Director's Note

Roald Dahl once said, “Somewhere inside all of us is the power to the world.”

On the surface, Matilda the Musical Jr is about a little girl with extraordinary powers, with very mean parents and a downright abusive headmistress. But as our cast and crew have discovered over the last few months, it is actually about the power of story itself. The stories we tell each other and the ones we tell ourselves. It is about the courage it takes to stand up when something isn’t right, even when the person you’re standing up to is much bigger or more powerful than you.

Our young heroine is a warrior for justice, but her greatest weapon isn’t magic; it's her mind and her morality, her refusal to accept wrong as right. In a world that often silences children, Matilda reminds us that everyone's voice matters and each of us has the agency to ‘change our story.’

Working with this talented cast, crew and creative team has been a privilege. We’ve worked hard on our choreography, navigated the hilarious cruelty of the Wormwoods, been bewildered by what the Trunchbull has gotten away with, and found solace in the peace and safety of Miss Honey’s classroom all while making new friends and taking on new challenges. These young people have poured their energy, their heart, and their humor into every ‘maggot’ and ‘miracle’ you see on the stage today.

We hope this performance inspires you to be a little bit naughty when justice demands it, and reminds you that no matter where you find yourself in life, you have the power to write and rewrite your own ending.

Thank you for supporting youth theater and our little community theater here in Epping. We couldn’t do what we do for and with these creative young people without you. Now, keep an eye on your chocolate cake, we’re very sure the Trunchbull is watching!

Sincerely,

Katie Gifford