AHS, CHS Present Annual Winter Musicals Jan. 27th – 29th

Theatre-goers at both Abilene High School and Cooper High School will see some of the best young talent the Big Country has to offer as both schools present their annual winter musicals beginning tonight (Thursday, Jan. 27) and continuing through Saturday.

Abilene High will be presenting Matilda, a musical based on the Roald Dahl book about the intersection of childhood and adulthood. As AHS Theatre Director Kyle Martin wrote in his Director’s note for the program, “Matilda is a child with wisdom beyond her years, caught in circumstances beyond her control that surround her with adults that are more like children.”

The lead in the Abilene High musical is Solya Lowe, a sophomore who has been in several AHS productions and has also performed at The Paramount in shows such as Our Town, Legally Blonde, Elf, and Fiddler on the Roof. Others with major roles include, among others, Jackson Riley (Mr. Wormwood), Karissa Ward (Mrs. Wormwood), Austin Escobedo (Michael Wormwood), Alexandra Shewmaker (Miss Honey), and Leann Bailey (Miss Trunchbull).

Martin said about Matilda, “I’ve always appreciated the style of Roald Dahl. His stories present as being for children, but their themes are sometimes dark and troubling. I love that his books don’t talk down to kids but address issues that are present for all people: children and adults. Matilda, in particular deals with themes of loneliness, abuse and dealing with past trauma. But it is presented with humor, magic, and wonder, so kids will be engaged, but may still identify with the negative emotions displayed, as well.”

He also said that while Matilda is still a relatively new musical (it made its Broadway premiere in 2013), it will be one that catches on quickly.

“The music is super catchy and memorable,” Martin said. “Matilda isn’t well known, yet, but I think that’s changing, quickly. These will be tunes that those that see the show will remember for a long time.”

Cooper, meanwhile, will present Something Rotten, a musical based on the book by Karen Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell, which is set in 1595 and follows the story of the Bottom brothers – Nick and Nigel – who are trying to create their own space in the theatrical world that is being dominated by William Shakespeare.

Something Rotten was nominated for 10 Tony Awards (including Best Musical) and won one as it played on Broadway for 742 performances beginning in April 2015.

A pair of Cooper seniors – Trevor Cox and Brendan Reynolds – play the lead roles of Nick and Nigel Bottom, respectively. This is Trevor’s third musical at Cooper (My Fair Lady and Freaky Friday), and he’s also involved in other activities at Cooper. A returning Texas All-State Choir selection, Trevor has already won first chair in each of the first two qualifying rounds for the 2022 Texas All-State Choir.

Reynolds has now been part of four Cooper musicals and also heavily involved in multiple AP classes and is part of the National Thespian Society.

Cooper Theatre teacher and musical director Justin Radcliffe said of the show, “I am desperate for a laugh. COVID has complicated all of our lives in a myriad of ways and Theatre is the perfect place to escape into a world where it does not exist for a couple of hours. This show has so many exciting and beautiful songs and dance numbers and a funny script I felt this was the perfect show to interrupt our collective dismay.”

He went on to say that those in attendance will enjoy a show that has a mix of everything that makes musical theatre such an enjoyable product.

“(Those in the audience) are going to see a show hilarious show that won Tony Awards and has a dynamite score and songs,” he said. “They’ll see fantastic costumes and spectacular dance numbers. A terrific live orchestra tops off the production. I believe the audiences will be surprised at how great high school theatre can be in Abilene. I hope they leave feeling inspired and rejuvenated.”

Cooper High School

What: Something Rotten

When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 27; 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 28; 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29

Where: Cooper Auditorium

Tickets: Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the Cooper main office or at the door. Go to coopertheatre.com/rotten to stream the Friday evening performance.