Matilda the Musical at Broadway Philadelphia - 6abc Loves the Arts

November 8, 2015 -- The mega-hit Matilda, the Musical is coming to Broadway Philadelphia.

Based on the classic children's novel by the same name, the show has won 4 Tony Awards and 50 international awards and is now hitting the road for a national tour that stops at Philadelphia's Academy of Music in just 2 weeks.

Matilda, the book, was written by Roald Dahl, described as the most successful children's writer in the world. For those not familiar, "It's the story about the unusually talented and knotty young girl Matilda who has some difficulties with her family and so she's looking for kind of her new family at school," explains Director of Broadway Philadelphia Programming Frances Egler.

The show already had award-winning music and lyrics by musician, comedian and actor Tim Minchin. When it came to the theatrics of the show, the companies that produced Les Miserables and Jersey Boys joined creative forces.

"Matilda herself, because it's such a demanding role; she's basically on stage for the entire show, it's played by three girls that sort of cycle in throughout the show," says Egler.

And while the show is on national tour, it continues to play to sold-out audiences both on Broadway and in London's West End.

"The character's a young girl but everybody will enjoy it because it's a great story about a girl trying to understand her place in the world and sort of the misadventures she goes on to find them," says Egler who adds that because Matilda is part of the reading curriculum in a number of Philadelphia schools, the Kimmel Center is holding Matilda Day for students to "basically participate in some activities with some of the cast so we're excited to be able to show how what started as a book has become a stage musical."

Matilda the Musical is at the Academy of Music from November 17-29. For tickets, go to www.TheArtsInPhilly.org.