Theater News

Broadway’s Four Young Matildas Meet the Press at the Shubert Theatre

Matilda stars Sophia Gennusa, Oona Laurence, Bailey Ryon, and Milly Shapiro meet Broadway’s press for the very first time.

Sophia Gennusa, Oona Laurence, Bailey Ryon, and Milly Shapiro — the four young ladies who will alternate in the title role in the upcoming Broadway production of Matilda the Musical — were officially introduced to the Broadway press corps on Thursday, November 15 in front of the Shubert Theatre. The production, to be directed by Tony Award winner Matthew Warchus, begins previews at the Shubert on March 4, prior to an official opening on April 11.

Prior to the photo session, the girls lunched at the famed eatery Sardi’s, where they dined on chicken fingers and drank Shirley Temples.

Gennusa has appeared in the last six productions of The Nutcracker at Purchase College Conservatory of Dance; Laurence, a jazz, hip-hop, ballet, and modern dancer on merit scholarship with the Harkness Dance Center, has appeared in the film A Little Game opposite F. Murray Abraham and Ralph Macchio; Ryon, one of the lead vocalists in the rock band The Blackjacks, starred as Cindy-Lou Who in the 2011 national tour of How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical; Shapiro has appeared in professional stage productions of Annie, Les Miserables, and Gypsy.

Based on the popular children’s novel by Roald Dahl, Matilda features a book by Dennis Kelly and music and lyrics by Tim Minchin. It tells the story of a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence, and psychokinetic powers. The show won seven Olivier Awards, including Best Musical.

As previously announced, London-based actor Bertie Carvel will reprise his Olivier-winning performance as the evil Miss Trunchbull in the Broadway staging. Gabriel Ebert (Lincoln Center Theater’s 4000 Miles) will play Matilda’s father, Mr. Wormwood. Additional casting will be announced in the future.

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.

Click here for more information and tickets to Matilda the Musical.