Auditions for Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical will be held at Church Hill Theatre on Thursday, February 16, 2023, at 6:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday, February 18 and 19, 2023 at 1:30 pm. All auditions will be held in the theatre at 103 Walnut St.  Sylvia Maloney will direct this production with Kevin Thomas as music director, and choreography by Cavin Moore.

Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical, simply known as Matilda or Matilda the Musical, is a stage musical based on the 1988 novel Matilda by Roald Dahl. The musical’s narrative centers on Matilda Wormwood, a precocious girl with the gift of telekinesis, who loves reading, overcomes obstacles caused by her family and school, and helps her teacher to reclaim her life.

This production requires 28 actors to bring it to life: 14 to 16 young people (boys and girls) ages 10 through 18, and 10 to 12 men and women, ages 20’s through 60’s with acting, dancing and singing skills.  All roles are open.

For the vocal audition, please prepare a song, similar in genre to the music of Matilda but not from the show; also, please bring 2 copies of your sheet music. Auditioners should be prepared to read from the script and to learn a brief dance routine.  Technicians are also needed and are encouraged to attend auditions.

The performance dates for Matilda run from Friday, June 9th through Sunday, June 25^th, 2023. For more information, call Sylvia Maloney at 410-778-3783, email ssmaloney@verizon.net or go to the website www.churchhilltheatre.org.

It’s the 1960s and young people are caught up in movements, whether free expression, free love, civil rights, or opposition to the political status quo. Their parents, children of the Depression and WWII, know that freedoms have a cost.  In Ron Cowan’s poignant Summertree, generational conflicts and expectations play out in the midst of the Viet Nam War. Opening on January 20 and running for three weekends, Summertree will tug at the hearts of those old enough to remember the war and perhaps provide greater understanding to their own children and grandchildren.

Jeff and Anthony Daly

Directed by CHT’s theater business manager, Juanita Wieczoreck, Summertree brings together an especially interesting cast. Anthony Daly and his dad Jeff Daly play a young man and his father, both conflicted about notions of manhood and responsibility; both aware that only college enrollment defers military service.  Liam Kruhm, and his dad George, play a neighborhood child (possibly the young man himself?) and a Soldier (who represents all men who have done battle). Sharon Herz is cast as the young man’s mother and Abigail Gilbert as his college girlfriend. Time skips around in the play, as memories are cherished and decisions weighed.  In a review, the New York Times observed, “…beautiful and sensitive; immeasurably moving…”

Summertree will run from January 20 through February 5, with shows starting at 8 pm on Friday and Saturday and at 2 pm on Sunday. Tickets can be purchased via the website: churchhilltheatre.org or call the office at (410) 556-6003 for tickets or more information.

Debbie Wojciechowski

Next week, for one night only on January 12, acclaimed, certified medium Debbie Wojciechowski will return to Church Hill Theatre to help connect patrons with their loved ones who have passed.

A native of Baltimore, Ms. Wojciechowski holds a Master of Science degree from Johns Hopkins University.  She has enjoyed a 25-year career in federal law enforcement and is a nationally acclaimed and certified Evidential Medium. An Evidential Medium is an individual who can communicate with Spirt.  This information can be unequivocally verified and is evidence of the human’s soul survival beyond physical life.

Her metaphysical journey began at the age of 13 with a near-death experience. Although aware of some of her metaphysical abilities afterward, she did not fully understand what was happening until about age 21. By that time, she had lost both of her parents and parents, and then personally experienced another closed brush with death when she was involved in a serious car accident. That point is when she began a personal journey to study and learn more about her metaphysical gift.

Ms. Wojcieshowski studied extensively with local and international mediums and spiritual mentors.  She trained with British Mediums and learned the traditions of the Spiritualist Churches of Great Britain. Although accreditation is not required in the US, Debbie studied with internationally known and respected professions in the field and obtained formal certification as both a Medium and a Master Teacher.  This certification required testing under strict parameters regarding her Mediumship abilities.

Even as greater awareness and understanding of her abilities grew, she concurrently pursued a more traditional career in law enforcement, including her aforementioned master’s degree. Her time working in law enforcement included extensive work in the areas of mental health, grief counseling, and crisis intervention. Debbie volunteered for more than eight years as a grief counselor with a local hospice.  She often draws on this extensive background and experience with grief and loss during sensitive readings. Ms. Wojciewoski is committed to this work with Spirit and is dedicated to honoring her gift integrity.

Debbie has expanded her reach beyond Maryland.  She has appeared in Hanover, PA, Rehoboth Beach, DE, and Cape May, NJ, as well as closer venues, such as the Avalon Theatre in Easton and the Cultural Center at the Opera House in Havre de Grace.  Tickets to her January 12 appearance at Church Hill Theatre may be purchased at churchhilltheatre.org for $50.

For more information about Debbie Wojciechowski and her work, please visit mediumdebbie.com or follow her on social media at facebook.com/mediumdebbie and instagram at @mediumdebbie.

Church Hill Theatre is accepting applications for the following paid staff positions for the 2023 Green Room Gang program. The theatre requires a Green Room Gang Sr. director and a Green Room Gang, Jr. director along with up to three interns to work with the directors during the 5-week summer program.

Green Room Gang is a summer theatre workshop that consists of two camps. GRG Sr. is a five-week, full day program of theatre instruction for youths entering grades 6—12 that culminates in a fully staged musical for public performance. GRG Jr. is a four and a half week, half day program for youths entering grades 1—5 which also culminates in a fully staged musical production. Both camps are in session Monday through Thursday.  GRG Sr. begins June 19, 2023 and ends with performances July 19, 20 and 21, 2023; GRG Jr. starts June 21 and culminates with the production at the same time.

The directors of Green Room Gang are the instructors and artists who oversee and orchestrate the theatrical education of the Green Room Gang students and the mounting of fully scripted productions by creatively facilitating all aspects of the productions.  The directors have the challenging task of bringing together the many complex pieces of a production—the script, actors, set, costuming, lighting, sound and music—into a unified whole.  They will be responsible for all aspects of the production; however, the focus of the position is the instruction of the students and the casting, directing and rehearsing of the show.  Applicants should have extensive formal education and experience in all aspects.

The interns of the Green Room Gang will have duties that vary with the nature of the script, the director, the designers and the production facilities. An effective intern will adapt to the needs of each production. He or she will always make it his/her priority to see that the director has everything he/she needs to bring the play’s vision to the stage.  They will work closely with the directors of both GRG Jr. and GRG Sr. and will assist in instructional, directing and production aspects of the camp. The two intern positions require a HS diploma as well as college training in a variety of the aspects of theatre.

Interested applicants can learn more about CHT and its previous seasons by visiting our website at http://www.churchhilltheatre.org, by phoning the CHT office at 410-556-6003 or by email at: office@churchhilltheatre.org.

Applications are available on the CHT website or by calling the CHT office. The deadline for applications is December 30, 2022.