Great Barrington — Don’t miss any opportunity to see 70-plus talented middle school students overcome stage fright and show you what they are capable of—they will surprise you every time. This weekend, members of the Berkshire community have three chances to enjoy this year’s musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s story “Matilda,” about an extraordinary little girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her destiny and inspires her classmates to do the same.
After years of sell-out shows at the middle school, Du Bois students will be performing this year in the Monument Mountain Regional High School auditorium, with a much larger seating capacity. The shows are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, April 4, and Saturday, April 5, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 6. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for students, with discounts for young children and senior citizens.
The “Core Four” directors include Josh Briggs, Sunhwa Reiner, Stephanie Cohen, and Julian Park (Du Bois Middle School faculty member). As the number of students involved has grown, they have added Rebecca Honig (costumes) and Ginevra Bull (associate producer) to the team. “All of the directors are absolutely beloved by the students and have worked together to create a kind of institution by making these productions happen over the years,” Bull states, adding, “We all wear many hats behind the scenes and make it happen with the help of dozens of devoted parent volunteers. This year, we even have alums (high schoolers) helping out backstage.”
Music director Sunhwa Reiner explains, “I started working at Du Bois as a teacher back in 2016 and brought together the Core Four. We’ve stayed together all these years because we all value collaboration between all cohorts—the schools, students, families, local businesses, and more—to create a place where students can achieve their highest potential.”
Beyond the directors and parent volunteers, the production also enjoys help from faculty and custodial staff of both schools; the parent team who constructed a safe, sturdy stage set; parents who provide potluck dinners; and local theater professionals who share their love of the stage and expertise with the middle schoolers for free. They source many of the costumes through a rental agreement with Shakespeare & Company, supplemented by dedicated parent volunteers who work alongside Honig to create and sew amazing costumes.
They also hire a live band made up of students and professionals alike. “We really value the importance of having live musicians along with live theater,” says Reiner. “We strive to create a tight-knit culture in the band so that we can lift up all the hard work done by the singers in the cast.” Half of the band has been with the productions for three years or longer (two are alumni of the Berkshire Hills Regional School District who have gone on to further their musical studies at Berklee School of Music). “We also love collaborating with students learning how to play with a band and have welcomed middle and high schooler instrumentalists.” Most importantly, the students themselves are involved in everything—including performing, set and prop building, poster and T-shirt designs, costume help, and making crafts to sell at concessions.
“These shows always end up being about creating community,” Briggs affirms. “We have students across four different grade levels who become good friends, and kids who have never talked to one another joining forces to make something remarkable.” The production is not only an exercise in team building for the students—it is also a way for parents to meet and work together to support their children. Because of all of the adults who lend a hand as volunteers, students are able to participate in the school musical for free—a life-changing school experience that begins in December and concludes with this weekend’s performances.
“Everyone who wants to be in the musical can be,” Bull states. “Younger students (fifth and sixth graders) usually play ensemble roles—or, if they are working backstage, they get put into roles to learn what they will be in charge of in seventh and eighth grades. Over the course of their four years in middle school, students are encouraged to discover their passions and develop their talent and expertise.” For some, like Noa Honig Briggs (Matilda), Dash Travis (The Trunchbull), Antonia Allegrone Lewis (Miss Honey), Wild Handel (Mrs. Wormwood), and Henry Rundle (Mr. Wormwood), the passion is singing and acting. For others, like Augie Mugridge Nielson, it is making and painting props and helping with lighting.
It is also rewarding for the adults who devote their time and energy for four months and can fully appreciate the transformation. “It’s amazing to get to be in the room to see these young people discover their confidence and how they can meet and exceed these high expectations we set for them. This is what the arts in a school can do: They can provide a space where students can discover all of the remarkable things they are capable of,” Briggs notes.
Each student brings something unique to the production—and takes away something special as well. For Lou Stokes, who was in last year’s production of “Shrek,” it is about “being a theater kid who loves to sing.”
For Laurel Meagher, it is about “meeting new kids you’d never otherwise get to know.”
Josie Cusack (also in Shrek), loves being in the musical because “everyone is really nice, and it’s fun performing with friends and having your family come to watch.”
For Noa Honig Briggs, who has been in the musical all four years of middle school, playing Matilda is a dream come true. “I always thought it would be fun to play a kid. There are so many little things you can incorporate,” she says. Her greatest fear? “Forgetting my lines!”
“In this show, we watch as these children are surrounded by adults who are tyrants or adults who can do nothing to stop the tyrants. Even though they dream of a day when they will be grown up and have agency and happiness, they are still trapped in the present moment where they are helpless,” Briggs shares. “In this show, as we’ve worked together, and seen these young people stretch and grow, we’ve watched them come into their own power. They’re not waiting to be grown up to be strong enough and brave enough to do remarkable things.”
“This is a local feel-good story for these times, and the show is going to be really great!” Bull promises.
Click here to pre-purchase your tickets.
