Hello bookworms!   It’s time for auditions for the Sandbox Theatre’s Kids production of Matilda Jr in Westchester! In this packet you will find:  

● Information about auditions, the show (including a synopsis and character breakdown), rehearsals, and performances. 

 ● Audition Form 

● Audition Scenes  Please note: students must be in grades 2-8 to participate. Sandbox is a tuition based program, and a non-refundable registration fee of $495 is due before the start of rehearsals. We look forward to seeing you at auditions! Please feel free to contact us with any questions and break a leg.    Revolting,  Jason Summers Artistic Director, WST  Jenna Dallacco Associate Artistic Director, WST                 

Auditions   WHAT TO PREPARE  

● Please prepare a short song of your choosing. You may sing a capella or with an electronic device.   

● Please prepare ONE audition scene found in this packet. Performers do not need to memorize their audition scene. 

 WHAT TO BRING 

 ● Your completed Audition Form 

 ● Your audition scene 

 ● Your PERSONALITY & CONFIDENCE! 

 HOW AUDITIONS WORK 

 Plan on arriving ten minutes prior to your audition time. This allows us to collect your form and for you to be relaxed and ready to do your best!  

 You will perform your short song for a member of the creative team of the show. This gives us the opportunity to hear your singing voice, as well as learn about your unique strengths as a performer. Following your song, you’ll act one of the audition scenes in this packet. This combination of singing and acting will give WST the information needed to best cast MATILDA Jr. We respectfully ask that no family members watch auditions. Please remember that we want all of our auditioners to succeed and we are rooting for you!  

 CALLBACKS 

 Callbacks will be held by request on Wednesday March 4 and Thursday March 5. If your performer is 

needed at callbacks, you will receive an email with times and details. Callbacks are not an indicator of  how performers will be cast.   CASTING  

Cast lists for MATILDA JR. will be emailed before the parent/performer meeting.   

  A NOTE ON CASTING  Please understand that the casting process is complicated and takes into account many factors. We will not entertain questions about why a certain performer was or wasn’t cast in a certain role. Please trust our judgment and know that we will do everything we can to ensure that every performer has a good time and learns a lot along the way!   

Rehearsals  LOCATION

● Rehearsals for Matilda Jr. will be held at the Sandbox Studios, located at 300 Waverly Ave, 2nd Fl, Mamaroneck.

Are all performers called to every rehearsal?

● No, not all performers are called to every rehearsal. At the Sandbox Theatre, we do our best to create a comprehensive rehearsal schedule around the conflicts of performers. We also make sure to keep each and every child engaged and rehearsing during practices. This is accomplished by only calling the performers we need to each rehearsal time - no sitting on the sides and watching!

How many times a week and for how many hours will my child be expected to rehearse?

● Depending on the grade of the child and size of the role, performers can be called one to three times per week, for one to three hours at a time. This commitment will increase during the final week leading up to the performances, known as tech week.

What days will rehearsals be held?

● Rehearsals will be held whenever performers are available. On weekdays rehearsals will never begin before 4pm, and never end after 8pm.

● The final week of rehearsals; tech week will have a more rigorous schedule.

Are there any mandatory dates?  

● Yes! The final week of rehearsals is mandatory ● MANDATORY DATES FOR CAST(S) PERFORMING MAY 1-3: April 26-May 3 ● MANDATORY DATES FOR CAST(S) PERFORMING MAY 8-10: May 3-10 

 

The rehearsal schedule will have ALL of the rehearsals listed as follows:  

DATE  

TIME  

WHAT WE ARE DOING AT REHEARSAL  

WHAT CHARACTERS ARE CALLED  

CONFLICTS 

There will be an email reminder each day there is rehearsal, letting you know of any other important information for that day. Please try to avoid new conflicts!

WHAT TO BRING TO REHEARSALS 

● Your highlighted script, in a binder ● A refillable water bottle ● A pen or pencil to write your blocking and to take notes ● Shoes and clothing you can comfortably move in 

 AN IMPORTANT NOTE ON CONFLICTS 

 If you are listed as a conflict for a rehearsal, OR if you cannot attend due to unforeseen circumstances, it is the performers responsibility to learn the material taught at home.   Conflicts will no longer be permitted during performance weekends. This is to ensure the integrity of the production as well as to respect the cast as a whole. Only select a performance weekend if you are completely available.  PICK UP AND DROP OFF  Performers may be dropped off no earlier than 10 minutes before the start of a rehearsal. This is to give our staff members adequate preparation time, and to ensure the safety of cast members. We respectfully ask that you pick up performers on time from rehearsals.     

  

Show Synopsis  The story of an extraordinary girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny. Matilda is a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence and psychokinetic powers. She's unloved by her cruel parents but impresses her schoolteacher, the highly loveable Miss Honey. Over the course of her first term at school, Matilda and Miss Honey have a profound effect on each other's lives, as Miss Honey begins not only to recognize but also appreciate Matilda's extraordinary personality. Matilda's school life isn't completely smooth sailing, however – the school's mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and just loves thinking up new punishments for those who don't abide by her rules. But Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts, and could be the school pupils' saving grace! 

 Character Breakdown  

Doctor  Mrs. Wormwood's doctor when she goes into labor with Matilda. Level headed and passionate, he or she sings “Miracle.” 

Mrs. Wormwood  Matilda's self-absorbed, negligent mother and an amateur ballroom dancer. This role requires a comic actress who can portray a vain diva. 

Mr. Wormwood  Matilda's uncaring father. A slimy, greedy used-car salesman. This role requires a comic actor.  

Michael  Matilda's older brother. He is not very bright and favored by their parents. 

Matilda  An imaginative girl who is clever and wise far beyond her years. She has a thirst for learning that cannot be quenched. Must be a singer with a big voice! 

Miss Agatha Trunchbull  The tyrannical headmistress at Matilda's school who despises children. This role may be played by a boy or girl. Aggressive and insane. 

Miss Honey  Matilda's kindhearted teacher. She is tired of living in fear under Miss Trunchbull. Vulnerable, gentle, and 

loving. 

Bruce  Matilda's classmate. He is subject to extreme punishment by Miss Trunchbull after sneaking a slice of her cake. 

Lavender  Matilda's classmate and best friend. She is precocious, excitable, and brave. 

Rudolpho  Mrs. Wormwood's ballroom dance partner. He is equally as vain as she, with a passion for dancing. Sings “Loud” with Mrs. Wormwood. 

Amanda, Nigel, Eric, Alice, Hortensia, Tommy  The children in Matilda’s class.  

MEETING  Our parent performer meeting will take place Saturday, March 7 at 1pm. This will be when registration fees are collected, details of the production will be given, and questions can be answered.   

PERFORMANCES  

Performances of Matilda Jr. will be held at the White Plains Performing Arts Center, May 1-3 and 8-10.  Conflicts will no longer be permitted during performance weekends. This is to ensure the integrity of the production as well as to respect the cast as a whole.  

CHOOSE ONE AUDITION SCENE FROM THE FIVE BELOW

AUDITION SCENE 1 PAGE 1 OF 2 MATILDA or MISS HONEY MATILDA Miss Honey, is that your father’s scarf? MISS HONEY Well, yes. My mother gave it to him before she died, you see she was - MATILDA An acrobat. MISS HONEY Well…..well yes, she was. How did you….? And my father was - MATILDA An escapologist. MISS HONEY Matilda, how did you know that! MATILDA So…..so they were your parents? MISS HONEY What? Who? I don’t…. MATILDA The people in my story! MISS HONEY What story?

AUDITION SCENE 1 PAGE 2 OF 2 MATILDA or MISS HONEY MATILDA A story! I’ve been telling a story and I thought I was making it up, but it’s real! It’s your life! She did him in! Let’s go to the police! MISS HONEY That wouldn’t work, Matilda, it’d be my word against hers. And they would never believe she was capable of it. MATILDA But why? She was so cruel to you, she beat you, she shouted at you, she locked you up in a tiny cupboard and threw you in cellars. MISS HONEY Stop it, Matilda, please!

AUDITION SCENE 2 PAGE 1 OF 1 MR. OR MRS. WORMWOOD  MRS. WORMWOOD Look at this, she’s reading a book. That’s not normal for a five year old. I think she might be an idiot.  MR, WORMWOOD Stop scaring your mother with that book, boy!  MRS. WORMWOOD And she keeps trying to tell me stories, Harry. Stories? Who wants stories? I mean it’s not normal for a girl to be thinking.  MR. WORMWOOD Would you please shut up! I’m trying to pull off the biggest business deal of my life and I have to listen to this. It’s your fault, you spend us into trouble and you expect me to get us out. What am I, a flaming escapologist?  MRS. WORMWOOD Escapologist he says. What about me then? I’ve got a whole house to look after - dinners don’t microwave themselves you know! If you’re an escapologist I must be an acrobat to balance that lot - the world’s greatest acrobat. I am off to bleach my roots and I shan’t be talking to you for the rest of the evening you….you horrid little man!   MR. WORMWOOD But I’m going to make us rich!  MRS. WORMWOOD Rich? How rich?  MR. WORMWOOD Very rich. Russian business men. Very, very stupid. Your genius husband is going to sell them one hundred and fifty five old bangers as…..brand new luxury cars! 

AUDITION SCENE 3 PAGE 1 OF 1 TRUNCHBULL or MISS HONEY  TRUNCHBULL Enter! Well don’t just stand there like a wet tissue, get on with it.   MISS HONEY Well, yes, Miss Trunchbull there’s in, in, in, in my class that is, there is, Mat, a little girl called Matilda Wormwood and -   TRUNCHBULL Daughter of Mr. Harry Wormwood who owns Wormwood Motors. Excellent man. Told me to watch out for the brat, though, says she’s a real wart.   MISS HONEY Oh no, Headmistress, I don’t think Matilda is that kind of child at all.   TRUNCHBULL What is the school motto, Miss Honey?  MISS HONEY Bambinatum est maggitum.   TRUNCHBULL Bambinatum est maggitum. Children are maggots. In fact it must have been her who put that stink bomb under my desk this morning. I’ll have her for that. Thank you for suggesting it.  MISS HONEY But I didn’t…...Miss Trunchbull; Matilda Wormwood is a genius!  TRUNCHBULL Nonsense! Haven’t I just told you that she is a gangster?  

 

AUDITION SCENE 4 PAGE 1 OF 1 TRUNCHBULL or BRUCE  TRUNCHBULL Bruce Bogtrotter!  BRUCE Yes, Miss?  TRUNCHBULL You liked my cake, didn’t you, Bruce?  BRUCE Yes, Miss Trunchbull, and I’m very sorry, but -   TRUNCHBULL Oh, as long as you enjoyed the cake, that’s the main thing.  BRUCE Is it?  TRUNCHBULL Yes, Bogtrotter, it is.  BRUCE Oh. Well...I did. Thank you.  TRUNCHBULL Wonderful. Marvellous. That makes me so happy, it gives me a warm glow in my lower intestine. (calling out) Oh, cooo-oook! (The cook enters with a massive chocolate cake, with one slice missing) What’s the matter, Bogtrotter? Lost your appetite?  BRUCE Well yes. I’m full.   MRS. TRUNCHBULL Oh, no, you’re not full. I will tell you when you are full and I say that criminals like you are not full until you have eaten the entire cake!