Local 10-year-old making her Elkader Opera House debut
Greylyn Hubanks is cast as Amanda in the Elkader Opera House musical, “Matilda,” which starts this weekend. Her character is very girly, soft-spoken and a princess. She’s pictured with actors Emily Wynthein and Jaxton Schroeder, who play Amanda’s parents. (Opera House Players photo)
Greylyn Hubanks
By Correne Martin
Family and friends of Greylyn Hubanks know that, for a 10-year-old, she’s bravely passionate and exuberant in nearly everything she does. Just ask her a question, and she will respond, with a lot of information, a mile a minute.
So, of course, when she tried out for “Matilda”—the Elkader Opera House musical happening the first two weekends in October—it came as no surprise.
“Grey,” the daughter of Jason and Cassie Hubanks, of Prairie du Chien, is cast as Amanda. She is a student who, if you’ve read the book or watched the movie, has a really fun scene where the mean teacher, Miss Trunchbull, gets upset with her for wearing pigtails.
Opera House Players Director Cheri Moser won’t say what happens next. But, let’s just say, Greylyn gets to go on quite the ride in that scene.
The juxtaposition of Grey and her character, Amanda, seems like the perfect fit.
“She’s very girly. She’s a princess and wears braided pigtails. She’s soft-spoken and gets scared easily,” Greylyn said in describing her musical persona.
The idea of trying out for “Matilda” came about after her on-stage debut as “Violet, the blueberry” in the “Willy Wonka” summer school production at Bluff View Elementary School in July.
“I really liked that, and I wanted to step it up to something bigger,” Grey said, noting that, at two hours, “Matilda” is about twice as long as “Willy Wonka.”
She shared how much she fell in love with the opportunity to meet new like-minded friends and have fun behind-the-scenes and off-stage. Cheri said watching new friendships be created on the Opera House stage is the best part of the whole experience for her.
Out of the cast of 25, Greylyn is the youngest cast member in “Matilda,” the only one from Prairie du Chien, and one of 10 in the show who are all new to the Opera House stage.
“From the very beginning of our rehearsals, Greylyn has had incredible energy and a strong determination to get everything just right. In fact, her high energy keeps us all entertained on and off stage,” Cheri said.
The production’s next youngest, at age 11, are the two actors playing the lead, Matilda, and major supporting character, Bruce, who becomes a hero for going up against Miss Trunchbull in the children’s classic. Taryn Moser, of McGregor, is Matilda, and Gavin West, another newcomer, is from Starmont. Other key school children in the show are Macy McGeough, of Marquette, and Mariah Moser, of McGregor, who play Matilda’s best friends, Lavender and Nigel, respectively.
Greylyn and the other kids have five big dance numbers in the show and a lot of fun scenes, according to Cheri.
“Her ability to sing, dance, act and keep up with the rest of the cast has impressed me from day one,” the director added. She has worked hard these last couple months and the audience will be amazed to see what she can do. I sincerely hope this isn’t the last we’ve seen of Greylyn on our stage.”
Again, it’s not surprising that this fierce pre-teen has taken this extra-curricular occasion in stride. She seems to like having plenty to do.
Grey said she was nominated to the Wisconsin All-State Children’s Choir last fall. She’s participated in numerous sports, including volleyball currently, and she was thinking about doing flag football.
The past few weeks leading up to opening weekend of “Matilda,” she’s gone to bed nearly every night after play practice, around 11 p.m. She’s kept up with her school work and even celebrated her 10th birthday over the weekend.
Anyone taking in the show is in for a treat. All of the characters are over-the-top eccentric, high-energy and almost cartoon-like. “Matilda” will take the stage Oct. 1-2 and 8-9 at 7:30 p.m., then at 2 p.m. on Oct. 3, 7 and 10.
“It’s about a little girl whose parents don’t like her and all they think about is money. They don’t care about her. But she’s a smart girl and she teaches herself how to cook and clean,” Greylyn said. “I just hope people come ready to laugh. They really want a laughing audience. But even when it’s sad, it’s enjoyable to watch.”
Tickets are available in advance and at the door. They may be purchased by calling (563) 873-2378, emailing tickets@icsbbs.com or visiting Elkader Floral.
