Matilda: leading girls to exit show in next 2 months

The Tony-Award winning girls Milly Shapiro, Bailey Ryon, Oona Laurence and Sophia Gennusa, who alternate the lead role of 'Matilda,' in the Broadway premiere of Matilda the Musical, are to leave the show in the next two months, according to an interview with the young actresses in the Wall Street. No casting replacements have been announced.

The Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical, opened at the Shubert Theatre on 11 Apr 2013, following previews from 4 Mar 2013, where it is currently booking through to 27 Jul 2014.

The show opened on Broadway to excellent reviews: Even more glorious than we were promised (NY Times); Glorious Matilda has it all (NYP); Another blockbuster (NY1); Dazzlingly inventive musical (Hollywood Reporter). The musical received four Tony Awards, and a Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theater for each of the four girls sharing the title role.

Matilda the Musical tells the story of a very bright and rebellious little girl, with special powers. Matilda's parents, Mr and Mrs Wormwood, have no time for her and treat her as a nuisance. She spends most of her time reading books from the library astonishingly quickly, whilst they watch the telly and Mr Wormwood sells dodgy used cars. At school things are no better as despite the care and support of her teacher, the lovely Miss Honey, Matilda has to contend with the terrifying headmistress Miss Trunchbull who rules the school with cruelty and fear. Matilda fights against the injustices at home and at school. Eventually she decides the grown-ups should be taught a lesson and in the process discovers her supernatural powers.

Matilda the Musical features a book by Dennis Kelly, music and lyrics by the Australian comedian, musician and composer Tim Minchin, and direction by Tony Award-winner Matthew Warchus with choreography by Peter Darling.

The show's principal cast currently stars Sophia Gennusa, Oona Laurence, Bailey Ryon and Milly Shapiro (alternate the role of Matila'), Chris Hoch (Miss Trunchbull), Karen Aldridge (Mrs. Phelps), Gabriel Ebert (Mr. Wormwood), Lesli Margherita (Mrs. Wormwood), Taylor Trensch (Michael Wormwood) and Jill Paice (Miss Honey).

Matilda the Musical is designed by Rob Howell, orchestrations, additional music and musical supervision by Christopher Nightingale, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound by Simon Baker and special effects and illusions are by Paul Kieve.

The show is being produced on Broadway by The Royal Shakespeare Company and New York's Dodger Properties.

The show premiered at The Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, home of the RSC, playing to sold-out audiences for twelve weeks from Nov 2010 to Jan 2011. The production transferred to the Cambridge Theatre in London's West End on 25 Oct 2011, where it is still playing. The musical regularly plays to sold out performances making it one of the hottest tickets in London.

The musical opened on the West End to excellent notices: "Hugely enjoyable and cracking ... fun" (londontheatre.co.uk); "The best new British musical since Billy Elliot" (The Telegraph); "It's an evening of unadulterated bliss." (The Guardian), and was the winner of a record-breaking seven Olivier Awards including Best Musical.

The children's novel Matilda, published in 1998, was written by popular British children's author Ronald Dahl. The book was was adapted into a screenplay in 1996 by Nicholas Kazan and Robin Swicord, directed by Danny DeVito.