Audiences will be blown away by the cast of 56 Y Arts youth performers when they bring the Music Theater International musical, "Matilda Jr" to life on the Opera House stage Oct. 2-4. Tickets will be sold at the door by cash or check, no cards.

This summer marked Y Arts Director/Choreographer Emily Mirabile's 20th year as director of the summer camp shows. "Matilda Jr" was not among the productions, until now. "I knew I wanted a show that could include moments for kids of all ages, and also give them an opportunity to explore the various characters," Mirabile said. "Our double cast Matildas and Trunchbulls each give very different performances and I think that's very neat. They are really taking their own spin on these characters."  

Mirabile is very grateful for the generous sponsorship received from the Marjorie M. Winslow Trust, created by Marjorie and Eliot Winslow, through St. Columba's Episcopal Church. 

"It was wonderful to be able to offer this special experience to kids free of charge," Mirabile said. "Musicals are expensive to put on and this gift gave us the opportunity to let more kids have this experience, which is a beautiful thing! And Y Arts is thrilled to be back on the Opera House stage for this production!"  

Cast list: Matilda: Iris Adams/Agatha Harris; Agatha Trunchbull: Imij Armstead/Scout Martin; Miss Honey: Sofia Michaud; Mr. Wormwood: Collin Cantillo; Mrs. Wormwood: Reese Achorn; Michael Wormwood: William Webber; Mrs. Phelps: Violet Baldwin; Rudolpho: Finn Sullivan; Acrobat: Fiona Bishop; Escapologist: Jonathan Bernier; Eric: Kingsley Teel; Tommy: Gilles Urwin; Nigel: Gannon Inman; Bruce: Oscar Mirabile; Lavender: Lily Billings; Alice: Harper Westhaver; Hortensia: Laila Lufkin; Amanda: Presley Crommett and Sergei: Imij Armstead/Scout Martin.

The youngest performers are Addie Adams, Willow Adams, Lillian Albaum, Everly Boyd, Kaia Curtis, Lily Curtis, Maria del Rio, Adira Delisle, Madeline Frey, Maia Greenleaf, Addisyn Griffin, Aubrey Hamilton, Fern LeMay-Dorval, Evelyn Michaud, Penny Navarrete, Grace Olcott, Michaela Roberts, Pearl Rosser, Josie Roy, Isla Sullivan, Ceci Teel, Cora Wissman and Violet Young. 

Older cast members: Samantha Colby, Jessie Ullo, Fiona Bishop, Sloan Nelson, Finn Sullivan, Zella Morgan, Adeline Inman, Jonathan Bernier, Maia Greenleaf, Lydia Mitchell, Kinsley Weiss, Violet Baldwin, Evie Roy, Enilea Burns, Maddie Frey, James Roberts, Norah Ballard, Abigail Perron, Samantha Colby and Jessie Ullo.

Double cast role performer schedule: On Friday, Oct. 2 and Saturday, Oct. 4 at the 5 p.m. shows, Matilda will be played by Aggie Harris and Scout Martin will portray Agatha Trunchbull. Then on Friday, Oct. 3 at 5 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 4 at 2 p.m., Iris Adams will be Matilda and Imij Armstead will be Agatha Trunchbull.

"Matilda," written by British author Roald Dahl, was published in 1988. Since 1989, the book has garnered numerous awards and steadfast fans among readers. Unsurprisingly, some of these fans are in the show.

BRES eighth grader Scout Martin has been in Y Arts productions she thinks since the age of 4-4-1/2. Her first production was the "I Love Maine" summer camp prodcution. "I've just always been one of those kids who likes to sing and dance," she said. "I tried it and they haven't been able to get rid of me yet!" 

BRES third grader Penny Navarrete: "I really wanted to do this show because I really liked the movie and the musical. And I thought it would be a fun thing to try." When asked what she liked best about the show, she replied, "The super super glue!" Her classmate Adira Delisle also likes both the movie and musical, but best of all, "There's a nice teacher and a mean teacher and Matilda gets to go with the nice one."

Brianne Martin and Imij Armstead have been helping behind the scenes with props and set design. Alan Baldwin, Nate Sullivan, Finn Sullivan and Christopher Armstead have been helping with the heavy lifting of set pieces and sound equipment. 

Mallory Adams, Medea Harris, Brianne Martin, Krystal Blackman and Jessica Westhaver have volunteered time as "rehearsal mom" at rehearsals to help Emily Mirabile with crowd control before, during and after rehearsals. 

Mirabile said for anyone interested in participating in an upcoming community musical, there will be an announcement soon and rehearsals/registration will begin in January. 

The Opera House at Boothbay Harbor is at 86 Townsend Ave. Tickets at the door, cash or check only.