Please mention The Long Islander Newspapers when doing business with our advertisers. LongIslanderNews.com THE LONG-ISLANDER • NOVEMBER 21 , 2019 • 13 theater Making Footprints Of Her Own By Peter Sloggatt
[email protected] When AnnaBelle Deaner of Melville plays on the Engeman stage, she’s follow - ing in some serious footseps. Over the years, some big names from Broadway have played leading roles at Northport’s John W. Engeman Theater. Judy McLane, whose run with “Mamma Mia” on Broadway lasted more than a decade, just ended a run as leading lady in Engeman’s most recent production, “Sun - set Boulevard, The Musical.” Indeed, one of theater’s brightest lights, Patti Lupone, the original “Aida” on Broadway, per - formed a benefit concert on the stage. Serious footsteps indeed. But Deaner is putting some footprints of her own on the Engeman stage. The 11-year-old actress is leading a cast of mostly kids her own age 11-year old AnnaBelle Deaner of Melville plays the lead in the title role of the theater’s current pro - role of Matilda in the musical of the same name at duction , “Matilda The Musical.” The play, Northport’s John W. Engeman Theater through Nov. 29. based on a children’s book by “Charlie and The Chocolate Factory” author Roald relies on the audience. Dahl, is about Matilda, a very smart girl “I like to see how the audience reacts,” whose genius is unappreciated by an op - she said. In particular, “I like seeing when pressive father and other adults. That is they laugh.” until she finds a mentor in a shy teacher For Engeman’s Producing Artistic Direc - who helps Matilda blossom, and in typical tor Richard Dolce, working with a cast of Dahl fashion, learns a thing or two herself kids is not a new experience, having staged along the way.