Jordan-Matthews Celebrates Imagination and Inspiration With ‘Matilda: The Musical’

SILER CITY, N.C. — Imagination and inspiration take center stage this month when Jordan-Matthews High School presents “Matilda: The Musical,” the beloved children’s novel adapted into a Tony-winning Broadway musical.

Performances are Friday, March 14, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, March 15, at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, March 16, at 3 p.m. General admission tickets are $10 each and available online at JMArtsTickets.com. Remaining tickets will be sold at the door before each performance. No passes — including Chatham County Schools and senior citizens’ passes — can be accepted. Everyone entering the theater, regardless of age, must have a ticket. 

Inspired by the twisted genius of Roald Dahl, “Matilda: The Musical” is a captivating masterpiece that revels in the anarchy of childhood, the power of imagination and the inspiring story of a girl who dreams of a better life. The musical’s book by Dennis Kelly and score by Tim Minchin combine for a joyous, girl-power romp packed with high-energy dance numbers and catchy songs — though adults, too, will be thrilled and delighted by the story of this special little girl with an extraordinary imagination.

Based on the children’s novel, “Matilda” was adapted into a Broadway musical that earned five 2013 Tony Awards. The story also has been adapted twice for the silver screen — once as a traditional screen play and once for the musical — and, in all, has won 47 international awards. “Matilda” continues to thrill sold-out audiences of all ages around the world.

Jordan-Matthews brings a huge production to the stage with a 35-member cast, seven-member stage crew and students from art and carpentry classes helping produce scenery.

“Directing Matilda had been such an experience!” says theater teacher Mikala Richardson. “Seeing the cast and crew bring the story to life onstage has been so rewarding. There are many new faces in this musical that I hope to see for many years to come, as well as familiar faces who I am indescribably proud of. I cannot wait for audiences to see this show that is heartwarming and hilarious.”

Producer Rose Pate says that “Matilda” appeals to both children and adults because of its sharp comedy and energetic music. “There are great comic villains in this show,” she says. “But Matilda and the other ‘revolting children’ triumph and you’ll be on your feet cheering for them by the final number.”

More than 150 individuals and groups work together to bring the Jordan-Matthews musical to life. This year’s effort is led by a creative team including music director Allison Blaylock, technical director Aaron Partin, and dance directors Hannah Marr and Sawyer Kadel. Art teacher Laura Newman created the “books mobile” background and Cynthia Bredenberg and Heath Smith assisted with wardrobe and makeup.

Dr. Zachary D. Wills will conduct a live pit orchestra featuring all-local musicians: eight students, four faculty members, one leader of the Northwood Arts Foundation, one community musician and one Chatham County Schools retiree. Together, the orchestra represents seven different Chatham County public schools and is being presented with financial support from the Chatham Arts Council.

More about “Matilda” and other JMArts projects to create opportunity for high school artists is available at jmarts.org and through social media @JMHSArts on Facebook, Instagram and Threads.

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Matilda (played by Eleanor Reece), left, defies the wicked Miss Trunchbull (Elisa Vasquez Perez) in “Matilda: The Musical,” running March 14-16 at Jordan-Matthews High School. (Photo by Rose Pate)

Miss Honey (played by Delaney Fuquay), left, and Matilda (Eleanor Reece) share a love of reading. About 35 student actors will be on stage at Jordan-Matthews from March 14-16 presenting three performances of “Matilda: The Musical.” (Photo by Rose Pate)

‘Matilda’ Pit Orchestra Announced for March Production at Jordan-Matthews

SILER CITY, N.C. — Fifteen local musicians — nearly all students and faculty at Chatham County Schools — will perform in the pit orchestra for the Jordan-Matthews High School production of “Matilda: The Musical.” Performances of the beloved Broadway musical are March 14 through 16 at the Jordan-Matthews Auditorium in Siler City.

Coming off wide acclaim for the school’s North Carolina high school premiere of “Frozen: The Broadway Musical” last spring, Dr. Zachary D. Wills returns to lead the pit orchestra for the school’s upcoming production of “Matilda” with Jordan-Matthews band director Aaron Partin serving as the production’s technical director.

Wills, band director at Chatham Central High School in Bear Creek, will conduct an orchestra featuring eight students, four faculty members, one leader of the Northwood Arts Foundation, one community musician and one Chatham County Schools retiree. Together, the orchestra represents seven different schools.

Orchestra members are Nickleus Castevens, Rebecca Clemens, Abby Cockrum, Gina Harrison, Winston Hendricks, Emmaus Holder, Jacob Hoopes, Lisa Johnson, Andrew Kosturi, Ophelia Ledford, Cameron Parker, Kelsey Parsons, Gabriel Thao, Maxy Vasquez Gomez and Wills.

Wills particularly enjoys the music for ‘Matilda’ because of its broad and engaging style. “Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin created a profound composition on numerous levels with ‘Matilda,’” he says. “Their pithy approach to writing, text painting, and thematic writing reminiscent of Wagnerian compositions and modern movie scores, creates a fun and memorable experience for all involved. Everything from circus music to swing, to Latin styles, to beautiful ballads is included in the score.”

JMArts President Rose Pate, who produces the musical, is thrilled to have Wills conducting once again in a production that highlights and celebrates the entire community. Not only does the pit orchestra draw from musicians all across Chatham, but the live music was possible because of a Grassroots Grant from the Chatham Arts Council. The matching grant allows JMArts to provide the professional musicians a small stipend for the considerable time and expertise they invest in providing a richer theatrical production and this unusual performance opportunity for student musicians and actors.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for our young musicians,” Pate says. “Students get to rehearse and perform with trained professionals, helping them learn how to attack a complex Broadway score. And our actors love the chance to perform with a live orchestra. This collaboration brings out the best in both groups, and we're grateful to the Chatham Arts Council for their support to make it all happen.”

“Matilda” performances are Friday, March 14, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, March 15, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 15, at 3 p.m. General admission tickets are now on sale at JMArtsTickets.com. More about “Matilda” and other JMArts projects to create opportunity for Jordan-Matthews artists is available at jmarts.org and through social media @JMHSArts on Facebook, Instagram and Threads.

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Student musicians take top prizes in JMArts’s seventh-annual “Sing and Play”

SILER CITY, N.C. — Seven local students — a soloist, duet and four-member band — took top prizes last night in “Sing and Play ’25,” the seventh-annual student music competition at Jordan-Matthews High School. From auditions through the showcase concert, the event is designed as an educational experience for young musicians and a fun benefit concert for JMArts, the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation.

Audience members voted Madilyn Brown of Bonlee School as best performance in the elementary division for her vocal rendition of “Mean,” a song by Taylor Swift.

Avery Jenkins and Craven Smithwick of Margaret B. Pollard Middle finished on top of the middle school competition with their vocal performance of “Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better),” a song by Irving Berlin from the musical, “Annie Get Your Gun.”

And in the high school competition, Street Mob of Jordan-Matthews High School took the prize for singing “Mi Vicio,” a song by Eslabon Armado and T3R Elemento. Members of the band were Alexander Hernandez Rivas, Ciro Garcia, Emanuel Nolasco Bautista and Gianni Ocelot.

The winner in each of the three divisions received a $50 prize.

Rose Pate, president of JMArts, said there were four more acts than in last year’s show with musicians representing 10 different schools. “Student interest for ‘Sing and Play’ keeps growing,” she said. “And they keep coming back! We now have student musicians who have competed over several years in all three age divisions!”

All money raised by the competition is used by JMArts to expand opportunity for high school artists. That includes JMArts Scholars, the nonprofit’s flagship initiative that allows high school actors, dancers, musicians and visual artists to study over the summer — usually at weeklong, residential workshops on university campuses. Since being launched in 2012, JMArts Scholars program has awarded 101 scholarships to 70 students.

Musicians from Chatham County and across the state were eligible for “Sing and Play.” Contestants in the showcase concert were selected during open auditions by judges Greg Burriss, Matt Fry and Sandra Gisel Lopez, the Sing and Play ’24 high school champion who also performed as guest artist at this year's showcase concert.

Pate expects “Sing and Play” to return next year with registration for auditions opening sometime around December 1. JMArts is already looking at possible dates for next year’s competition, which is likely to be held once again in mid- to late-February.

More information about “Sing and Play” and other arts events scheduled this season is available at jmarts.org. Photos from this year's showcase concert will be available online at facebook.com/JMHSArts.

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Champions of “Sing and Play ’25” with the show’s co-hosts are co-host David Ta’Bon, high school champion Street Mob (Alexander Hernandez Rivas, Ciro Garcia, Emanuel Nolasco Bautista and Gianni Ocelot), middle school champion Avery Jenkins and Craven Smithwick, elementary champion Madilyn Brown and co-host Samantha Wieber. (Photo by Chip Pate)

High School Champion: Street Mob of Jordan-Matthews High School. Band members are Alexander Hernandez Rivas, Ciro Garcia, Emanuel Nolasco Bautista and Gianni Ocelot. (Photo by Chip Pate)

Middle School Champion: Avery Jenkins and Craven Smithwick of Margaret B. Pollard Middle School. (Photo by Chip Pate)

Elementary School Champion: Madilyn Brown of Bonlee School. (Photo by Chip Pate)