A Letter from the Director
At its heart, Matilda is a story about what can happen when even one person is brave and empowered enough to stand up and say, “That’s not right!” It is about the magic that can occur when courage, storytelling, imagination, curiosity, and action all intersect. Matilda shows us that when even one person stands up for themselves and for others, it can start a chain reaction that leads others to discover their own bravery, serving as a catalyst for real change. Just like with Matilda, sometimes others can count us out because they consider us small, insignificant, or different. But Matilda reminds us that “even if you’re little, you can do a lot.” She observes what is happening around her and is brave enough to challenge the status quo. Remarkably, she does this, using a child’s greatest strength - a sense of curiosity and imagination.
Matilda uses literature to escape from her reality and get lost in worlds different from her own, but in the process, she develops her own unique storytelling abilities. Her strong sense of justice and her connection from the stories she tells lead to the magic she uses to help herself, her friends, and her dear Miss Honey.
All of these wonderful life lessons are packaged in roughly 60 minutes of clever dialogue, unforgettable songs, and a delightful return to seeing the world through the eyes of a child. In rehearsals, we have been working not only on learning fun, energetic choreography (which Terrell Rogers has expertly created) and on sounding lovely and dynamic with a challenging score (which Adam Wright has beautifully coached). We have also been working on crafting moments of truthful connection between the actors, giving focus on the stage where it needs to be, and moving moment by moment to ensure our story makes sense and conveys the characters’ journeys to the best of our abilities. If you ask the actors though, they will probably just say we’ve been having fun, which, in my opinion, is why we call it a “play”!
We are incredibly fortunate to have had such an especially talented production team helping to bring Matilda’s world to life. Their vision, creativity, designs, and attention to detail have made this process so rewarding. My biggest hope is that our actors come away with pride in what they have accomplished and a deeper love for and appreciation of what theatrical storytelling can do for those on the stage and for those who are watching it. Please enjoy their hard work; little people really can do GREAT things! And remember that “sometimes, you have to be a little bit naughty.”
Cheryl Lowber is an accomplished actor, director, and educator with deep roots in the Dallas–Fort Worth theater community. Lowber holds an M.F.A. in Acting from SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts where she also taught undergraduate courses in “The Art of Acting.” She has appeared on stages in DFW, New York City, and internationally, including South Korea. With close to 30 youth productions directed over the past six years, Lowber brings both professional expertise and a genuine passion for young performers. She has served as Managing Director for North Texas Performing Arts (NTPA) Dallas and Head of Acting for the NTPA Academy, and currently serves as Assistant Theatre Director at Lake Highlands High School. Her regional acting credits include productions with Dallas Theater Center, Shakespeare Dallas, Stage West, Classics Theatre, Theatre Three, and many others.
Adam C. Wright is a prolific pianist, composer, accompanist, and director who has maintained a lengthy and abundant career across North Texas. His primary home is Dallas Children’s Theater, but he also music directs productions at Uptown Players, WaterTower Theatre, and Circle Theatre, to name a few. He rarely finds a moment when his fingers are away from the keys. Completed original works include Imposter! Hypocrite! TARTUFFE!; A Taste of Beauty; Mama: a musical; If a Frog Had Wings; and The Starlight Lounge. He also worked as Betty Buckley’s rehearsal pianist for her show The Other Woman – The Vixens of Broadway. You can find him collaborating with vocalists at various cabaret venues and piano bars across the Metroplex.
Terrell Rogers is a Dallas-based choreographer, educator, and professional dancer from Baltimore, Maryland. He earned his B.F.A. in Dance from the Point Park University Conservatory of Performing Arts in 2018, under the direction of Garfield Lemonius. Terrell performed for three seasons with DBDT: Encore! and three seasons with the main company of Dallas Black Dance Theatre, performing works by acclaimed choreographers nationally and internationally. As a choreographer and instructor, he has created award-winning works for competitive studios and youth performers throughout the Dallas area, blending storytelling with dynamic movement and theatricality. In 2022, he was featured on the cover of the August issue of Dallas Magazine. Terrell is grateful to the cast, creative team, and families of Matilda JR. and hopes you enjoy the show.
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