Sieber and Harrison to join MATILDA

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 1/31/14 at 6:02pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Breaking-News-Matt-Harrington-and-Christopher-Sieber-Join-Cast-of-MATILDA-20140131
Producers of the Tony Award-winning Matilda the Musical announced today that Matt Harrington and Christopher Sieber will join the company as Mr. Wormwood and Miss Trunchbull, respectively.

Matt Harrington, who is currently performing in the Shakespeare's Globe productions of Twelfth Night and Richard III on Broadway, makes his debut as Mr. Wormwood on Tuesday, March 4.

Christopher Sieber, who will play 54 Below on February 4 and February 11, makes his debut as Miss Trunchbull on Tuesday, March 18.

They join a principal cast that also features Karen Aldridge as Mrs. Phelps, Lesli Margherita as Mrs. Wormwood, Jill Paice as Miss Honey, and the four girls sharing the title role: Paige Brady, Gabriella Pizzolo, Ripley Sobo, and Ava Ulloa.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 1/31/14 at 6:08pm

Yes. So much yes.

Posted: 1/31/14 at 6:15pm

Sieber will be sensational!

[devonian.t]

Posted: 1/31/14 at 6:17pm

Safe pair of hands

[Demitri2]

Posted: 1/31/14 at 6:17pm

Love Chris Sieber and thought he'd be a perfect Trunchbull when Bertie Carvel left last September. So glad he's been cast and I'm sure he'll be hilarious. Saw the show last month and the cast was excellent but this is reason enough to go back again. I will miss the excellent Gabriel Ebert though but am also looking forward to seeing what Matt Harrington will do with the role. Very exciting news!

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 1/31/14 at 6:18pm

Haha, some of you guys called Sieber too as Miss Trunchbull. He should be fun!

[Kad]

Posted: 1/31/14 at 6:28pm

Sieber is the perfect choice. He'll be fantastic.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/31/14 at 6:30pm

Oh, wow.

[DAME]

Posted: 1/31/14 at 6:37pm

WOW! I never thought I would EVER sit thru Matilda again. But I guess I am going.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 1/31/14 at 6:48pm

Sieber is a great choice for Trunchbull, he was the first person I thought of when Bertie Carvel left. I'm excited to see what he'll do with it.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 1/31/14 at 6:49pm

its deja vu all over again for Chris Hoch. Replacement star drops out, Hoch saves the day, Sieber replaces Hoch

[theCucumberSandwich]

Posted: 1/31/14 at 7:12pm

How many times now have Hoch and Sieber been associated with the same role, either through understudying or replacing? I can think of Gaston, Lord Farquad, Georges and now the Trunchbull. Are there any others?
Also, I think it's wonderful that Hoch has had such a long run in a lead role. Hopefully he'll be considered for bigger roles in the future. Do we know if he's leaving the show or going back to his featured ensemble role, which he only played for a few weeks, from memory....

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 1/31/14 at 7:22pm

Is Ben Thompson still going to be the alternate?

[Stevie72]

Posted: 1/31/14 at 7:26pm

fantastic news

[Replacement Cast]

Posted: 1/31/14 at 10:19pm

Not a fan of Sieber off stage, but on stage I think it's great casting. He'll be great in this part.

[getatme]

Posted: 2/1/14 at 12:00am

Is Ben Thompson still going to be the alternate?

There's no Trunchbull alternate. The initial article stating that Ben and Chris would be splitting the role was phrased incorrectly. Chris took over and Ben acted as the understudy and only went on if Chris called out. He's been on quite frequently these past few weeks.

[brldisteach2]

Posted: 2/1/14 at 12:23am

So excited for Christopher Sieber to be Trunchbull. My husband and I have been saying since it went to Broadway that after Bertie Carvel leaves, he would be an awesome Trunchbull.

[ChairinMain]

Posted: 2/1/14 at 4:09am

So much of the yes! The minute I heard Bertie Carvel only had a yearlong contract I thought "Chris Sieber." He'll be amazing.


Replacement Cast - Why not a fan of Sieber offstage?

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 2/1/14 at 7:25am

I am certainly thrilled for Chris Sieber (who I just saw in Pippin).....who WILL BE great..but I am very sad for Chris Hoch..who IS great.

I am assuming CH is being replaced as opposed to wanting to leave.. I get the "name" factor but still.

[dreaming]

Posted: 2/1/14 at 7:29am

I'm sad because it means Sieber won't take over in Pippin permanently and I loved his Charlemagne. (I also didn't like Matilda at all but suppose I'll go back to see him. He is a favorite of mine.)

[Matt1]

Posted: 2/1/14 at 9:55am

Sieber is the correct choice. I was surprised when he was past by in September.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 2/1/14 at 10:30am

brldisteach2, it was announced from the beginning that Chris Hoch would only be taking over the role temporarily. His initial contract was only for twelve weeks but Sieber wasn't available as soon as he would have needed to be to start after that time, so they extended Hoch in the interim.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 2/1/14 at 10:48am

I remember also that Chris Hoch was only given a temporary contract and again I think Sieber will be amazing and it's probably the right move. But I think deep down, all actors hope that their temporary contract will turn into a full time contract because they were so amazing - which Hoch was.

So as happy as I am for Seiber, I still feel a little sad for Hoch who really rose to the occasion IMO. I can't imagine him just sliding back into the chorus...

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 2/1/14 at 11:25am

"Replacement Cast - Why not a fan of Sieber offstage?"

I got this one. Like quite a few people, he made some not-very-classy comments in the wake of the 2010 Tony Awards, specifically Catherine Zeta-Jones winning for Best Actress in a Musical. Something to the extent of assuming she "bought" the award.

[DAME]

Posted: 2/1/14 at 1:28pm

You sure your not thinking of Hunter Foster? Chris is a really nice guy. He is extremely loved by the "working" theater community. Both Chris and his husband Kevin are very kind and warm and their involvement in the different charities is extensive. .

And if he did say anything.. he is entitled to his opinion... no?

Updated On: 2/1/14 at 01:28 PM