Broadway cast announced

Principal and Ensemble Cast Announced for MATILDA THE MUSICAL on Broadway

The Royal Shakespeare Company and The Dodgers today announced the casting of the principal roles and the ensemble in the eagerly anticipated Broadway-bound musical MATILDA THE MUSICAL. They are (alphabetically): Karen Aldridge (Mrs. Phelps), Gabriel Ebert (Mr. Wormwood), Lesli Margherita (Mrs. Wormwood), and Lauren Ward (Miss Honey).

Producers previously announced the four girls sharing the title role: Sophia Gennusa, Oona Laurence, Bailey Ryon and Milly Shapiro; as well as Olivier Award-winner Bertie Carvel* who will reprise the role of Miss Trunchbull for Broadway. Each of the girls is making her Broadway debut.

The ensemble is: Frenie Acoba, Erica Barnett, Judah Bellamy, Jack Broderick, Ava DeMary, John Arthur Greene, Emma Howard, Nadine Isenegger, Colin Israel, Thayne Jasperson, Luke Mannikus, Madilyn Morrow, Sawyer Nunes, Jared Parker, Celia Mei Rubin, John Sanders, Tamika Sonja Lawrence, Phillip Spaeth, Ryan Steele, Betsy Struxness, Samantha Sturm, Heather Tepe, Ben Thompson, Clay Thomson, Taylor Trensch, Beatrice Tulchin, and Ted Wilson*.

MATILDA THE MUSICAL begins performances on March 4 and opens on April 11 2013 at the Shubert Theatre (235 West 44^th Street).

The Shubert Theatre box office will open on January 21 2013.

PRINCIPAL BIOS:

Karen Aldridge (Mrs. Phelps) is best known for her starring role on the Golden Globe winning series “Boss” on Starz as Dr. Ella Harris, Kelsey Grammer’s doctor.  Other recent credits include NBC’s “Chicago Fire,” FOX’s “Mob Doctor,” and Ron Howard’s The Dilemma.  Karen is a critically acclaimed theatre artist consistently starring in productions at Chicago’s most prestigious theatres such as The Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre and Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. She is making her Broadway debut.

Gabriel Ebert (Mr. Wormwood).  Broadway credits: Brief Encounter, by Noël Coward adapted and directed by Kneehigh Theatre’s Emma Rice; Red, directed by Michael Grandage.  He is the recipient of Juilliard’s Robin Williams Scholarship and John Houseman Award. Other credits include the Roundabout’s Suicide Incorporated, dir. John Berry; The Public’s The Sacrifices, dir. Sam Gold; ART’s Prometheus Bound, dir. Diane Paulus.  He received an OBIE for his performance in Amy Herzog’s 4000 Miles, dir. Daniel Aukin at The Duke Theatre and Lincoln Center’s Mitzi Newhouse Theatre. TV: CBS’ short lived “Made in Jersey,” His most exciting theatrical adventure has been playing Konstantin in a sight-specific Seagull at a lake in upstate New York, directed by Brian Mertes.

Lesli Margherita (Mrs. Wormwood) is the winner of a Laurence Olivier Award for her performance in Zorro The Musical, and an Ovation Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Lilli/Kate in Kiss Me Kate at Reprise. Theatre credits include the American premiere of The Gronholm Method, Man of La Mancha (Aldonza, Ovation nomination), Showboat (Julie) at Goodspeed, Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey), Spamalot (Lady of the Lake), She Loves Me (Ilona), See What I Wanna See, Rated RSO, and Damn Yankees (Gloria, Reprise).  TV credits includes “Fame LA,” “Major Crimes,”  “Charmed”, “NYPD Blue,” “The District,” “The King of Queens,” “JAG,” and “Steven Spielberg’s “On The Lot.” Film credits include: Joel Schumacher’s The Number 23 and Sam Raimi’s Boogeyman 2.

Lauren Ward (Miss Honey) will reprise the role of Miss Honey. London credits: Matilda, Sound of Music, Philadelphia Story, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Camelot, Winter’s Tale, Pericles, Vagina Monologues, Dubarry Was a Lady, Elegies.  Broadway: Follies, 1776, The Heiress, Carousel.  Off-Broadway: The New Moon, Carousel in Concert, Time and Again, Saturday Night, Wise Guys, Jack’s Holiday, Violet (Drama Desk nomination, Drama-Logue Award).  Regional: Compleat Stage Beauty, Rough Crossing, Glass Menagerie, As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet, She Stoops to Conquer, Royal Family and Tartuffe.  Film/TV includes: “The Last Days of Lehman Brothers,” “A Touch of Frost,” “Torchwood,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “Joe Gould’s Secret,” “Story of Bad Boy” and “Broken News.”

MATILDA THE MUSICAL is the story of an extraordinary little girl who decides that despite a bad beginning filled with rotten parents, a terrifying school and a vicious head mistress, her story is going to be an astonishing one. With the help of her teacher, her friends and a little bit of imagination, Matilda proves that even if you’re little, you can do big things.

MATILDA THE MUSICAL was commissioned by the RSC in 2010, and is the recipient of a record-breaking seven 2012 Olivier Awards including Best Musical and a joint Best Actress Award for the four girls who shared the title role.  Based on the beloved story by the brilliantly batty Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr. Fox), MATILDA THE MUSICAL is directed by  Tony Award® winner Matthew Warchus (God of Carnage), who helms this exhilarating and ingenious production with book by playwright Dennis Kelly and music and lyrics by Australian comedian, musician and composer Tim Minchin.  For Broadway, the RSC is teaming with New York’s Dodger Properties.  The Dodgers are responsible for a host of major Broadway and West End hits, including the award winning JERSEY BOYS, a major sell-out now in its eighth year on Broadway and in its fifth season in London’s West End.  Michael David leads for The Dodgers, with André Ptaszynski and Denise Wood, Executive Producers.

MATILDA THE MUSICAL premiered at the RSC’s home in Stratford-upon-Avon, playing to sold-out audiences from November 2010 to January 2011.  Capturing the imagination of young and old alike, the RSC transferred the production to London’s West End in October 2011 where the show continues to play to sold-out houses.  Roald Dahl’s magical story about a girl with extraordinary powers has been a favourite novel of millions of people across the world since it was published in 1988.

The production has sets and costumes by Rob Howell, with choreography by Peter Darling, orchestrations, additional music and musical supervision by Christopher Nightingale, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, and sound by Simon Baker.

*Bertie Carvel and Ted Wilson appear with permission of Actors’ Equity Association.