Arts & Entertainment

Actress Raised In Fremont Stars in Broadway Musical

Lesli Michelle Margherita performs in the hit New York City musical, Matilda. In a Playbill interview she lauds her father, a retired contractor, and mom, a devoted homemaker.

 

Lesli Michelle Margherita, who grew up in Fremont, plays a leading role in the New York City Broadway musical Matilda.

In an interview with Playbill.com, Margherita describes herself as the youngest of four girls (older sisters Lisa, Lynn and Lora) raised by her dad, a retired masonry contractor, and her "awesome stay-at-home/proud stage mom."

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Matilda is the protagonist of a 1988 novel by author Roald Dahl, a bookwormish young girl who has telekinetic powers. Actor and producer Danny Devito made the story into a movie in 1996.  

Margherita, who won an award for stage performances in London, arguably the world capitol of theater, has also performed on television shows including:

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  • Major Crimes
  • The Suite Life On Deck
  • Charmed
  • NYPD Blue"
  • The District
  • JAG, and
  • On The Lot, produced by Steven Spielberg. 

Margherita plays Matilda's mom, Mrs. Wormwood.

She is not the only performer with a Tri-City background to have a role in Matilda.

Young actress Madilyn Jaz Morrow, who has played Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz for Stage 1 Theater in Newark, has been cast as an understudy in the show.


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