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Matilda was nominated for 12 Tony awards and won four, including best supporting actor, design, lighting and book of a play (script). The awards were the culmination of a process that started more than a year ago for the Canaans.
Jed, “a big Roald Dahl fan,” heard about a year and a half ago that Matilda was opening in London. So he reached out to the Royal Shakespeare Company, the lead producers of the play, and contacted them every month or two.
When they decided to move the show to Broadway with the help of New York-based company Dodger Theatricals, the Royal Shakespeare Company offered the Canaans roles as co-producers. It was their responsibility to raise funds and help get the show onto Broadway.
Oddly enough, the Canaans never saw the play, but Jed said they still knew they had to be a part of the show.
“I really did this based on faith,” Canaan said. “I never saw it in London, never saw a reading. An investor did see it and said, ‘It’s a home run’…That put us over the top.”
Canaan runs a service called Theater Extras, which helps theaters to fill sits. His experience in the business is what allowed him to take that leap of faith with Matilda.
“I know Broadway well and I think I know what makes a successful show,” Canaan said.
The Canaans did not see the play until opening night on April 11. They went with seven other couples involved in producing Matilda and finally got to see the fruits of their labor.
“It was an amazing experience,” Canaan said. “It was a first time producing and it was incredible to be a part of that.”
But the night came with some anxiety. Canaan knew that reviews for the play would come out in the middle of the night so he could not sleep. But he was happy with what he read.
“I stayed up until two in the morning and I was just overwhelmed with the number of positive accolades that the show got,” Canaan said.
The accolades carried all the way to the Tonys last Sunday and the show continues its run on Broadway. But Canaan hopes that is not the end for Matilda.
“The next step is we’re going to enjoy the run on Broadway,” Canaan said. “Is think the next step (after that) is going to bring it on the road across the country.”
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