Theatre Guild of Buchanan County (TGBC) at The CAM
Director: Dora Wallace
Email: dwallace@seeyouatthecam.com
Phone: 276-244-7121 Call or Text
Email is the preferred method of contact or text.
Welcome to the Stage
You have officially taken the first step toward joining the Theatre Guild of Buchanan County’s upcoming production of Matilda Jr.: The Musical at The CAM. I am your Director Dora Wallace and I have designed this audition pack to guide you and your family through every stage of the journey, from your first audition to the final curtain call.
Rebellion is nigh in Matilda JR., a gleefully witty ode to the the anarchy of childhood and the power of imagination! This story of a girl who dreams of a better life and the children she inspires will have audiences rooting for the "revolting children" who are out to teach the grown-ups a lesson.
Matilda has astonishing wit, intelligence... and special powers! She's unloved by her cruel parents but impresses her schoolteacher, the highly loveable Miss Honey. Matilda's school life isn't completely smooth sailing, however – the school's mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and just loves thinking up new punishments for those who don't abide by her rules. But Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts, and could be the school pupils' saving grace!
CAST
Because this is a Junior show we will have children playing the adult characters.
AGES: 7 to 17
CAST SIZE: 21 to 30
Audition Date 1:
Saturday, January 17
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Audition Date 2:
Sunday, January 18
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Table Read & Organizational Meeting:
Friday, January 23
5:30 PM
Note: This meeting may run up to two hours. Please ensure performers have eaten prior to arrival, bring a water.
Performance Dates (March):
13, 14, 15, 20, 21, and 22
This is a primarily sung show. All auditionees will be required to sing, act, and dance.
Acting
Auditionees will perform cold reads onstage with others. It is recommended that you read the script beforehand to better understand the role you wish to audition for. If you cannot open the script below, visit MTI and look at the sides there. Scroll to the bottom and select Matilda Jr. in the drop down menu. There will be no assinged audtion times, everyone should arrive at the same time either Saturday or Sunday.
Voice
Those auditioning for lead roles should prepare an acapella song, no musical accompaniment either:
A selection from Matilda Jr., or
Two songs of your choice that best showcase your vocal range and ability. You will sing each song for one minute, so the director and casting committee have the opportunity to hear your range and ability. The most important part of your musical selection is to showcase yourself as a singer, especially for the lead roles. Try to choose two songs that are very different from each other for example; "Under the Sea," and "Let It Go" or "Tomorrow," vs "Easy Street" from Annie. These are suggestions, choose song that you are most confident in singing.
Dance
All performers will participate in a dance evaluation during rehearsals. No formal dance training or prepared routine is required. The team is looking for rhythm, coordination, and willingness to move.
What to Wear
Please wear simple loose fitting clothing, no leotards or dance uniforms, tight jeans or shorts. Wear shoes that you can move in, no crocs, flip flops, sandals or house shoes.
Call Backs
If you attend the Saturday audition you may be asked to return on Sunday evening at 6 p.m. You may attend both auditions, but this is not required, as this will give the casting committee the opportunity to see you with different people.
You may view the show script here.
If you're unable to view this script, please visit MTI's webpage and scroll to the bottom, select Matilda Jr. The sides/audition materials will be there as well. MTI SIDES
Rehearsal Schedule
If you are cast, you are expected to attend every rehearsal unless conflicts are listed on your audition form. We have six weeks to prepare this production.
Rehearsal Days:
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Other days may be added as required, you will have the option of listing days you are available on your audition form. A calendar will be provided to the cast and crew with rehearsal dates, full show runs and tech week rehearsals provided.
Time Option A:
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM (pending school bus drop-off arrangements)
Time Option B:
4:30 PM – 6:30 PM (if busing is not available)
Note: The final schedule may change based on cast size and documented conflicts, but we will make every effort to adhere to what is posted here or given to you if you accept a part.
Character Breakdowns
Roles marked as encouraging older auditionees are noted.
Matilda Wormwood - The hero of the show. She’s brilliant, resilient, creative, and kind, despite growing up in difficult circumstances. Her parents treat her poorly, but Matilda escapes into a world of books, which puts her reading level far above the other children in her class, and she develops a bit of magical power in an effort to defeat Trunchbull.
Eric - A student at school with Matilda. He has the very first solo line of the entire show. He also has some featured moments as one of Matilda’s schoolmates.
Amanda - A student at school with Matilda. She has a few solos and lines, but her most featured moment is when Trunchbull throws her through the air using her pigtails.
Bruce - One of Matilda’s schoolmates. He has the bad luck to get caught after eating Trunchbull’s cake. Bruce goes through quite a transformation throughout the show and has some important solos.
Hortensia - Alice, Hortensia, and Tommy are classmates of Matilda, who each sing solos, and Hortensia has a few lines.
Alice - Alice, Hortensia, and Tommy are classmates of Matilda, who each sing solos
Tommy - Alice, Hortensia, and Tommy are classmates of Matilda, who each sing solos.
Lavender - One of the kids at school with Matilda. She is kind and bright (though not as brilliant as Matilda) and quickly decides that Matilda is her best friend.
Nigel - One of the kids at school with Matilda. He is enthusiastic, sweet, and always in a bit of a panic. Nigel has a few solos and some great featured moments in the show.
Mr. Wormwood - Matilda’s father. He is egotistical, rude, and not very bright, not to mention a liar. Though Mr. Wormwood is not a good person, and he is mean to Matilda, his harebrained schemes can be hilariously funny.
Mrs. Wormwood - Matilda’s mother. Like her husband, she dislikes Matilda and does not understand why her daughter loves to read. Mrs. Wormwood is selfish, obsessed with her own appearance, and believes everything she sees on TV. Her dancing lessons with Rudolpho are the most important part of her day.
Michael - Matilda’s brother. He is not very bright, though he is the apple of his father’s eye.
Mrs. Phelps - The kindly librarian who loves hearing Matilda’s stories.
Escapologist - A character of Matilda’s creation. Everything this character does is grand and exaggerated – he’s performing for the cheap seats!
Acrobat - A product of Matilda’s imagination.
Miss Honey - A teacher at Matilda’s school. She is kind, is generous, and really cares about the children despite her own desperate circumstances.
Agatha Trunchbull - The quintessential terrifying tyrant. As headmistress, she runs her school like a dictator, making up arbitrary rules to suit her every whim and dreaming up creative punishments.
Rudolpho - Mrs. Wormwood’s self-obsessed dance teacher. This is a hilarious featured role for a comedic performer who moves well.
Sergei - A customer swindled by Mr. Wormwood. Though he shows up looking for payback, Matilda has had quite enough of revenge, and Sergei lets the Wormwoods escape.
Ensemble - Ensemble roles include Russians, Little Kids, Big Kids (including Big Kid 1, Big Kid 2, and Big Kid 3), Kids, Mums, Dads, the Cook, and the Mechanic.
Key Characters with Solos:
Matilda Wormwood: The titular character, with the iconic "Naughty" solo.
Miss Honey: Matilda's kind teacher.
Miss Trunchbull: The tyrannical headmistress.
Mr. Wormwood: Matilda's eccentric father.
Bruce: The boy who stands up to Trunchbull with cake.
Lavender: Matilda's best friend.
These classmates often share solos or have featured moments, especially during ensemble numbers like "School Song" and "The Chokey Chant".