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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021
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Chandler thespians go before live audiences BY KATY SPRINGER Contributor
It’s not often that “revolting” children get a standing ovation – but that’s exactly what will happen next week when nearly 40 Chandler and other East Valley kids charge the stage in “Matilda The Musical.” The Tony Award-winning show inspired by Roald Dahl that has captivated audiences of all ages worldwide is being presented by Gilbert’s Actor’s Youth Theatre and the Zao Theatre in Apache Junction. The show will run June 10-26 with evening shows on Thursdays through Saturdays as well as matinees on Saturdays. “Matilda” tells the story of a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence and psychokinetic powers. She’s unloved by her cruel parents but impresses her schoolteacher, the lovable Miss Honey. Over the course of her first term at school, Matilda and Miss Honey develop a powerful bond, but school life isn’t completely smooth sailing: headmistress Miss Trunchbull hates children and loves thinking up new punishments for those who don’t abide by her rules. While the story does have sad moments, Matilda proves triumphant in the end. With an outsize share of courage and cleverness, she saves her classmates and beloved teacher from the monstrous Miss Trunchbull while
The entire proscenium for “Matilda the Musical” is covered in Scrabble tiles that look like they’re falling right out of the bag. (Zac BonDurant/Contributor)
creating a new and happier world for herself. “I think Matilda is a role model because it’s really important to stand up for what you believe in and to stand up for other people,” added 11-year-old
Belle Elle, who plays Matilda. It’s a theme that director Lucy Garner hopes to drive home. “I think the relevance of ‘Matilda’ in today’s society is especially poignant,” said Garner. “My goal is for the audi-
ence to feel the opposition between good vs. evil, acceptance vs. rejection, youth vs. age, and intelligence vs. ignorance. “Through the eyes of a gifted and See
MATILDA on page 41
Chandler singer combines country, gospel paper, so he got into a phone booth and called his home, singing it to his answering machine. Flash forward nearly four decades and Rhonda describes “Walking In Your Wonderful Light” as her “resurrection song” that pulled her and Hayes out of tough times. “I initially recorded the track more than seven years ago and then everything in my personal life fell apart,” she said. “It was a very hurtful, emotional, sad and isolating time in my life. “Today is a different day! This track is my resurrection song. It is the promise of my Heavenly Father…that he would bring me back to my true love, and that is to perform and sing for Him. I learned to trust in Him, completely and totally, during the process of my healing while walking in HIS wonderful light. …and I’m ready to share the new music and my heart once again.” Towns said she originally recorded “Walking In Your Wonderful Light” in 2012, tried to release it in 2014, then stepped away from the music industry in 2015 when her 22-year marriage ended in divorce. Rhonda was in such a depressing place that she told a radio promoter in
BY ASHLYN ROBINETTE Staff Writer
Chandler country music artist, Rhonda Towns, has released her first inspirational Christian country gospel single after a 12-year-hiatus. Towns said the single, “Walking In Your Wonderful Light” on Dawn Records, shares a message of hope through experiencing life with the Lord by your side. Written by Teddy Hayes and produced by Billy Sherrill in collaboration with Towns, this single serves as a preview to her forthcoming six-track EP, “Walking In Your Wonderful Light.” “I hope that the song will help someone, that it will touch somebody’s spirit, their heart,” Rhonda said. Hayes wrote “Walking In Your Wonderful Light” 39 years ago, but the song seemed to be made for her, Towns said. At the time, Hayes was living in New York. He told Rhonda that he had reached his ultimate low with only $2 in his pocket. During Hayes’ depression, the lyrics for “Walking In Your Wonderful Light” suddenly emerged in his mind. He told himself, “If I don’t write this song down then I’m going to lose it.” Hayes didn’t have a pen or piece of
Rhonda Towns said her recently released song, “Walking In Your Wonderful Light” will be followed by a six-song EP. (Special to SanTan Sun News)
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