By Cailyn Kennedy

 
Lenoir Community College will bring Matilda The Musical to life on the Turner Stage beginning this weekend. Matilda The Musical is based around a 5-year-old Matilda Wormwood, an intelligent little girl with the gift of telekinesis determined to overcome her hardships. 

 The show will be directed by Lenoir Community College's Jessica Cruz, Fine Arts Program Chair and Music Instructor. It 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 and you won’t want to miss it. Neuse News is the title sponsor of Matilda The Musical. 

 Tickets are available now 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.  

 Kendra Loftin is a Big Kid Ensemble member and an uprising junior at South Lenoir High School. She has been dancing at Mooves Dance Studio for ten years. This will be her third production at LCC. She was in the shows Annie and A Christmas Carol. 

 Big Kid Ensemble member Megan Manning is a resident of Deep Run. She is currently working at Lenoir County Public School as a fifth-grade teacher. After being stage manager for Annie, she performed in A Christmas Carol, and this is her second show performing with Director Jessica Cruz and LCC. Manning is excited to be back for this fantastic show. 

 Taylor Egleton, member of the Children's Ensemble, is an eighth-grader at Contentnea-Savannah School. Taylor has danced with the Kinston Community Dance Company since she was 3-years-old. She has been a member of the National Junior Honor Society and a member of the Contentnea-Savannah Volleyball Team for her last two years of middle school. She is a member of the Technology Student Association, a member of the CSS Band, and an All-County Band. 

 Children's Ensemble member Evan Stalnaker is seven years old. He lives in La Grange and attends Banks Elementary School. Stalnaker is an excellent reader and has excelled academically in school. He also enjoys singing. This is his very first show, and he says he hopes everyone enjoys it. 

 Ava Wade will be a part of the Children's Ensemble in this LCC production. She is a rising fifth-grader at La Grange Elementary and loves reading, which is how she fell in love with the story of Matilda. Wade also enjoys dance, STEAM Club, and the beach. 

 Ja'khari Bryant is a NCSSM-Durham Class of 2023 Graduate from Trenton. Aside from theatre, he enjoys traveling, dancing, and playing volleyball. He auditioned for Matilda The Musical in 2020 at New Bern Civic Theatre and was cast as Bruce. However, the production came to a halt due to COVID. He is thrilled to be the "Revolting Children soloist" and a part of the ensemble for this LCC production.