newjerseynewsroom.com

Producers will audition 8-10 year-old girls this Sunday to play a ‘fiercely clever’ heroine

BY MICHAEL SOMMERS

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Hey there, little Jersey girls – want to be on Broadway this spring?

Three boy actors shared the title role of the musical “Billy Elliot” in order to portray his character at different performances during the week. Now the producers of “Matilda: The Musical” are seeking four young actresses to variously portray the fiercely clever heroine during the London musical’s Broadway engagement that begins previews in March.

An open call for the role of Matilda is slated for Sunday, Sept. 30 in New York City.

The producers will audition 8-10 year-old girls who must be 4’4” or under in height. “Matilda should be a strong singer and confident speaker with a good understanding of text and an intelligent approach to acting,” says the casting notice, which adds that no prior experience is necessary. “She is extremely bright, fearless and focused, and able to speak assertively.”

“Matilda: The Musical” is based upon Roald Dahl’s story about an imaginative girl with extraordinary powers and it remains an award-winning hit in London’s West End. The four girls who played the role in London shared a joint Best Actress prize in the 2012 Olivier Awards.

Check-in for the New York audition on Sept. 30 begins at 10 a.m. at Pearl Studios, 519 Eighth Avenue (between 35th and 36th Streets). Candidates should bring a recent photo stapled to a resume that includes any relevant experience, height, birthdate, and a parent or guardian phone number and email address.

Candidates should bring sheet music for a short song that they will perform and they also are asked to memorize a short story or poem in the style of Roald Dahl. An accompanist will be provided for the audition. The auditions will be held on a first-come, first-serve basis.