By Bailey Jones 

Matilda The Musical will be held at Lenoir Community College two weekends in July and you won’t want to miss it. The musical's narrative centers on Matilda Wormwood, a young girl gifted with wit, intelligence, and psychokinetic powers. She overcomes obstacles caused by her family and school and helps her teacher, Miss Honey, reclaim her life. 

The show, directed by Lenoir Community College's Jessica Cruz, Fine Arts Program Chair and Music Instructor, will take place on July 14 -16 and July 21 - 23 at LCC in the Briley Auditorium on the Turner Stage. This show is one of many that will be a part of the performing arts series at LCC. The title sponsor of Matilda The Musical is Neuse News. 

Tickets are now available at www.lenoircc.edu/matilda. Ticket prices are as follows, accessible seating: $15, orchestra seating: $20, standard seating: $15, and student standard seating (ages 3-17; 18+ student ID required): $10. 

The lovely librarian, Mrs. Phelps, will be played by Jessica Creech. The Kinston native is delighted to be making her debut performance with Lenoir Community College's theater program. Creech began as a dancer for Kinston Dance Academy's competition team. She continued her love of performing through her school's show choir, The Ramblers. Matilda The Musical will be her first theatrical production. Creech is married to her preschool sweetheart, and they live locally with their four fur babies. 

Tyndall Davis will play the role of Matilda's vain and crooked father, Mr. Wormwood. Davis is returning to the LCC stage this summer for his sixth theatrical performance, his second with LCC. Davis is not shy about performing. He has had various roles over the years, including Admiral von Schreiber in North Lenoir's The Sound of Music in 2012 and, most recently, Fred in LCC's 2022 production of A Christmas Carol. He is currently a high school English teacher at North Lenoir High School and lives in Kinston with his wife and two dogs. 

Alyssa Bayless will be portraying Matilda's self-absorbed, negligent mother. Bayless has performed on many stages across eastern North Carolina. She has played various roles, including Ado Annie in Oklahoma!, Sister Mary Amnesia in Nunsense, and Morticia in The Addams Family. This will be her 31st show. She thanks the production team, cast, her husband, and her family for always supporting her. 

Hayden Hall will return to the LCC stage to play the role of Matilda's not-so-bright older brother, Michael Wormwood. You may have seen Hall in NLHS's production of The Pajama Game and as the Narrator in LCC's production of A Christmas Carol. During his free time, Hall enjoys playing the saxophone and being part of North Lenoir High School's tennis team.