Follow Us:

Director's Notes

I have worked with LionHeart Productions for over 10 years now and have enjoyed acting on stage, but Matilda marks the first time I have ever directed a musical. I looked through a handful of scripts and musicals to decide what I wanted to direct. Matilda was a frontrunner from the start.

I found in Matilda a story that has a great message for our time. A story about a young girl who is discounted and cast aside but has the courage and the strength to know who she is and not let the bullies win. I find that to be inspiring even for this old guy!

I knew from being in LionHeart that we have an amazing pool of talent to cast from. The right people all came out to audition, including some newcomers to LionHeart. The cast is amazing! They have worked so hard to bring this production to fruition. They are to be commended! Especially the kids. Each of the little kids are so talented on their own but as a collective, they are great!

I hope you find a little of yourself in the Matilda character. Don't let the bullies win! And always remember to be true to yourself! Remember, sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty!

Enjoy the show!

Jamie Evans

Special Thanks

The members, cast and crew of LionHeart Productions are deeply indebted to Kevin Akin and Jim Jenkins of Grant Public Schools and all their staff for their hospitality, assistance, tolerance, and support which has made the production of this show possible. We would also like to thank the Fremont Area Community Foundation for their support for the arts and bringing this and many other productions to life.

We also thank the many volunteers who helped build and decorate the set, worked in the box office, served as ushers, as well as the families and friends of the cast, who have all helped us be "characters."

Additional Thanks

Cast List

Ensemble

Production Team

Song List

Act 1

Miracle (Part 1)
Miracle (Part 2)
Matilda (Part 3)
Naughty
School Song
Pathetic
The Hammer
Naughty Reprise (Superglue)
Chokey Chant
Loud
This Little Girl
Bruce

Act 2

All I Know
When I Grow Up
The Smell of Rebellion
Quiet
My House
Revolting Children
When I Grow Up/Naughty (Reprise)

In Memoriam

Alan Bleiler 10/31/1953 - 7/1/2025

Al and Millie Bleiler were among about 12 people in Valerie Sweers' living room in January of 1997, who agreed to start an (at that point, nameless) community theatre. Al upgraded the original logo, which is still in use today. He was in many shows in LionHeart's early history, including "The Valiant", "Headset", "Fiddler on the Roof", "Fools", "Oliver", and "Guys and Dolls".

Meet the Company

Aria Alonzo

Matilda Wormwood

Aria Alonzo is 13 years old and loves theatre, reading, and video games. Over the last five years, she has been part of five musicals and two stage shows between LionHeart and Sparta Schools. This is her first lead in a musical, and she is thrilled to fill the role and share the stage with her family and friends.

Bob Alonzo

Mr. Wormwood

Bob is a husband, dad, and local music teacher. He has a long history in theatre, dating back to the turn of the century. Playing Mr. Wormwood brings a unique experience, as he gets to be the less-than-loving father across from his real-life daughter, who plays Matilda. In this show, he is most looking forward to the enlightenment for viewers on the true source of knowledge.

Buffy Alonzo

Cook, Parent

Buffy Alonzo is a wife and homeschool mom of 3 beautiful girls. This is her 5th LionHeart show in the last 8 years; she also participated in high school theatre and summer theatre programs after graduating. The thing she looks forward to most about this show is sharing her newly found gift of hobbling—who knew? Sharing the stage with her family is a close second.

Lyra Alonzo

Amanda

Lyra is 8 years old. She loves a good story and creating things with her hands. She is excited for this role in her second musical stage performance with LionHeart. This was her dream role, and she has been soaring with excitement since the call came in! Her enthusiasm for this role has left her excited to tackle larger roles as opportunities arrive.

Aubrey Antonio

Big Kid

Aubrey plays Brittany, an older student in Trunchbull's class who enjoys scaring little kids and who, surprisingly, survived the Chokey. She was previously in LionHeart's "Cinderella" and "The Wizard of Oz". She wants to say thank you to her friends for hanging out with her during the production. She is very excited for you to see the show and hopes you enjoy it!

Oliver Bass

Michael Wormwood

Oliver (17) is looking forward to being on-stage after working behind the scenes for many LionHeart shows. He is homeschooled and in the "eleventhish" grade. He is currently a cook at The Shack and hopes to pursue a culinary or nutrition career in the future. When he is not on stage or in the kitchen, Oliver enjoys playing D&D with friends and working out at the gym. Oliver would like to give a special thanks to his Golden Retriever, Pepper, and his Siamese cat, Sox, for their patience with him during these long rehearsal days.

Simon Bass

Dancer, Mechanic, Henchman 1

Simon is excited to be returning to the LionHeart stage! When not performing, he is working on finishing up his bachelor's degree from Grace Christian University. He has also recently completed the rough draft of his second novel. Simon is an avid reader and lover of all things literature. He recently enjoyed a literary tour of Southern England where he was able to see "Matilda the Musical" in London's West End. He hopes you enjoy our little rendition of this classic!

Alicia Cole

Mrs. Phelps

Alicia has been in many shows with LionHeart. Past favorites include Charlotte in "Cinderella" and Tree #3 in "The Wizard of Oz". Alicia is perfect to play a librarian because she loves to read and tell people to be quiet. She would like to thank her parents for always making sure she had a ride to rehearsal and her sister for all their adventures.

Devon Conley

Parent

Since 2018, Devon has been involved in numerous GHS and LionHeart productions. You may have seen him in "Escanaba in Da Moonlight" (twice!), "Newsies", "Clue!", "Cinderella", "Bright Star", "The Wizard of Oz", and most recently in "The Play That Goes Wrong!". Devon can occasionally be found in the pit too, having played guitar in LionHeart's "Mamma Mia!" as well as the GHS productions of "Grease", "Footloose", "School of Rock", and "Freaky Friday". Devon’s ability to play the intro riff to just about any rock song has been recognized by Wossamotta University with the "World's Okayest Guitar Player" award! Devon teaches Social Studies at Grant High School and is the advisor for the school’s NHS chapter as well as its championship chess team! Devon is thankful to Mindy, Casey, and Jared for all their love and support. “Ceol agus craic”

Jayce Covington

Judge, Henchman

This is his 4th production with LionHeart Productions. He's looking forward to judging the dance contest tonight. He hopes you enjoy the show! If you want autographs, he's your man—he'll meet you in the lobby after the show.

Avery Dollberg

Alice

Avery is excited to make her debut with LionHeart Productions. She is new to the stage and is looking forward to being in more productions. Avery is a student at Newaygo Elementary and a member of Bailey Christian Church. When not on stage or in the classroom, Avery can be found creating artwork or playing online games with her friends and sister. She would like to thank her family and friends for their support in her new acting venture.

Miryam Duron

Little kid

This is Miryam's (10) first production with LionHeart and she has had so much fun! Previously she participated in H.I.S. Creative Academy's production of "Annie" and she also enjoys singing in her worship community's youth band. Miryam has been surrounded by music her whole life and her love for performing has been passed down from multiple generations.

Lexi Empie

Big Kid

Lexi Empie is a 13-year-old girl. This is her first show with LionHeart Productions (and her second stage show overall), and she is super excited! She plays a scary big kid who loves to be mean. She previously performed in "SpongeBob the Musical" with Grant High School. She loves singing, being on stage, learning new things, and choir. She has made so many good friends throughout these rehearsals and wants to thank her parents and siblings for being patient with her after the long rehearsal days.

Jamie Evans

The Escapologist

Jamie has been in many plays for LionHeart. He enjoys acting and being on stage. He considers it a privilege to be part of such a vibrant and enjoyable community as this theatre group. Some of his favorite roles include: Fester in "The Addams Family Musical", Reuben Soady in "Escanaba in da Moonlight", Mayor Dobbs in "Bright Star", and Hunk (Scarecrow) in "The Wizard of Oz". He is married to his lovely wife, Tammy, and they have three wonderful children. His daughter, Dalany, even volunteered to paint the lettering on some of the set pieces. Jamie hopes you enjoy the show and that you don't forget that "sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty."

Landen Flores

Big Kid

This is Landen’s first show with LionHeart, and she is thrilled to be working with such a brilliant cast! In her free time, Landen enjoys doing makeup, hair, singing, dancing, and spending time with the people she loves. She would like to thank her mom, Jill; her grandma; her best friend, Natalie; and everyone else who helped make this possible for her. She would also like to thank the amazing people at LionHeart for their hard work and dedication in creating this wonderful production!

Cynthia Hulst

The Acrobat

“It’s never too late to rediscover old passions.” Cynthia returned in "The Wizard of Oz" and now performs in "Matilda the Musical" as the Acrobat and a Parent. Her favorite part is doing it with her three children, Caleb, Lucas, and William, and she is proud of their hard work on and off stage. Cynthia is thankful to the entire cast and crew for such a fun and memorable experience.

Kathy Jenkins

Ensemble - Parent

Kathy has been involved with LionHeart since 1998, both behind the scenes as costumer and on stage. Her fondest theatre memories center around being involved in stage productions with her children and husband and crazy days with friends in the costume shop.

Ron Jenkins

Sergei

Ron has been with LionHeart for many years and has worn many hats. He is excited to, once again, take the stage in a wonderful musical, "Matilda". He has performed in many roles for LionHeart, such as Henry Higgins in "My Fair Lady" and Daddy Warbucks in "Annie", but his favorite shows he directed are "Steel Magnolias" and "Barefoot in the Park". He continues to wear many hats along with his wife, Kathy, who is a costumer par excellence! Ron is also supported by their dog, Kira, who has been quite patient given the many late nights rehearsing.

Caleb Kohler

Bruce

Caleb (14) returns after "The Wizard of Oz" (Ozian and Winky Guard) and is excited to play Bruce in "Matilda the Musical". He wants to thank his parents who have supported him in theatre, his brothers, and Jenna. His favorite part of being in theatre is the amazing people in the production. Enjoy the show!

Lucas Kohler

Tommy

Lucas (12) was a Lollipop Guild munchkin in "The Wizard of Oz" and now plays Tommy in "Matilda". Unlike Tommy, Lucas loves newts and lizards! He thanks director Jamie for being easy on the kids and keeping a sense of humor, and hopes you enjoy the show and tell your friends.

William Kohler

Eric

William, 9, played the Barrister in "The Wizard of Oz" and now appears as Eric in "Matilda the Musical". He loves acting, being with all the other kids, and seeing his cousins, family, and friends in the audience. His favorite part of theatre is all the friends he makes in the show. He hopes you love the production as much as he does!

Luke Lewis

Miss Agatha Trunchbull

This is Luke’s second show with LionHeart, playing the role of Miss Trunchbull! Last year, he portrayed Uncle Henry and the Emerald City Guard in "The Wizard of Oz". He has worked with various theatre companies, including Muskegon Civic Theatre, Playhouse at White Lake, Muskegon Community College, Central Park Players, Cultural Park Theatre, and Dogwood Center. “Shut up and enjoy the show, you squirming worms of vomit!” —Trunchbull

Kora Metcalf

Little Kid

This is Kora's first show with LionHeart. She has a fun time with her new theatre friends, and hopes you enjoy the show!

Avery Mills

Mrs. Wormwood

This is Avery's second show with LionHeart; she previously appeared as Cinderella in "Cinderella". She has appeared in many West Michigan Savoyards productions, playing roles such as Mabel in "Pirates of Penzance" and Gianetta in "Gondoliers". Avery has also appeared in other community productions, such as Fermina in "Man of La Mancha" and Babe in "Crimes of the Heart" with Holland Civic Theatre, as well as Tzeitel in "Fiddler on the Roof" at Master Arts. She is so excited to bring Mrs. Wormwood to life and would like to thank her supportive friends and family for putting up with the constant screeching that she calls practicing!

Jim Renney

Children's Entertainer, Judge, Henchman

Jim has been a part of LionHeart in one form or another for virtually every production starting with "Guys and Dolls" 20 years ago (!!!). He seems to be a glutton for punishment, since he keeps coming back time and time again! He returns mostly to have fun with his amazingly talented LionHeart friends and family and to help give the Newaygo County area the fun of live theatre. He wants to thank all of his "normal" friends and family for agreeing to share him with all these theatre geeks. He especially wants to thank his mom, Sharon; without her love and assistance over the years, he would never be where he is today.

Priscilla Roma

Lavender

Priscilla is excited to be making her debut performance with LionHeart Productions. This will be Priscilla's 11th stage performance, and she's had so much fun these past 2 months. Some of her favorite shows have been Muskegon Civic Theatre's production of "Ragtime", "Miracle on 34th Street", and "Beetlejuice Jr." This past summer, Priscilla traveled to Iowa and performed with her Central Park Players friends at AACT youth-fest. They performed an abridged version of Kate Reinder's "Runaway Princess", where she took home an award for Outstanding Performance by a rising star. Priscilla would like to thank her family and friends for all their support, along with her current and past choir directors, vocal coach, and performance coach.

Mukuka Mulenga

Head Nurse/Big Kid

Mukuka is an actress, singer, musician, little kid wrangler, mentor, tinkerer, crafter, dreamer, sports fan, gamer, former chokey resident, movie fan, nerd, and engineer who has snuck into this production by convincing nearly everyone she's at least 10 years younger than she really is. She currently works with a contracting engineering company that works on providing sustainable energy solutions across the state. She has appeared in previous productions with Summer Youth Theatre where her most recent role was playing Vizzini in a Shakespearean rendition of "The Princess Bride". In her spare time (she has spare time? Inconceivable!), she enjoys playing video games, spending time with family and friends, and diving headfirst into a budding D&D obsession. She sends love and thanks to all that have supported her and her wild ambitions.

Wyatt Scheidel

Nigel

Wyatt is excited to have a role in *Matilda*! Roald Dahl is his favorite author, and to be able to participate in a play based on one of his favorite books is a dream come true. Wyatt is a local homeschool student who enjoys theatre, the outdoors, playing guitar, and choir. Wyatt has participated in 2 previous Shakespeare plays and has had a great time getting ready for this musical.

Clara Sweers

Hortensia

Clara is thrilled to be performing in her second show! She was last seen as a Flying Monkey in LionHeart’s production of "The Wizard of Oz" and is excited to take the stage again as Hortensia in "Matilda". Clara is a 5th grader at Grant who loves performing, playing volleyball, and dancing in her free time. She would like to thank her parents for their support and her brothers for helping her learn all her music!

Hazel Thompson

Big Kid

Hazel is excited to be a part of LionHeart’s production of "Matilda the Musical". She has been studying various aspects of the performing arts since she was three years old and is currently a member of the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre Young Artist Studio. Her performances include "Little Women", "Mean Girls Jr.", and "Beauty and the Beast", and last holiday season she played Jemima in Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s production of "Cats". When Hazel is not busy with the performing arts, she loves reading, traveling with her family, and spending time with her golden retriever, Phineas.

Rosie Tomlinson

Miss Honey

Matilda is Rosie’s fourth musical with LionHeart Productions. She previously portrayed Margo in "Bright Star"; Tree and Ozian in "The Wizard of Oz"; and an eligible lady in LionHeart's production of "Cinderella". She also has credits with Sparta Schools and Community Theater (Gabrielle in "Cinderella" and Alice Bean in "Titanic"). Rosie would like to thank her wonderful son and extremely handsome husband for their support and enormous sacrifice of time which made it possible for her to be here. Above all, she wants to thank her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for His grace and love.

Angela VanderMeulen

Parent, Judge

Angela plays a doting mom and a dance competition judge with her eyes on one specific Italian dancer with beautiful legs. It's been her joy to be onstage alongside her amazing husband and her delightful daughter.

Drew VanderMeulen

Rudolpho

Drew plays the role of Drewdolfo. Drew enjoys every moment practicing and performing with his beautiful, hot wife and amazing daughter. In real life, he is only 1/64th professional Italian dance instructor but enjoys playing the role. If you need private dance lessons, please call 867-5309. Enjoy the show.

Roxy VanderMeulen

Big Kid - Evelyn

Roxy plays Evelyn, an older student in Trunchbull's class and a bully on the playground. She has amazingly survived the Chokey but continues to get to class late. Fun fact: she is a NOT so distant relative of Rudolpho!

Elodie Jo Wagner

Little Kid

Elodie Jo is a homeschooled 9-year-old and is the second youngest of 6 children. She has performed as a fairy in an "A Midsummer Night's Dream" production with her homeschool co-op, and this is her first time performing with LionHeart.

Erica Wagner

Doctor, Salsa Dancer, Ensemble

Erica is a homeschool mom of 6 children, home baker, and hair stylist. She has enjoyed performing since she was young, but her favorite role has been Lucy in Bright Star. She has also directed 3 Shakespeare plays with the homeschool co-op she runs. Erica enjoys serving on the worship team at her church and singing and dancing with her family at home. She is thrilled to perform with LionHeart again.

Fiana Wagner

Big Kid

Fiana is a homeschooled 11-year-old with 3 older siblings and 2 younger siblings. She has performed with her homeschool co-op in the roles of Puck in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and Feste in "Twelfth Night". She had a cameo in LionHeart's production of "Bright Star", and she is excited to perform with LionHeart again.

Become a member

One of the many ways you can support LionHeart productions is by becoming a member. Members offer a monetary donation and are
in turn given vouchers for free tickets to LionHeart productions.
Vouchers will be sent to you after you have submitted a membership form and payment, and can only be used for the current production season. Membership dues are renewed in spring/summer following the spring show as the production season starts with the fall show.

Membership levels include

Drawbridge ($25) (1 ticket voucher)
Gatehouse ($50) (2 ticket vouchers)
Royal Hall ($100) (3 ticket vouchers)
Round Table ($200) (4 ticket vouchers)

Members at all levels are also given special mention in the LionHeart programs.

To join, please visit https://lionheartproductions.org/membership/

Members

One of the many ways you can support LionHeart productions is by becoming a member. Members offer a monetary donation and are
in turn given vouchers for free tickets to LionHeart productions.
Vouchers will be sent to you after you have submitted a membership form and payment, and can only be used for the current production season. Membership dues are renewed in spring/summer following the spring show as the production season starts with the fall show.

Membership levels include

Drawbridge ($25) (1 ticket voucher)
Gatehouse ($50) (2 ticket vouchers)
Royal Hall ($100) (3 ticket vouchers)
Round Table ($200) (4 ticket vouchers)

Members at all levels are also given special mention in the LionHeart programs.

To join, please visit https://lionheartproductions.org/membership/

Board of Directors

2025-26 Lionheart Board of Directors

LionHeart Productions would not exist without both initial and continuous guidance and funding from the Fremont Area Community Foundation, who exists to enhance the quality of life for all people in Newaygo County and surrounding communities. They do this by connecting community needs with the passions of families, businesses, and individuals.

https://facommunityfoundation.org/

Coming this Spring 2026 to the LionHeart Stage....

More information will be available on our website and Facebook pages soon! Auditions early Winter 2025.

Broadway News

	Photos: Morrison, Gravitte and Briones Take First Bows in JUST IN TIME
	Listen: Claybourne Elder Debuts Track 'I Wanna Be Evil' Ahead of April 3 Album Release
	Wake Up With BroadwayWorld April 2, 2026- MEXODUS and PRINCE F*GGOT Lead Lortel Nominations and More
	Video: Inside Matthew Morrison and Isa Briones' First JUST IN TIME Finale
	Wallace Shawn & Deborah Eisenberg Step In for WHAT WE DID BEFORE OUR MOTH DAYS
	Lin-Manuel Miranda to be Honored by Bay Street Theater
	Spotlight on Plays: April 2026
	Video: Watch David Byrne Perform 'When We Are Singing' on THE LATE SHOW
	Joe Turner May Be Gone—But Debbie Allen Is Just Getting Started
	Photo: Original NEWSIES Stars Reunite For 14th Anniversary