London Musical Hit Matilda Plans 2013 NYC Premiere

The Royal Shakespeare Company’s hit musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Matilda is headed to an unspecified New York theater in “early 2013.” Auditions for adult casting for the American premiere of Matilda the Musical will begin in March 2012, directed by Tony winner Matthew Warchus.

Matilda the Musical features music and lyrics by Australian comedian, musican and composer Tim Minchin and a book by playwright Dennis Kelly. Based on Dahl’s 1988 book about a girl who unleashes her magical powers on nasty parents and an evil headmistress, the show premiered at the Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon in November 2010, playing to sold-out audiences for 12 weeks. The show transferred to London’s West End on October 25, 2011, where it continues to run at the Cambridge Theatre. A film version of the story, starring Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman and Mara Wilson, was released in 1996.

Matilda the Musical features choreography by Peter Darling, design by Rob Howell, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound by Simon Baker, special effects and illusions by Paul Kieve and orchestrations, additional music and musical supervision by Christopher Nightingale.