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Here's a chance to support local youth theatre, Squamish

Act Alive Academy presents 'Matilda The Musical Jr' in two shows on June 25.

There's nothing more inspiring than revolting children. 

Let's rephrase that. 

There's nothing more heartening than kids revolting against injustice and overcoming their circumstance and doing it to song. 

Squamish's Act Alive Academy presents Matilda The Musical Jr. in two shows on June 25 — at 2 and 7 p.m.

The 2 p.m. show is already sold out. 

Roald Dahl's Matilda follows a special young girl as she refuses to let the cruel adults in life get her down. 

Jessica Kelly, the founder of Act Alive, told The Squamish Chief she jumped at the chance to put on this particular musical as it has been her favourite for years. 

 "It's really inspirational for kids. And it has a really great message. It teaches kids that they can overcome their circumstances and make a change and change the world for the better," she said, adding the performance has several high-energy numbers. 

The cast includes a whopping 45 youth aged two to 15 years old. 

The role of Matilda is being split between two different girls — Oliwja Diehl-Wisniowski and Noémie Coezens.

"They are both super talented, lovely girls that have been in Act Alive programs for a number of years now," Kelly said. 

This is the first leading role for both girls. 

The whole cast has been rehearsing since September for this performance. 

"The kids are working their butts off — rehearsing at home and working together and rehearsing by themselves. And it's just really lovely to see them, so excited and so inspired," Kelly said. 

She noted that due to the pandemic, for many of the children, this will be the first time being on stage in front of an audience.

For the toddlers in the group, there is a lot to take in — the stage, the lights and the audience. 

She chuckled that one of the biggest challenges is herding the youngest in the cast from the rehearsal room onto the stage. 

In the end, she said, everyone involved has put in all the time and effort to make it a great show and so anything that goes awry — like an overwhelmed two-year-old missing a mark — is part of the live theatre experience. 

"You do all the prep work, and then you just surrender to whatever happens," she said. 

From June 18 to 25, the academy is also running a silent auction to fund its scholarship program, sending up to 10 youth to summer camps for free. 

Head to Facebook and search Act Alive Academy's Sea To Sky Online Silent Auction and join the page for that fundraiser.

What: Act Alive Presents Matilda The Musical Jr.

When: Saturday, June 25, 2022, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Where: Eagle Eye Theatre: at Howe Sound Secondary School: 38430 Buckley Avenue.

Tickets: $24.35 at Eventbrite under "Act Alive Presents Matilda The Musical Jr."


 

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