ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
It isn't easy being the spouse of a theatre teacher. We want to thank our AMAZING spouses, Aubrey Long, Melody Hadfield, Kristian Huff, and Pete McGirr, who support us with love and help wherever they can, and do it better than we could ever dream.
THANK YOU to all the families of the cast and crew for your help, support, and trust.
SPECIAL THANKS: Ross and Karen Schexnayder, Marlene Myers, Laura Snyder, Jeanine Loukota
Headshots taken by Shannon Rowley
DIRECTOR'S NOTE
During my first year of teaching theatre at Liahona, I had the opportunity to go with my wife to New York for a couple of days. The week before we were to leave on our trip we watched the cast of Matilda the Musical perform on the Tony Awards. We knew we had to see it. Though it was sold out, we found a way to get second hand tickets through Stubhub way up in the balcony. At the time I didn’t know what sort of impact this show would have on my life. I soaked in every moment of that first production. Towards the end of the first act, Miss Honey is discouraged from trying to help Matilda and sings a song that literally changed my life and my approach to teaching. Since that fateful day I have taken hundreds of people to see that original production 3 more times on Broadway, on tour in Denver and Salt Lake City and even in London. Each time I see this show I get something new and powerful from the music and text of the piece.
Matilda is inherently a children’s show. Though being adapted from a Roald Dahl book we know that not everything is at is seems. We encourage you to look past the silliness and look for something that can help you to be a better person. As you are watching this performance, look for messages about forgiveness, parenthood, the power of love- and not just in a romantic way or from family, the importance of doing what’s right, obedience, friendship, and SOOO much more.
For the adults in the audience, I want you to pay close attention to the adults in this show and their various roles and how much children look up to us and what we do and how we can help guide them in righteous ways. Please listen carefully to Miss Honey’s song that I mentioned before, “And what sort of teacher would I be, if I let this little girl fall through the cracks I can see.” If you aren’t a teacher, replace the word “teacher” with parent, mentor, friend and think about what children there are in your life that may be falling through the cracks that you aren’t doing enough for.
For the children in the audience- I want you to pay attention to whenever you hear Matilda sing. Though your parents may plug your ears when she talks about how sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty, please listen carefully to the lyrics that precede that phrase. “Just because you find that life’s not fair it doesn’t mean that you just have to grin and bear it. If you always take it on the chin and wear it, nothing will change. Even if you’re little, you can do a lot, you mustn’t let a little thing like little stop you. If you sit around and let them get on top you might as well be saying, you think that it’s ok and THATS NOT RIGHT.” What does that even mean? It means that even though life may not be easy. Even though you have to deal with depression or anxiety or your parents getting a divorce or your friends not talking to you or you have ADD or ADHD and you just can’t focus in class or remember anything and it seems like it just isn’t fair- you don’t have to let it ruin your happiness. Don’t let it beat you- That’s not right. Even though you’re little you can do a lot. There is always something that you yourself can do to better your situation. Though you probably don’t have physical magic like Matilda, you have magic in your heart and your soul and it can move chalk and cups too. Remember, as my dear friend, little sister and assistant director always tells my children, “You are Beautiful, You are Brave, You are Brilliant.”
Thank you all SOOO much for supporting the arts in the Liahona Community. We really couldn’t do it without you.
Jordan Long
Director
