December 14 to 31, 2023
Matilda the Musical Team
We’d like you to meet the Directors
and principal players of Matilda!
There are so many people involved with Matilda the Musical. The talented behind-the-scenes people and Ensemble Cast are critical to making the fantasy a success. When you come to see us, enjoy the whole experience, but take a moment to appreciate the set design, the costumes, the props, special effects, and the back stage, sound and lighting teams. ECHO Players appreciates every one of them (close to 60 people in total).
Director Brian Mather with a message that you, the audience, should take from Matilda the Musical.
BRIAN MATHER
Director
Brian was five years old on his first foray into theatre as a walk on part in a high school show. (His dad was directing it!) Now, over seventy years later, he still gets that adrenaline rush at show time. This is his second show with ECHO. The first was Narnia in 2021. And he is so happy that Ashlee and Sarah are part of the creative team that combines so many songs and so much choreography.
He has enjoyed the challenge of such a complex show. It has a large cast whose ages range from 7 to somewhere around 50ish and who bring a wealth of life-experiences (and inexperiences) to the stage. The exuberance of youth is mixed with the cunning and foibles of age within the crucible of Matilda’s life.
JOEY SCOFFINGS
Matilda
Joey was born in Victoria in November 2013 and lived there until moving to Qualicum Beach, the home town of both of her parents, in 2020. A Qualicum Beach School of Dance musical theatre class taught by Jennifer Kelly was the spark that fired her passion for the performing arts. Her first significant role was “Charity” in the ECHO Players production of A Visit from St. Nicholas in December 2022 and last spring she played “Bryn” in Powerline, an ECHO Youth production. When the auditions for Matilda were scheduled, she was highly motivated to read for the title role and was absolutely thrilled when it was offered to her.
Growing up with 2 older brothers she quickly learned the importance of standing her ground and speaking up for herself. As one of the youngest in a family of many cousins she hasn’t let being little stop her from doing much of anything at all.
Joey loves working with the Matilda team and would like to thank all of the cast and crew for their support and encouragement and for making the experience so much fun.
ASHLEE SALES
Musical Director
After university, Ashlee rediscovered her love of the stage and has been directing youth theatre productions for 20 years. A member of ECHO Players since 2016, she has worked on and off stage as actor, director, music director, and ECHO Youth Liaison. Most recently, she was seen being pulled out of a window in The Play That Goes Wrong!
Ashlee holds a degree in music performance from Indiana University in french horn and voice. She received a second degree from Indiana University’s Honours College in Comparative Literature, where she explored the intersection of art, literature, music, and history, culminating in her thesis work in Vienna, Austria.
POPPY WILLIAMS
Matilda
Born in London, England, Poppy, like Matilda, discovered a passion for books at a young age. Before moving to Canada at 7 years old, the village librarians waved Poppy a tearful goodbye and printed out her ‘borrower record’ - 1907 books.
Whilst prior to this production, Poppy, (now 9 years old), did not have a lot of experience in the world of theatre, she did have a huge love for Matilda - the story had captured her heart and imagination. The book had been read, the movie watched, and countless evenings at home were spent putting on performances of ‘naughty' - so when the opportunity arose to audition for a part in Matilda, Poppy jumped (or rather, cartwheeled!) at the chance.
In Poppy’s words: ‘I am very proud to be Matilda. I love how confident and loyal she is to her friends. I am also very grateful to all the people that helped me through this. My favourite thing about being a part of the Matilda production is hanging out with all the cast members and learning from them'.
SARAH KIELLY
Choreographer
Sarah is so excited to be back with Echo choreographing the holiday show this year. Sarah is an award winning choreographer from Nanaimo with a passion for the arts and technical theatre. Some of her theatre credits include stage managing Mary’s Wedding (Echo), Just the Ticket (B2B), as well as co- creating and choreographing NDSS Dance’s one act plays since 2018 including Terezin, and last years One Act winner, Wrong Side of the Wire. Not only does Sarah enjoy roles behind the scenes, she has also been underneath the lights playing roles such as Medda Larkin in CYMCs Newsies, and dancing in Canadas 150 Celebration show Blackstones and Bathtubs. Sharing her passion for the arts with this wonderful group of people of all ages has been an incredible journey and she cannot wait for audiences to experience the magic that is Matilda the Musical!
ROB ATKINSON
Agatha Trunchbull
Rob is very happy to be back on stage with ECHO Players. His last performance at the Village Theatre was in the summer production of The Play That Goes Wrong. Before that he was very excited to co-direct The Children.
Rob has just finished his first solo directing experience of Ripcord with the Nanaimo Theatre Group. He has also performed in Nanaimo numerous times with NTG, Schmooze productions and Bard to Broadway here in the Oceanside area.
Rob is excited to have the opportunity to bring such a well known character as Miss Trunchbull to life and he hopes you enjoy her delightful nastiness. Working with young children is always an adventure but the kids have proved to be real professionals! Enjoy the show!!
KRIS COFFEY
Mr. Wormwood
Kris is the current Vice- President of the musical theatre company Three Legged Dog Productions.
Kris made his debut to the musical theatre stage in 2017 with a Three legged Dog Production of Guys and Dolls.
Since then Kris has played Fred Casley in Bard to Broadway's 2018 production of Chicago and starred as Dr. Everett Scott / Eddie in Three Legged Dog's production of The Rocky Horror Show 2021.
Most recently in 2022 Kris was the Assistant Producer for Into the Woods by Three Legged Dog.
And in 2023 Kris was in a few skits as a Viking and a guitar player - in Spam and Maple Syrup, an ECHO Players presentation.
MELODY BARTA
Mrs. Wormwood
Melody is excited to be joining this fabulous, talented, and supportive team to play Mrs. Wormwood in Matilda! This role is such fun to play - a vapid, insecure, money-hungry dance fiend, who she hopes to have little in common with.
Melody last worked with ECHO Players in 2012, when she played Rosie in Dancing at Lughnasa.
It’s been too long since she spent time on stage, having most recently participated in the NTG Christmas pantomime as Alan-A-Dale in Robin Hood and His Very Merry Men (2018).
Other favourite past theatrical experiences include playing Soupy Sue in Urinetown (Schmooze, 2016), Lulu in Cabaret (NTG, 2014), Thea in Spring Awakening (Schmooze, 2013), Joanne in Godspell (NTG, 2010), and Gertrude McFuzz in Seussical (Arts Alive, 2005).
When not on stage, Melody works as a teacher-librarian and wants to reassure the kids in the audience that at school in real life she’s more of a Mrs. Phelps than a Headmistress Trunchbull!
CHELSEA McCANNEL-KEENE
Miss Honey
Chelsea McCannel-Keene is privileged to raise her family on the traditional lands of the K'omoks First Nation. Following her studies at The Canadian College of Performing Arts and The University of Victoria, she was grateful to return home and has immersed herself in the valley's thriving arts community ever since!
Theatre may absorb much of her spare time, but professionally speaking, Chelsea's heart has and always will be with children. She has operated Puddleduck Early Learning Society for many years and is an active member of Comox Valley Schools' Board of Education. Chelsea lives in her hometown community of Royston with her husband, their two children and their giant dog Dumptruck...
Her past Village Theatre performances include her portrayal of Lucy van Pelt - You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Mona Lipshitz - Chicago), and Penny Pingleton - Hairspray), all with Bard to Broadway. This winter she is thrilled to fulfill a childhood dream of her own by taking on the role of Miss Honey, alongside a supportive cast of talented artists who capture the true essence of Roald Dahl's story so poignantly: "You are not alone".
AVA TYNDALL
Bruce
Ava, at the young age of 11, has discovered her love for the stage and a talent for performance. She remembers the excitement she felt seeing Peter Pan at the Village Theatre in 2018, which seems to have planted a seed. Her theatrical journey began with her grade 5 rendition of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" at Qualicum Beach Elementary.
Since then, she has eagerly embraced opportunities in school productions and theatre camps. Matilda marks a special milestone for Ava, as her first full production on the Echo Players' stage. She is thrilled to play the lovable character of Bruce Bogtrotter and to be a part of this wonderful cast and crew.
LUNA JEAN
Lavender
Luna is 11 years old. She has been in several plays over the years including The Little Mermaid, Beauty & The Beast, and The Seussical.
Luna spends her time playing piano and violin, singing, and dancing. She has performed at over 50 recitals and has been to several dance competitions.
She is so excited for her role as Lavender, Matilda’s best friend, and she is happy to get to be in a play alongside her mom and brother.
KELLY BARNUM
Mrs. Phelps
As a home grown Island girl, Kelly first appeared on the Village Theatre stage when she was not much older than her youngest castmates. Since then, she has earned a BFA and an MA in Theatre and has spent the last twenty plus years teaching high school performing arts in Nanaimo.
Highlights for ECHO Payers includes Waiting for the Parade (Marta), Dancing at Lughnasa (Maggie), Grace and Glorie (director), and Mary’s Wedding (director). Highlights from her career working with teenagers include directing productions of Urinetown: the musical and Waiting for the Parade at Cedar Secondary as well as NDSS’ productions of Terezin and Wrong Side of the Wire winning Best Play at the Vancouver Island One Act Festival. Currently, she is at the helm of NDSS’ Performing Arts production of Annie (choreographed by the talented Sarah Kielly) which you can see on stage at Vancouver Island University in January.
Kelly is thrilled to be back onstage as the loveable Mrs. Phelps and would like to thank the cast and crew for making it such a wonderful experience.