Behind the Scenes of Matilda!

Sage Ridge School puts on two theatrical productions a year, typically one play and one musical. This year, the Sage Ridge theater crew put on the musical Matilda, based on the book Matilda by Roald Dahl. 

Normally, the plays and musicals put on by Sage Ridge each year are performed by students from grades 7 through 12. 6th graders have been allowed to participate in the play, but only through special permission from their teachers and their parents. Since there are many younger characters in this play, students from grades 5 were allowed to perform in the musical, so students from a variety of grades and ages had the opportunity to work together. Matilda was a very special Sage Ridge production. This meant that throughout rehearsal, the actors made close friendships and connections between all the grades!

As is typical for Sage Ridge productions, the cast of Matilda rehearsed very hard in order to put on the best production they possibly could. Every week, the cast and crew rehearsed from 3:30 to 6:00 Monday through Thursday. Most Saturdays, they also have rehearsals that go from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. On show days, the directors, cast, and crew were hard at work at school very late, even past midnight on certain days! Actors and actresses must have a strong work ethic in order to put in enough time to make a show successful.

A Student Perspective: Lilli De Jonghe (‘22)

Actress Lilli De Jonghe (‘22) is a sophomore at Sage Ridge School. She has performed in many other productions put on by Sage Ridge and at the local (and statewide) Winterfest competitions. In Matilda, Lilli is in the Ensemble. As a member of the Ensemble, Lilli has many roles, she is a parent, older child and a dancer. In addition, Lilli plays the Russian Mafia Leader, Sergio. Originally, Sergio is a man but they are adapting the character into a woman so it makes more sense. As one of the older members of the cast, it is a new experience for Lilli to work with lower and middle schoolers. Even though it is a different experience for her, Lilli is proud of her fellow younger actors and actresses. She has a lot of fun during rehearsals even though it is hard work. Lilli says “a lot of people don’t realize how much time goes into a production.” She was very excited for opening night, but she said she would be sad after it is over.