Rarely do high school activities include elementary school students however, the school’s production of “Matilda the Musical” by Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin, has allowed for just that by bringing in fourth through eighth grade students as cast members in the show. Because of this, two brothers have been granted the opportunity to share the spotlight in tonight’s and this this weekend’s productions of the musical.
Junior Colton Knott, who plays Mr. Wormwood, Matilda’s father will be joined on stage by his fourth-grade brother, Landen, who plays the role of Nigel, a student in Matilda’s class.
“It’s nice to have your family members in a production with you because, you know, I love this stuff,” Colton Knott said. “Landen wanted to do it [be in a production] this year, and I talked to him about it . He was pretty excited about it, so it kind of just worked out this year.”
Colton Knott isn’t new to theatre. Last year he was involved in the GHS musical production of “Newsies.” He played one of the main characters, Les, and right after the curtain closes on “Matilda the Musical,” he will begin prepping for this year’s One Act performance. He has been part of school performances for many years; in elementary school, he played the lead role in four different shows. He never shied away from finding the spotlight and continued his passion into high school, and is passing that passion on to his brother.
“He has always had the lead role in all the things he does,” junior Mason Loberg said. “He’s always been in those acting, SNJ [Sharon North Jones Studio], so I feel like he’s always been part of that acting and musical stuff.”
Being the center of the show is not new for the older brother, but this time it’s different. Landen Knott attends Whitetail Elementary and has enjoyed working with and performing with his brother.
“It’s fun,” Landen Knott said. “I usually like watching him be all funny up on the stage. I like watching Colton a lot.”
With Landen being seven years younger than Colton Knott, the brothers have taken this as an opportunity to bond.
“My favorite part about this is the fact that I get to spend more time with my brother, it’s kind of created a little connection for us to have,” Colton Knott said. “I’m going to be graduating here soon, and, you know, we’re not going to be living together pretty soon, so it’s nice to have this kind of thing that we can do together before we all grow up and he gets older and I’m not going to be around as much.”
Practices have kept the two busy since they are held almost every night of the week, and while practice runs until 6 p.m. it has been on an ‘if you’re needed, you go‘ basis.
“Landen’s actually had to go a lot more than I have because of the ensemble scenes and all the choreography,” Colton Knott said. “They’re doing so much and they’re doing it so well. I’m really proud of them all, not only just Landen but all the little kids.”
The debut performance is tonight at 7 p.m., with the show running Friday and Saturday at the same time. Admittance to the show will be free for all who attend the premiere, however Friday and Saturday’s shows will be $10 each and available for purchase online at Showtix4u.
