honey, Lukas Kauffman as Harry Wormwood, and Noa Kleinberg as Zinnia Wormwood.

Elio Perez-Wilson is described by Walsh as “all the roles Matilda creates in her head to be the father figure she wishes she had.”

In addition to the 46-member cast, a total of 16 musicians comprise the pit, or group of performers on various instruments, 5 of whom are students.

Laura Traver, a John Winthrop Middle School music teacher, along with husband, Keith Traver, are the music directors.

“The music is really contemporary,” said Laura Traver. “It’s a newer musical, so it is very upbeat [with] a little bit of rock, pop influence. It’s all very energetic.”

Traver says two group numbers will engage audiences.

“One of them is called, ‘School Song.’ The lyrics for that [are] really clever,” Traver said. “The other is ‘Revolting [Children].’ It’s about them rebelling and finally having some power of their own in the story. That has a lot of vocal drive.”

A 31-member crew assists Walsh in the production process, which is several months long. Key members include Tessa Grunwald as choreographer, Mark Foster in construction, and Verna O’Donnell in set design.

A unique facet to this year’s production is using repurposed items for the set, “in an effort to pay attention to climate change,” Walsh said.

She also hopes audiences “see how we take a hodge-podge group of many talents and abilities and create a 100-[percent] student-run working machine. Finding a home that is valued for each and every student is hard, but it is the mission” of VRMP.

“We look to tell the story that suits our students, not copying what might be expected,” she said.

Matilda

Showtimes of Matilda are Friday to Sunday, March 13 to 15 at 7 p.m. with a 1 p.m. performance on Saturday, March 14. Tickets are $15 for adults, and $12 for seniors and children aged 10 and younger.

To purchase tickets, visit Valley Regional High School at 256 Kelsey Hill Road in Deep River, Celebrations at 161 Main Street in Deep River, or Toys Ahoy! at 43 Main Street in Essex.