Young actress at center of 'Matilda the Musical'

Dylynne Cosand, 10, of Bigfork has been chosen to portray the title character in Alpine Theatre Project’s upcoming production of “Matilda the Musical.”

Based on the beloved book by Roald Dahl, The musical, part of ATP’s 2018 Broadway Summer Season, will open July 7 and run in rotating repertory until July 20 at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center.

Cosand was chosen after a statewide search to find a young actress to play the young Matilda, a precocious and confident girl gifted with an extraordinary intellect.

“We had young actresses submitting from all across the country,” says Director, Betsi Morrison. “It’s a testament to the talent we have right here in the Flathead Valley. Dylynne possessed all the qualities I was looking for to play this extraordinary girl.”

Cosand will lead a group of 17 other young actors from around the Flathead Valley — including Kalispell, Lakeside, Kila, and Whitefish — to play Matilda’s classmates alongside ATP’s adult company of professional actors, many of whom have extensive Broadway experience. The children have been rehearsing for the past month to learn the music before the professional actors arrive along with ATP’s professional choreographer, Brian J. Marcum, a six-time Broadway veteran, himself.

The other young actors include: Megan Amick, Whitefish; Ava Bee, Whitefish; Lanae Bacon, Whitefish; Nicholas Brester, Kalispell; Badge Busse, Kalispell; Lander Busse, Kalispell; Teddy Cotton, Lakeside; Joseph Coulter, Kalispell; Katherine Eckstrom, Whitefish; Simma Lefcourt, Whitefish; Marcus Mercer, Whitefish; Carson Miller, Kalispell; Ada Milner, Kalispell; Cole Pickert, Whitefish; Gabby Pickert, Whitefish; Jezalynn Schussler, Kalispell; Kenny Stone, Whitefish; Hannah Wilson, Portland, Oregon; Finn Woodward, Whitefish; and Sophia Woodward, Whitefish.

“Matilda the Musical” is an adaptation of a Roald Dahl’s best-selling 1998 novel. It tells the story of Matilda Wormwood, a gifted girl forced to put up with crude, distant parents. Worse, Agatha Trunchbull, the evil principal at Matilda’s school, Crunchem Hall, delights in terrorizing her students. However, when Matilda realizes she has the power of telekinesis, she begins to defend her friends from Trunchbull’s wrath and fight back against her unkind parents.

Alpine Theatre Project is only one of two theaters in the entire U.S. currently able to produce the musical.

“We’re thrilled to bring the regional premiere of this amazing new musical,” says Morrison.

“Matilda the Musical” opens July 7 at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center and will run in rotating repertory. For information, call 406-862-7469 or visit atpwhitefish.org.