What is your name? Sydney England
What is your cast role or crew position in Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical? I play a nurse and a scary big kid.
What is your favorite Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical quote, song or scene — and why? My favorite scene in Matilda is The Hammer because Caleb Sellers does such an amazing job as the Trunchbull and makes everything so funny. I struggle with trying not to break character every time I’m on stage with him!
How many Gibson Southern Theatre productions (including Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical) have you been a part of while in high school? I have been a part of twelve Gibson Southern Theatre productions.
What is your favorite role, act, or show that you have been a part of in high school? My favorite show was 21 Chump Street, which we performed for ITS Regionals. 21 Chump Street is a fifteen minute musical about drug use in high school. Even though this was one of my smaller roles, I have always loved this show and listen to the soundtrack on repeat. It has an important message and was written by Lin Manuel Miranda (creator of Hamilton), one of my favorite artists of all time. The cast was also very small, so we all had a close relationship in creating it.
Do you have a favorite story from your time spent in theatre? Towards the end of every year, Gibson Southern Theatre puts on a show called the Young Playwrights Project. It is one of our lesser known shows, but it is very interesting because the show is put together by the students. During my junior year, I was casted as lead role in one of the plays, which was one of the most challenging roles I have ever had to play. I played a young girl who had a father that had abandoned her, her mother, and her five sisters. At the end of the play, I had to break down and sob because the pain of my father leaving had finally taken its toll on me. Everyone who watched the show agreed it was one of my best performances and I also won an outstanding actress award for it!
What are your plans after high school? I plan on attending the University of Southern Indiana to pursue a career of nursing. I want to work as a nurse for some time and then go back to school and become an oncologist. I also hope to do some theatrical productions on the side as well!
What words of advice do you have for those thinking about joining Gibson Southern Theatre? Never be afraid to try new things! We try our hardest to make Gibson Southern Theatre a judgement free zone. Gibson Southern Theatre is an amazing place to find yourself and make new friends! I was very shy and backward before I entered high school and when I joined theatre, I came out of my shell!
Do you have anything else to add? I am so excited to come back as a Gibson Southern Theatre Alumni and watch all the new talent that enters Gibson Southern every year!