Clatskanie students present Matilda the Musical Jr.

Starting next Thursday, Dec. 11, more than 30 Clatskanie Middle High School

students will be presenting "Matilda the Musical Jr." inside the Donavon Wooley Performing Arts Center Auditorium. Inspired by the Roald Dahl classic, "Matilda the Musical Jr." brings the familiar cast, including Miss Honey, Trunchbull, Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood and, of course, Matilda. "Every other year, I try to do a big show incorporating as many age groups as possible," said Performing Arts Director Jaime Erwin. "We just kind of keep building and building and building." The production will feature fourth grader Avalon Moreno Gonzalez as Matilda and senior Kelby Evenson as Miss Honey. ""With Kelby and Avalon, they both had really awesome auditions," said Erwin. "They both wanted to be Matilda. They both could very well do the role... It wouldn't work if the freshman were playing Miss Honey and the senior were playing Matilda...Matilda is supposed to be six, and we already have a 14-year-old playing her."

Evenson, who has been part of the theatre group since her freshman year, said, "I was so excited to join Matilda. I grew up reading the book and watching the movies, so it feels like a full-circle moment for me...I've always enjoyed Roald Dahl's books, and Matilda is my absolute favorite."

Grateful to be a part of the cast is fourth grader Marina Jones, who, in her first role ever, will be playing the part of Lavender. "I wanted to be a part of Matilda because I love singing and I want to try to perform on stage," said Jones. "I've seen musicals in the past and enjoyed them...The character Matilda has inspired me in a happy way."

Sixth grader Teegan Olson, playing the part of Tommy, performed in "Willy Wonka" a couple of years ago. "Matilda" being one of his favorite movies, Olson was excited to audition. "I love dancing and singing and the excitement on the night of [the] performance," said Olson.

Another senior in Erwin's ensemble cast is Mackenzie Jones, who, as she did in "Clue," will be performing multiple roles. Earning her four-year theatre pin, Mackenzie will play the parts of an acrobat, a school kid, and Russian mob member Sergi.

Describing the music as "hard for a little kids' play," Erwin still found herself impressed by the multiple young kids - specifically the fourth, fifth, and sixth graders - who came in, auditioned, and got their parts. With the Tony-Award winning CMHS alum Cole Escola's quote that reads, "Just because you're from a small town doesn't mean you can't do big things" resonating throughout the school, Erwin, adopting Escola's words as a motto of sorts, said, "We're doing mainstream shows with a shoestring budget. [Just] because we're small doesn't mean we can't have good things."

"Matilda The Musical Jr." begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11 through Saturday, Dec. 13 at Clatskanie Middle High School (471 SW Bel Air Dr.). Tickets for the shows are $10 for general admission and $8 for students and seniors.