Special Reports

Matilda in Space: The Cast of the Broadway Musical Chats With Astronaut Tom Marshburn

Marshburn, the brother-in-law of cast member John Sanders, provided the opportunity with the help of NASA.

New York City

May 7, 2013

Cast member John Sanders and his brother-in-law, Astronaut Tom Marshburn (seen on television) take questions from the young audience.
(© David Gordon)

The cast of Broadway’s Matilda received the unique opportunity to talk with an astronaut on the International Space Station on Tuesday, May 7. Via a live satellite hook-up provided by NASA, the children and grownups of the Tim Minchin-Dennis Kelly musical were able to chat with Astronaut Tom Marshburn, the brother-in-law of cast member John Sanders, for a brief and educational question-and-answer session.

Directed by Matthew Warchus, the production received ten Tony Award nominations including Best Musical. Matilda: The Musical was commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company and won a record-breaking seven Olivier Awards, including ones for Best Musical and Best Actor (for the production’s star, Bertie Carvel, who makes his Broadway debut as Miss Trunchbull). The show’s principal cast includes Karen Aldridge (TV’s Boss) as Mrs. Phelps, Tony Award nominee Gabriel Ebert (4000 Miles) as Mr. Wormwood, Olivier Award winner Lesli Margherita (Zorro the Musical) as Mrs. Wormwood, and Tony Award nominee Lauren Ward (Violet) as Miss Honey. Sharing the title role are young actresses Sophia Gennusa, Oona Laurence, Bailey Ryon, and Milly Shapiro.

Featured in the ensemble are Frenie Acoba, Erica Simone Barnett, Judah Bellamy, Jack Broderick, Ava DeMary, John Arthur Greene, Emma Howard, Nadine Isenegger, Colin Israel, Thayne Jasperson, Luke Mannikus, Madilyn Morrow, Sawyer Nunes, Jared Parker, Celia Mei Rubin, John Sanders, Tamika Sonja Lawrence, Philip Spaeth, Ryan Steele, Betsy Struxness, Samantha Sturm, Heather Tepe, Ben Thompson, Clay Thomson, Taylor Trensch, Beatrice Tulchin, and Ted Wilson. The production has sets and costumes by Rob Howell; choreography by Peter Darling; orchestrations, additional music, and musical supervision by Christopher Nightingale; lighting by Hugh Vanstone; and sound by Simon Baker.

Click here for more information and tickets to Matilda.