It’s a wrap! The theater department successfully completed its five-show run of Matilda: The Musical on Sunday. The audience had nothing but praises for the production, from the singing and acting, the sets and costumes, and dancing original choreography (including two dances by Aparna ’23), to the humor of the story (who can forget Amanda being thrown across the gym by her pigtails?), and the student musicians playing in harmony with the singers. But producing a spring musical is much more than what unfolds on stage. As Theater Director Bryan Ringsted said, “It takes a village.”

In addition to the 43 students on stage and in the orchestra pit, the show was supported by 47 adults, including dialect coaches who helped the actors with their authentic British and Russian accents, and 89 students, including set designers and builders, sound and lighting technicians, stage hands, and business and marketing staff. Stage Manager Ares ’23 and Assistant Technical Director Aanya ’25 assisted the performing arts directors in managing this large troupe. The group dedicated 217.5 hours over four months, from the first day of audition to striking the set after the last show, to create an entertaining and memorable show for the ND community. Marilou Cristina ’60 noted, “I brought my 10-year old grandson to the Saturday matinee. He was supposed to be at his baseball game at 4:30 but no way would he leave. We both loved it!” What better praise could there be? Kudos to the NDSJ performing arts department.