In the Middle

Matilda Jr. tells the story of Matilda Wormwood, a brilliant little girl with neglectful parents and a love of reading. She discovers she has unusual powers and uses her intelligence and courage to stand up to the cruel headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, while forming a bond with her kind teacher, Miss Honey.

For one student performer, Avery Rivera, theater felt like the perfect fit from the very beginning. “Ever since I was little, I’ve loved singing, dancing, and acting, so theater had everything I loved in one place,” she shared.

This year, she takes on the leading role in Matilda, making the experience even more special. Since this is her first play and first musical, it has quickly become her favorite theater experience so far.

Preparing to play Matilda has come with both excitement and challenges. She hopes to accomplish learning all of her lines and becoming more confident on stage. To prepare, she focuses on practicing as much as possible and always trying her best.

Her inspiration for joining theater came after watching last year’s school production and later seeing the Broadway version of Matilda. Both performances inspired her to audition and become part of the theater program.

Although she loves performing, she explained that the hardest part of the role has been showing Matilda’s emotions and learning the character’s backstory. Even with those challenges, she says one of the best parts of being in the show is spending time with friends in the cast and having fun together during rehearsals.

She also had advice for students who may want to try theater in the future: “Don’t be scared and just go for it because there are a lot of supportive people.”

As opening night gets closer, Avery has one final question for the school community: “Are you going to come see the show?”

This year’s school production of Matilda is bringing excitement, music, and hard work to the stage. We interviewed one student actor, Dayna S. about her experience being part of the play and what audiences can expect from the performance. When asked what made her want to be in Matilda, she said, “Well, I’ve been interested in drama/theater for about three years. But when I heard we were going to do Matilda, I was really excited. The play is really fun and it’s something I haven’t done like this yet. I feel it’s more advanced for middle school, and I really love this play.” The student plays Mrs. Phelps, the librarian in the show. She explained, “Even though to some people it might seem small, everyone has a huge part in the play. I’m one of Matilda’s friend in a way, I help her and hear her out. I really like my role, I feel like I can make people like her if I try.” Interestingly, Mrs. Phelps was not the role she originally auditioned for. “Well at first I didn’t try out for her, but during auditions my director suggested her for me,” she said. “Although I was a bit disappointed I wasn’t called back for the first role I auditioned for, when I watched the musical and movie, I really liked her character. She was interesting and the way she acts. So at the end I liked my role.” One thing she enjoys most about being in the production is the teamwork between the cast members. “Something I like in the show is how we all work together,” she explained. “I can’t really say my favorite scene of the show, since I don’t want to spoil it! But I love how we work together to help each other out in the scenes and help make the magic happen.” Of course, rehearsals can also be challenging. She shared that “the biggest challenge in rehearsals is attendance, not everyone can make it, which can be frustrating, but it’s also money. We have to make things from scratch which is hard.” For her, the hardest part about getting into character is not the acting itself, but the accent. “We all have accents for the roles, I have to do a Hispanic or a Latin accent,” she said. “I try and practice the accent but I feel weird about it. Not that I have to do the accent but it’s that I can’t do the accent as good. I feel that’s the hardest part for me.” This is not her first experience performing. She has already been in Annie and The Wizard of Oz. Out of the two, The Wizard of Oz was her favorite because she got to play the Wicked Witch. “It was fun playing her,” she said. “I was painted green which was awesome and funny.” She also shared that after watching both the old and new Wicked movies, she understood the character even more. When asked what specific scene she is excited for the audience to see, she chose “Revolting Children.” She explained, “I really like the song and dancing in that scene. I can’t tell you what number scene and what they are doing, although you can guess by the name.” If she could have chosen another role, she said she would have wanted to play Mrs. Wormwood, Matilda’s mother. “She is so sassy and her energy is unmatched,” she said. She also complimented the current actress playing the role, calling her “wonderful” and praising her singing as “incredible.” Finally, she encouraged students and families to come support the production. “Students should come because we are working hard for this play, and it’s funny,” she said. “But it shows a deeper meaning than Matilda, showing how kids are treated in families, how sometimes things get hard but at the end it works out. And growing up. I feel that’s a big part of Matilda. At the ending, it’s awesome and beautiful. Families and students should definitely come.”

This year’s school production of Matilda is already creating excitement, and one student is especially shining in the spotlight. Playing the dramatic and hilarious Mrs. Wormwood, this student is ready to entertain audiences with singing, dancing, and plenty of energy.

The actress shared that her love for theater started because she enjoys performing for audiences. “I love to act and perform, especially dancing and singing for an audience,” she explained. Since beginning theater in 5th grade, she has continued to grow as a performer and take on new challenges.

When asked about her favorite production she has been in, she quickly answered, “Frozen.” However, she says Matilda the Musical is special because of the exciting role she gets to play. “This role is really outgoing and dramatic. I knew she would be fun to play on stage,” she said.

Although she enjoys performing, preparing for the musical has not been easy. According to her, the songs have been the hardest part to learn. Even so, she says her favorite part of the play is having a solo performance.

Through this experience, she hopes to become an even better actor and performer. When asked if anything was standing in her way, she confidently answered, “Nothing.”

She also had encouraging advice for students who may want to try theater someday: “Just do it. Never be afraid of it. If it makes you happy, you should do it.”

As opening night approaches, she hopes students and families will come support the cast and crew. “You have to come and see this play,” she said. “It is amazing.”

The school community is excited to see all the hard work come to life on stage in this year’s production of Matilda the Musical.

As rehearsals for this year’s school play continue, cast members have been hard at work memorizing lines, learning choreography, and building friendships along the way. One student who has been shining on stage is Kladia Kawecki, who plays the role of Lavender. In an interview with the school newspaper, Klaudia shared what rehearsals have been like and what she enjoys most about being part of the production.

Klaudia described Lavender’s personality in three words: “sneaky, social, and confident.” She explained that she relates to Lavender because they both make friends easily, although she thinks Lavender is much braver than she is in real life.

When asked who has helped her the most during rehearsals, Klaudia quickly mentioned Avery, saying the two spend the most time together. She also shared that one of the funniest rehearsal moments so far has been trying on costumes with the cast.

Unlike many performers, Klaudia said memorizing her lines was not difficult for her. Instead, she has been focusing on enjoying the experience and bringing energy to each performance. Her favorite scene to perform is “Revolting Children” because of the excitement and enthusiasm from the cast — and because she gets to jump off a desk during the number.

Klaudia admitted she was initially disappointed when she did not get the role of Matilda. However, she later realized she was happy for the student who was cast and became excited to play Lavender instead.

If Lavender had a superpower, Klaudia believes it would definitely be invisibility because it would make the character “even sneakier.”

Above all, Klaudia says her favorite part of being in the play is spending time with the cast and crew. She hopes audiences leave the performance feeling inspired by Matilda’s bravery and enjoy the show so much that they return for next year’s production.

With talented performers like Klaudia helping bring the story to life, this year’s play is sure to be

unforgettable.

This year’s production of Matilda is bringing energy, music, and excitement to the stage, and one student who is especially thrilled to be part of it is Gianna. From learning lines to enjoying backstage moments with friends, Gianna has loved every minute of the experience.

One of Gianna’s biggest accomplishments this year was earning a role in the play. She explained that she signed up because she has always wanted to join drama club and explore acting. Performing on stage has given her the chance to do something she truly enjoys.

When asked about her favorite parts of the show, Gianna immediately mentioned the song “Loud,” performed by Mrs. Wormwood. She said the song inspires her because it reminds people that it is okay to stand out and be themselves. Not surprisingly, Mrs. Wormwood is also one of Gianna’s favorite characters, along with Matilda, Miss Honey, and Alice.

If she could play any character in the show, Gianna would choose Mrs. Wormwood. “She is crazy like me and loud like me,” Gianna joked.

Gianna also shared that she feels great about the performance because she knows all her lines and exactly when to enter the stage. She is especially excited to watch the student playing Matilda because the character is the star of the show and has so many important lines.

One of Gianna’s favorite scenes is the famous “Revolting Children” number, when the children finally stand up to Miss Trunchbull. She loves the excitement and energy the scene brings to the audience.

Of course, not all the memorable moments happen on stage. Gianna laughed while remembering a backstage moment when she and her friends were joking around and almost missed their cue. Luckily, they made it on stage only five seconds late.

With talented students like Gianna bringing enthusiasm and personality to the production, this year’s Matilda play is sure to be a success.

This year’s school production of Matilda the Musical has brought together many talented students, including Zoe, who is excited to be part of the cast. Zoe signed up for the play because she loves musicals and has always enjoyed Matilda the Musical.

When auditions first began, Zoe hoped to land the starring role of Matilda. Although she did not get the lead role, she says she absolutely loves the part she was given. “I don’t like my role — I LOVE it!” Zoe shared enthusiastically.

This is not Zoe’s first time performing on stage. She has already appeared in other productions, including Frozen, which helped her gain confidence as a performer. Whenever she feels nervous before going on stage, she remembers her experiences in past plays and uses them to stay calm.

One of Zoe’s favorite songs in the show is “Miracle,” and her favorite scene is the famous cake scene in “Bruce.” She also says her favorite character in the musical is Matilda because of her bravery and determination.

Zoe’s favorite line comes from the song “Naughty”: “Nobody but me can change my story.” She believes the line is inspiring and meaningful because it reminds people to take control of their own lives.

For Zoe, one of the best parts about being in the musical is spending time with the other cast members behind the scenes. She says the friendships and fun backstage moments make the experience even more special.

As opening night approaches, Zoe hopes everyone will come out to support the cast. “We should all go see the musical and watch it with family and friends,” she said.

With students like Zoe bringing enthusiasm, talent, and positivity to the stage, Matilda the Musical is sure to be a performance audiences will not forget.

Matilda is a brilliant and independent young girl. Despite having neglectful, self-absorbed parents, she develops a love of reading and learning at an early age. Matilda is kind but quietly rebellious, using her intelligence—and eventually her telekinetic powers—to stand up to injustice, especially against the cruel headmistress.

Formidable: Inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large or powerful (used for Miss Trunchbull).

If you enjoy funny and exciting books with smart characters, then Matilda by Roald Dahl is a great choice. This humorous fantasy novel tells the story of a young girl named Matilda who is incredibly intelligent, but many people underestimate her because of her age and because she is a girl.

At the beginning of the story, readers are introduced to Matilda and her difficult home life. Even though she is very smart, her parents do not appreciate her talents and often ignore her love for learning. Eventually, Matilda begins school, where she meets two very different adults: the kind and caring Miss Honey and the terrifying principal, Miss Trunchbull.

Throughout the novel, Matilda works hard to get a good education while dealing with the strict and unfair Trunchbull. Luckily, Miss Honey supports Matilda and believes in her abilities when others do not. Their friendship becomes one of the most important parts of the story.

One of the funniest moments in the book is when a frog is placed in Miss Trunchbull’s drink, embarrassing her in front of everyone. Scenes like this make the story entertaining and full of humor.

The main characters in the novel are Matilda, Miss Honey, and Miss Trunchbull. The plot focuses on Matilda proving that she is capable and intelligent despite being underestimated by her family and others around her.

A major theme in the story is working hard to prove others wrong. Even though many people doubt Matilda, she continues learning and improving with the help of Miss Honey. The book shows readers the importance of believing in yourself and never giving up.

Overall, Matilda is a funny and inspiring story that encourages readers to value intelligence, kindness, and determination.

Roald Dahl was a famous British author known for writing imaginative and slightly dark children’s stories. He was born in 1916 in Wales and had a life full of unusual experiences, including working as a pilot during World War II. Many of his books reflect his dislike of cruel adults and his belief that children are often smarter and more capable than grown-ups.

Dahl wrote many popular books, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The BFG, and James and the Giant Peach. His stories often mix humor, fantasy, and a bit of darkness, which makes them memorable and unique.

One of his most beloved books is Matilda, published in 1988. The story follows Matilda Wormwood, a brilliant young girl with a love of reading and learning. Despite having neglectful parents who do not appreciate her intelligence, Matilda discovers she has extraordinary abilities and uses them to stand up for herself and others.

A major theme in Matilda is the idea that intelligence, kindness, and courage can overcome cruelty and injustice. This is shown through Matilda’s relationship with her kind teacher, Miss Honey, and her conflict with the harsh headmistress, Miss Trunchbull.

The book became so popular that it was later adapted into films and stage productions, including Matilda the Musical and its shorter version, Matilda the Musical Jr.. These adaptations brought Dahl’s story to life through music, performance, and choreography, introducing it to new generations.

Today, Roald Dahl remains one of the most influential children’s authors in the world, and Matilda continues to inspire readers and audiences with its message about standing up for what is right.

Poetry is back in the spotlight! After some time away, Poetry Corner has returned as a regular feature in our school newspaper, giving students a place to share their voices, ideas, and creativity. From funny rhymes to thoughtful verses, this space is all about celebrating student writers. Get ready to read, enjoy, and maybe even submit a poem of your own.

In a quiet house on a quiet street,
Lived a girl with a mind no rule could defeat.
In Matilda her story unfolds,
With courage far greater than years she holds.

Books were her refuge, her secret escape,
While grown-ups around her stayed small in their shape.
A flick of her thought, a spark in her eye,
She dreamed of a world where she’d finally fly.

At school stood a tyrant, fierce and tall,
With thunderous voice that could silence all.
Yet whispers of children began to grow—
A quiet rebellion beneath the show.

A teacher so gentle, kind and true,
Saw all the good that Matilda knew.
And through every trial, through fear and doubt,
She proved what a brave heart’s all about.

So sing out loud, let your story be heard,
Be a little bit “naughty,” a little absurd.
For even the smallest can change it all—
When they stand up strong, no matter how small.

Do you have an opinion? A story to tell? Come and join the school newspaper with us. Have fun with your friends and report on happenings throughout the school.

Email: abugge@gboe.org
Location: GMS, 175 Lanza Ave, Garfield NJ 07026
Phone: 973-272-7020