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ROALD
DAHL
Writer
Roald Dahl was born in Llandaff, Wales, in 1916. After suffering a ‘monumental bash on the head’ as a fighter pilot during the Second World War, he became the author of beloved classics such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The BFG and Matilda. When he died in 1990 The Times hailed him as ‘without question the most successful children’s writer in the world’. For more information on the life and legacy of Roald Dahl visit www.roalddahl.com. -
DENNIS
KELLY
Book
An internationally acclaimed writer, with plays performed in more than 30 countries. He received a Tony Award for Matilda. Stageplays include Debris (Theatre 503/Battersea Arts Centre, 2003), Osama the Hero (Hampstead Theatre, 2004), After the End (Paines Plough, Traverse Theatre, Bush Theatre, 2005), Love and Money (Young Vic/Manchester Royal Exchange, 2006), Taking Care of Baby (Hampstead Theatre/Birmingham Repertory, 2006), DNA (National Theatre, 2008), Orphans (Paines Plough, Traverse Theatre, Soho Theatre and Birmingham Rep, 2009), The Gods Weep (Royal Shakespeare Company, 2010) and The Ritual Slaughter of Gorge Mastromas (Royal Court, 2013). Dennis co-wrote and created the award-winning comedy series “Pulling” (Silver River/BBC 3) and wrote and created Utopia (Kudos) for Channel Four. For film he wrote the screenplay for Black Sea, directed by Kevin MacDonald. -
TIM
MINCHIN
Music and Lyrics
Tim Minchin is a musician, comedian, actor and writer. He wrote his first theatrical score at 17, and spent the next decade composing, acting, making theatre and playing pianos. In 2005, his comic cabaret, Dark Side, launched him onto the international stage. He toured internationally with subsequent solo shows, So F-ing Rock and Ready for This. His 2010 show, Tim Minchin vs. the Orchestra, sold out some of the world’s most prestigious venues, including the Royal Albert Hall and the Sydney Opera House. Acting highlights include the role of Judas in the arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar, Atticus Fetch in Showtime’s “Californication”, and Rosencrantz in Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead for the Sydney Theatre Company. His new stage musical, Groundhog Day, opens on Broadway in the spring of 2017. He is currently writing and directing Larrikins, a feature film for Dreamworks Animation, and spasmodically performing live around the US. -
MATTHEW
WARCHUS
Director
Productions include Coriolanus, “Master Harold”…and the boys, Life Is a Dream, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Fiddler on the Roof, The Plough and the Stars, Much Ado About Nothing, The Life of Stuff, Death of a Salesman, Henry V, Betrayal, True West, The Devil Is an Ass, Volpone, Peter Pan, Art, Hamlet, The Unexpected Man, Life (x) 3 , Follies , The Winter’s Tale, Our House, Tell Me on a Sunday, Endgame , Buried Child, The Lord of the Rings, Boeing-Boeing, I Am Shakespeare, Speed- the-Plow, God of Carnage, The Norman Conquests, La Bête, Deathtrap, Matilda, Ghost: The Musical. Opera: Troilus and Cressida, The Rake’s Progress, Falstaff, Così fan Tutte. Feature film: Pride and Simpatico. -
PETER
DARLING
Choreography
West End: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, Olivier nomination and Whatsonstage Award); Matilda (Olivier Award, Whatsonstage Award and Tony nomination); Billy Elliot (Olivier, Tony, Drama Desk , Outer Critics Circle Astaire Awards); The Lord of the Rings (London/Toronto, Dora Award); Our House (Olivier Award, Best Musical); Merrily We Roll Along (Olivier Award, Best Musical, Donmar); Candide (Olivier Award, Best Musical, National Theatre); Oh! What a Lovely War, Power (National Theatre); Closer to Heaven (Whatsonstage Award); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Bristol Old Vic); The Tempest (RSC); Sunset Boulevard (Really Useful Group). Film: The Phantom of the Opera, Billy Elliot (MTV Best Dance Sequence), Plots With a View, Trauma. -
ROB
HOWELL
Set and Costume Design
Rob Howell has designed sets and costumes extensively in the UK and abroad, including the Royal Court, Donmar Warehouse, Royal National Theatre , Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Opera House and the Metropolitan Opera. On Broadway he designed True West, Betrayal, Boeing-Boeing, The Norman Conquests, Private Lives and Ghost. He has received numerous Olivier and Tony nominations and received three Oliviers for Best Set Designer. For Matilda the Musical he won Drama Desk, Outer Critic’s Circle, and Tony awards in 2013. -
CHRIS
NIGHTINGALE
Additional Music and Musical Supervision
Chris Nightingale most recently composed the score for the BAFTA award winning Film PRIDE. Other work includes; musical supervisor, arranger and orchestrator for Ghost: The Musical (London and Broadway), co-composer, musical supervisor and orchestrator of The Lord of the Rings on stage; musical supervisor and arranger for Yusuf Islam’s Moonshadow UK tour; musical supervisor and co-arranger for A.R. Rahman’s Bombay Dreams; musical supervisor/arranger for the Pet Shop Boys’ Closer to Heaven; musical director for Whistle Down the Wind and Oliver!; and assistant musical director for Miss Saigon. -
SIMON
BAKER
Sound Design
Recent London and Broadway: Matilda (Olivier Award), Brief Encounter (Olivier and Tony nom.), La Bête, Boeing-Boeing (Tony nom.), The Norman Conquests, Closer and The Play What I Wrote. London only: Loserville, Hedda Gabler, Lord of the Rings (Olivier nom.), Deathtrap. Regional: My Fair Lady (Sheffield), Me and My Girl (Sheffield). As
part of Kneehigh Theatre: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Red Shoes, Wah Wah Girls, Wild Bride, Midnight’s Pumpkin and Steptoe & Son.
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HUGH
VANSTONE
Lighting Design
Recipient of a Tony Award for Matilda on Broadway and three Olivier Awards for his work in London. New York credits include An Act of God (Studio 54), I’ll Eat You Last : A Chat With Sue Mengers (Booth), Matilda (Shubert), Ghost (Lunt-Fontanne, Tony nomination for Best Lighting), La Bête (Music Box), A Steady Rain (Schoenfeld), God of Carnage (Jacobs), Mary Stuart (Broadhurst, Tony and Drama Desk nominations for Best Lighting), Shrek (Broadway), Boeing -Boeing (Longacre), Spamalot (Shubert, Tony nomination for Best Lighting). -
PAUL
KIEVE
Illusion
Created original magical effects for more than 100 West End, Broadway and international productions including Ghost: The Musical (Drama Desk Award 2012), Pippin (ART and Broadway), Zorro, The Lord of the Rings, Batman Live!, The Invisible Man, The Phantom of the Opera; working with companies including the RSC, Royal Opera and Royal Ballet. Film/television includes Hugo, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, “Cranford.” He authored Hocus Pocus (Scholastic 2007). www.Stageillusion.com -
ELLEN
KANE
Associate Choreographer
RSC: Matilda (Stratford/West End/Broadway/US tour/Australia). Theatre includes Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Playhouse Theatre), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane), Billy Elliot (West End/Australia/Chicago/Holland), Sister Act (London Palladium), The Lord of the Rings (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane), The Three Musketeers (Germany). Workshops include Bridget Jones’ Diary (Working Title) and The Light Princess (National Theatre). -
KATE
DUNN
Associate Choreographer
Dance: Royal Ballet Company. Sydney Dance Company, Chunky Move, Bangarra Dance Theatre. Musicals: Contact, On Your Toes, Chicago Broadway. Films: The Phantom of the Opera, Beyond the Sea. Associate choreographer: Dirty Dancing, Billy Elliot, Matilda. Choreographer: Rio (NYMF), M•A•C cosmetics worldwide campaign, Bruce Beresford’s Paradise Road, Breakfast at Tiffany’s (Broadway). -
THOMAS
CARUSO
Associate Director
Directed the critically acclaimed Off- Broadway musical, Southern Comfort. Also directed at Rattlestick, NY Stage & Film, Williamstown, Bay Street, Playwrights Horizons, Penguin Rep, EST, Juilliard, the Play Company, NYMF, SPF, Cherry Lane, Studio Arena, Gloucester Stage, TheatreWorks. Associate director credits: Ghost, Mamma Mia!, Bombay Dreams, Follies and Master Class. www.ThomasCaruso.com -
LUKE
SHEPPARD
Associate Director
Luke has been with Matilda since Stratford-upon- Avon. Directing includes Happy Never After, Betty Blue Eyes, Peter Pan, Mort, Bed and Sofa, From Up Here, Jet Set Go. Associate: Singin’ in the Rain. Training: Bristol University, National Theatre Studio. -
LOTTE
WAKEHAM
Associate Director
Lotte Wakeham has been with Matilda since Stratford-upon- Avon. As director: Twelfth Night, Danny the Champion of the World, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Sweet Charity, Rumpelstiltskin, Upper Cut, Lizzie Siddal, Spend Spend Spend, The Other School, The House of Bernarda Alba, The Beautiful Game, Rupunzel, The Diary of A Nobody, Allegro, The Kissing-Dance, A Christmas Carol, Fair Trade, Dido Queen of Carthage, Austentatious. Radio: “Macbeth”, “Before They Were Famous”. Training: Oxford University, National Theatre Studio. Award); Our House (Olivier Award, Best Musical); Merrily We Roll Along (Olivier Award, Best Musical, Donmar); Candide (Olivier Award, Best Musical, National Theatre); Oh! What a Lovely War, Power (National Theatre); Closer to Heaven (Whatsonstage Award); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Bristol Old Vic); The Tempest (RSC); Sunset Boulevard (Really Useful Group). Film: The Phantom of the Opera, Billy Elliot (MTV Best Dance Sequence), Plots With a View, Trauma. -
Paul
Weimer
Associate Set Designer
Broadway: Assistant/Associate Set Designer for Ghost, Norman Conquests, Shrek, Coram Boy, Woman In White, Spamalot, Caroline Or Change, Noises Off, Bells Are Ringing, Swan Lake & Phantom Of The Opera. Love to Greg! -
Joel
Shier
Associate Lighting Designer
Broadway Associate: Ghost, Godspell. Broadway Assistant: Follies, Wonderland, Addams Family, Little Mermaid. Tours: Sister Act, Wicked, Sweeney Todd. Design: Ghost Light Sessions, Pregnancy Pact, Memory Show, Fugitive Songs, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. Thanks to PSR. -
Tony
Smolenski IV
Associate Sound Designer
Associate Designed over 25 Broadway Shows including: Evita, Billy Elliot, The Coast of Utopia, Scandalous, Wonderland, Sixteen Wounded, Bobbi Boland, The Smell Of The Kill. Design work includes: Cymbeline (Broadway), Adding Machine (Drama Desk Nomination.) -
JEANIE
O’HARE
Commissioning Dramaturg
Developed plays at the Royal Court Theatre and RSC. She is now Chair of Playwriting at Yale School of Drama. She worked on Matilda from the beginning (2006), firstly with Dennis Kelly and then in 2008 she whispered the name Tim Minchin into the ear of Matthew Warchus and the magic began. -
JIM CARNAHAN
C.S.A.
Casting Director
Roundabout’s director of artistic development. Roundabout: The Big Knife, Picnic, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Cyrano, Harvey, Anything Goes, Sunday in the Park…, Pajama Game, Twelve Angry Men, Assassins, Nine, Big River, Cabaret. Other Broadway: Once, Peter and the Starcatcher, Jerusalem, The Scottsboro Boys, American Idiot, Spring Awakening, Boeing-Boeing, The Pillowman, Democracy, Fiddler on the Roof, …Millie. Film: A Home at the End of the World, Flicka. TV: “Glee” (Emmy nom.). -
NORA BRENNAN
C.S.A.
Casting Director
Specializes in children’s casting and cast the children in Billy Elliot (Broadway and tours), winning the ARTIOS award. Resident casting director for Transport Group: Queen of the Mist, The Audience, Hello Again, All the Way Home, Dark at the Top of the Stairs, Bury The Dead, Normal, Crossing Brooklyn; West Side Story at La Scala Opera House and international tours. -
ANDREW
WADE
Voice Director
RSC: Head of Voice. Cicely Berry: many projects. Matthew Warchus: at RSC and The Lord of the Rings (Toronto and West End). Guthrie Theater: since 2002. TFANA: Voice Director, the Acting Company. Film: Shakespeare in Love. Teaching: Juilliard, Stella Adler. Fellow: Rose Bruford College. Lectures: worldwide. -
DAVID
HOLCENBERG
Associate Music Supervisor
Broadway: Mamma Mia!, Ghost, Bye Bye Birdie, The Story of My Life, Good Vibrations, Seussical, Titanic, Show Boat. David also music directed the Los Angeles production of Ragtime (L.A. Drama Critics Award), The Phantom of the Opera (Toronto) and the Lincoln Center productions of Dessa Rose and The Glorious Ones. His show Bingo (the winning musical), written with Heitzman and Reid, is currently playing worldwide. David is the music supervisor for Rocky in Hamburg and is the associate music supervisor for Mamma Mia! in North America. -
HOWARD
JOINES
Music Coordinator
Bullets over Broadway; Aladdin; A Night With Janis Joplin; Cinderella; Scandalous; Chaplin; Ghost; How to Succeed; Promises, Promises; Bye-Bye Birdie; Grease; Times They Are A-Changin’; Dirty Rotten Scoundrels; Bare; Now.Here.This. Conductor/Percussionist: Billy Elliot; Scoundrels; Never Gonna Dance; Flower Drum Song; Full Monty; Superstar; Miss Saigon; Les Misérables; Singing in the Rain; King and I; Cleavage; Radio City. For Robin and Taylor. -
DEBORAH
ABRAMSON
Children’s Music Director
Deborah continues writing her own music, directs you to www.facebook.com/DeborahKAbramson, hopes that you adore these children too, and thanks all those who have trusted and aided her in this dream job.
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AURORA
PRODUCTIONS
Technical Supervisor
Current projects: The Book of Mormon (Broadway, national tour and Chicago), Big Fish, Once, Orphans, The Testament of Mary, Talley’s Folly, The Big Knife and Anything Goes (national tour). Aurora has been providing technical and production management to the entertainment industry since 1989. For more information visit www.auroraprod.com.
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DAVID
LOBER
Production Stage Manager
Production stage manager for Broadway: Saturday Night Fever. National tour: Wicked; The Lion King; The Light in the Piazza; Million Dollar Quartet; Caroline, or Change; Sunset Blvd.; Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Aida.
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MICHAEL
KRUG
Stage Manager
Michael Krug is happy to be back at home after touring though over 300 cities in the last eleven years. “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”
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KATELYNN
COOPER
Assistant Stage Manager
Broadway: Amazing Grace. Off-Broadway: Clinton: The Musical, NYMF. Television: “Peter Pan Live!” Regional: Huntington Theatre Company, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Goodspeed, Weston Playhouse. BFA Stage Management, Emerson College. Thanks to Grandpa. For Peggy. -
MELISSA M.
SPENGLER
Assistant Stage Manager
Broadway: Lion King, IF/THEN, Hands on a Hardbody, Fela, 33 Variations. Off-Broadway: Theatre for a New Audience, Classic Stage Company, The Mint Theatre Company, NYMF. Regional: Hartford Stage, Goodspeed, Long Wharf Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Center Theatre Group, Center Stage, and Weston Playhouse. With gratitude to my parents and Nathan.
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DENISE
WOOD
Executive Producer
Lead Producer with the RSC for ten years. Working alongside Artistic Director Michael Boyd, she was responsible for the planning of the artistic program worldwide and for overseeing the producing of the company’s repertoire. Her numerous credits as a producer for the RSC from 1995-2012 include Michael Boyd’s Olivier Award-winning eight-play Histories cycle in 2006-2008 and Gregory Doran’s acclaimed 2009 production of Hamlet with David Tennant. She has worked on Matilda The Musical since its inception, premiering the production in Stratford and London before leaving the RSC to pursue a freelance career.
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ANDRÉ
PTASZYNSKI
Executive Producer
As a producer, André has won Best Musical Olivier or Standard Awards for six different shows. He has produced over 50 shows in all, in London, New York and on tour. His company, Pola Jones, also produced a number of comedy series for the BBC. He was, for many years the promoter for a wide range of comic talent from Dave Allen and Rowan Atkinson to Eddie Izzard and The League of Gentlemen. André was Chief Executive of the Really Useful Group from 2005 to 2011 and for the last 15 years he has also programmed and run Andrew Lloyd Webber’s West End theatres including the London Palladium and The Theatre Royal Drury Lane. He was on the board of the National Theatre for nine years and among projects currently in development he is working on Groundhog Day, Tim Minchin’s new musical, with Matthew Warchus.
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THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY
Producer
Connects people with Shakespeare and produces bold, ambitious work. Our repertoire includes Shakespeare, classical plays and new work. We are committed to developing theatre artists and enjoy working with schools and teachers to inspire a lifelong love of Shakespeare in young people. Based in Stratford-upon-Avon for the last five decades, we are an ensemble company. Everyone from directors, writers and actors to production, technical and administrative staff plays their part in creating distinctive theatre. We perform regularly in London, on tour across the UK and around the world. We have always had a special relationship with America. Every year, we welcome more than 20,000 U.S. visitors to our Stratford home, and we bring productions and education programs here regularly, in collaboration with American partners, including our presenting partner in the U.S., the Ohio State University. We are honored to return to Broadway with Matilda The Musical. www.rsc.org.uk
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THE
DODGERS
Producer
Dodger Theatricals is a producing partnership hatched at BAM in 1978 by Michael David, Edward Strong, Rocco Landesman, Des McAnuff, Doug Johnson and Sherman Warner. From the initial foothold in Brooklyn, the Dodgers grew, migrated to the NY Shakespeare Festival, then to off and on Broadway, where their productions have garnered a host of national (Tony, Drama Critics Circle, Obie) and international (Olivier, Helpmann and Dora) awards. Current Broadway: Matilda,Jersey Boys. Other Broadway: The Farnsworth Invention, 42nd Street, Urinetown, Dracula, Jesus Christ Superstar, Into the Woods (’87 and ’02), The Music Man, Titanic, Wrong Mountain, Footloose, Mandy Patinkin, High Society, 1776, …Forum, The King and I, The Who’s Tommy, Ralph Fiennes’ Hamlet, Guys and Dolls, Once Upon A Mattress, How to Succeed…, Jelly’s Last Jam, The Secret Garden, Prelude to a Kiss, The Gospel at Colonus, Big River, Pump Boys and Dinettes. In addition to Jersey Boys on Broadway, the Dodgers are producers of current Jersey Boys productions in London, Las Vegas, Australia, South Africa and two touring companies in North America.
