FHU Theatre Presents Homecoming Musical “Matilda” Featuring Young Actors from Chester County Youth Theater

FHU Theatre Presents Homecoming Musical “Matilda” Featuring Young Actors from Chester County Youth Theater

Henderson, Tennessee —  (Nov. 1, 2022) — Freed-Hardeman University Theatre will present Roald Dahl's “Matilda the Musical” as its homecoming production this fall, featuring young actors from the Chester County Youth Theater. Performances will be Thursday, Nov. 10, and Friday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. in Loyd Auditorium, and a matinee performance will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12. FHU Theatre and Chester County Youth Theater invite FHU alumni, friends and the community to enjoy this family friendly show. Individuals may purchase tickets at fhutickets.com.

Chester County Youth Theater Director Becky Hartle is directing “Matilda the Musical,” alongside Lauren Malecha, music director, Jenna Britt, choreographer, and Brandyn Graves, set designer and FHU Theatre faculty. “I am so thankful I get to combine my worlds of FHU Theatre and Chester County Youth Theater to create this one of a kind performance of ‘Matilda,’” FHU alumna, Hartle said. “It has been inspiring to see how the college students have become leaders and positive examples to our CCYT kids. I have also been so impressed with my CCYT kids, who have stayed on the same level as the college kids while learning the rigorous music and choreography elements of the show!” 

For eight weeks the cast has worked together to learn their lines, songs and characters. 

“I think it’s impressive what the younger students are doing. They’re very fun, and they get theatre,” FHU senior Nate Cass said. Cass is portraying Rudolpho in the musical and is a theatre design major. 

Local homeschooler and CCYT cast member Allie Grace Kopp is portraying Amanda Thripp in the production and enjoys a scene where she is thrown by her pigtails. “I’m enjoying the challenge of the choreography in the play. I’m more of a singer than a dancer, so I practice a lot at home. This is a wonderful cast with talented people.” 

This is the second FHU Homecoming performance for FHU sophomore Haley Hixson, who is portraying Matilda. She portrayed Frances in last year’s “Burnt Part Boys.” “I’ve been working on making my voice little and changing my physicality,” said Hixson, a double major in theatre and education. “Matilda is such a long storyteller and speaks in a British accent, so that’s been a fun challenge.”

FHU senior Shayli Studer portrays Matilda’s favorite teacher, Ms. Honey, in the production. Studer has a passion for theatre and storytelling and has seen the play twice in Nashville. “It’s a sweet role to play,” Studer said. “She has a hard battle to stand up for herself.”

For many in the cast, coming together to make the show a success is a rewarding, collaborative effort. 

“My favorite part of this process would be the E&E groups. This stands for encourage and engage, which helps form bonds between the FHU college students and the Chester County Youth Theater students,” Hartle said. “They spend five minutes each rehearsal getting to know each other better. They also eat together during meals and encourage each other on and off stage. They even trick or treated together in Halloween costumes, as CCYT parents passed out candy in Loyd Auditorium before rehearsal! This experience is about more than just the production. It's about the bonding of two different age groups and the memories that will last a lifetime. It will be a special experience to witness Chester County students perform together with FHU students on stage! We hope the community will enjoy this family friendly show of Matilda!”

FHU Matilda Cast List

Matilda Wormwood- Haley Hixson

Miss Agatha Trunchbull- Jack Joiner

Miss Honey- Shayli Studer

Mr. Wormwood- Trenton Sweeney

Mrs. Wormwood- Grace Sykes

Michael Wormwood- Eli Cadle 

Mrs. Phelps- Kaylee Sexson

The Escapologist- Jordan Deck 

The Acrobat- Dailey Reitmair

Rudolpho- Sir Nate Cass

Doctor- Ashlyn Chandler

Children’s Entertainer- Hudson Lewis 

Sergei- T.J. Kirk

LITTLE KIDS:

Bruce- Elijah Hardin

Lavender- Hope Rininger

Amanda- Allie Grace Kopp

Nigel- Brody Hysmith

Eric- Cole Jordan

Alice- Cyan Nichols 

Hortensia- Madelyn McPeake

Tommy- Caleb Rogers

BIG KIDS: 

• Amelia Barr 

• Anna Jewell Clayton

• Anslee Hulen 

• Ashlyn Chandler 

• Hannah Grace Robinson 

• Hannah Sherwin 

• Jack Terry 

• Jonah Smith 

• Kayley Wadlington 

• Kaitlyn Thompson 

• Landon Rydl 

• Lydia Smith 

• Maci Cagle 

• Sadie Childers

• Taylor Gorrell

OTHER ENSEMBLE:

• Hudson Lewis

• Grace Beadle

• Tylon Hill (Big Kid Alternate)

• Lydia Hamilton (Big Kid Alternate)

ALTERNATES/ENSEMBLE:

• Brooklyn Judd

• Isaac Dalton

• Olivia DeFilippo