Clarke Drama and Music presents Matilda

Clarke’s fall musical is Roald Dahl’s Matilda showing 7 p.m. November 12 and 13 at the Clarke High School Auditorium.

The drama department held auditions last spring and Mary Pohlmann, vocal director, had six weeks of practicing songs for the 18 songs.

This show has a cast of 37 with 21 seniors in various roles from crew, to pit band to leading roles on stage. Seniors include Alivia Bakley, Tyler Binning, Jadie Bowlsby, Grace Cline, Lexi Cooper, Samantha Cowling, Ely Crawford, Jairus Davis, Devesh Desai, Ethan Domina, Colby Feehan, Michael Galvez, Shayla Hembry, Elijah Keller, Nancy Montoya, John Reynoldson, Breanna Selsor, Sammie Sisk, Josue Torres, Noemi Vega and Hannah Wisniewski.

Again this year the Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards from the Des Moines Performing Arts Center will be attending and judging the show.

Reserved tickets went on sale Monday Nov. 1 for $7 a seat and General Admission at the door cost $5 adults, $4 for students.

Much of the story of Matilda focuses around her talents, one of which is reading, so the Clarke Drama Department will be collecting kid’s books or donations to purchase books at the school leading up to the musical and at the performances. After donations have been received, the plan is to purchase enough books for every child to receive a book in first and second grades.

Any donations brought to the high school should be earmarked as a donation for the Matilda book drive.