Lipscomb Theatre seniors bring emotion to Matilda the Musical

Lipscomb University’s Department of Theatre will present Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical beginning Nov. 7 in Collins Alumni Auditorium and directed by Beki Baker.

Senior musical theatre major Makenzie Cogswell stars as Matilda, a young girl with a powerful imagination, intelligence and psychokinetic abilities.

Cogswell said she relates to Matilda’s determination. “I’m a very stubborn person, and I think Matilda can be stubborn at times too,” Cogswell said. “But I think that’s what makes her powerful. She doesn’t want to stay stuck in the situation she’s in. She wants to do something about it.”

Playing Miss Honey is one of Cogswell’s closest friends, which she said makes this production even more meaningful as they prepare to graduate. “Because she’s my best friend, it makes the process a lot more sentimental,” she said. “We’re both seniors, and we’re going to be sobbing on closing night.”

Two of her close friends play Matilda’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood, creating a unique onstage and offstage dynamic.

“My closest friends play Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood, and they are just awful to Matilda,” Cogswell said. “We decided we have a pre- and post-show hug to remind each other we really do love each other because they say some horrible things to Matilda onstage.”

Senior Callie Jean Tysdale, who plays Mrs. Wormwood, said the role is a dream come true.

“This show is actually my dream show. It’s the show that got me into theater. It was the first show I saw on Broadway,” Tysdale said. “I would love to play this role again in 15 or 20 years when I’m old enough to do it professionally. She’s fun, she dances, she sings and she’s crazy.”

Tysdale said one of her favorite elements of the musical is the contrast between loud and quiet, especially in Matilda’s song Quiet.

“Quiet is my favorite song in the whole show. It’s so emotional because it’s the moment Matilda realizes she is special,” she said. “My song in the show is called Loud, and Matilda’s is Quiet. That reflects how chaotic her home life is and how different Matilda’s inner world feels.”

As both actresses prepare for the musical, they said this story feels especially meaningful to them.

“This production is my favorite way Matilda is told,” Tysdale said. “The musicality is beautiful. It shows bright, bold moments and then shifts into quiet, internal ones.”

Matilda the Musical runs Nov. 7, 8, 14 and 15 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 9 and 16 at 2:30 p.m. in Collins Alumni Auditorium. Tickets are available here.